DWOHA CHOWDHURY and MINTU DESHWARA

Farmer Tara Mia of Shailyani village in Rupeswar haor in Sunamganj’s Madhyanagar cultivated nearly six acres of Boro paddy, partly on his own and partly through sharecroppers.

More than half of his crops are now submerged due to off-season rain and poor drainage ahead of the harvest season.

“Even if the weather turns favourable, not even half of the paddy can be harvested. Fifty to sixty irrigation machines are pumping water out of the haor, but whatever drains one day fills up the next,” he lamented.

Abdul Hakim of the Bhukshimoil Baramasjid area in Moulvibazar’s Kulaura is another farmer facing losses, as his 15 acres of Boro fields in Hakaluki haor have been completely submerged.

“The water level was rising slowly, but heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday caused it to surge and submerge the

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