Joy elusive to haor people

Bangla New Year Pahela Baishakh will hardly bring any joy to the people of haor areas of Baniachong upazila in Habiganj as flash floods triggered by rain and water from hills have left a large number of farmers in utter despair. 

Many farmers, already burdened with loan after incurring losses due to damage of nearly ripe boro paddy, cannot think of doing anything 'additional' to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, Md Main Uddin, member of Sujatpur union parishad in Baniachong upazila said during this correspondent's visit to the area two days ago.

Many unemployed farm workers are selling their labour in advance for managing money to arrange minimum daily meals, he added.

“I cultivated paddy on my five acres of land, taking loan of Tk 20,000 from a local NGO. But the paddy plants have been fully washed away by floodwater in Gangarbil area," said Alamgir Hossen, a farmer of the area.

"Seeing bumper yield of boro paddy, I had thought of celebrating Pahela Baishakh with my family. But the flood washed away the mature paddy before its harvest. Now we are struggling for managing our daily food and so, not in a position to spend any money for festival," said Mosiur Rahman of Ikram village.

Farmers bring whatever they could save from their flooded boro fields in the haor area. Photo: Mintu Deshwara

"Due to high prices, we find it difficult to buy new clothes, and items for preparing delicacy to enjoy Pahela Baishakh," said Bipul Das, another farmer of the area.

Housewife Husna Begum, 37, said they are passing days amid misery as her day labourer husband, the only earning person of their five-member family, is jobless for the last two weeks due to inundation of boro paddy in the area.

The flood also washed away fishes from ponds, making the life of ordinary farmers all the more difficult.

"Boro fields have been inundated due to sudden rise of water level in Habiganj, especially the haor areas of Baniachong upazila. I have never seen such a situation in Bangla month of Chaitra during the last 20 years," said Tofazzal Sohel, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon's Habiganj unit.

People of most of the haor areas under Sylhet division, especially in Sunamganj, are also facing similar situation due to the recent flash floods.