<i>When only 50 pairs of hands dare to do a tough task</i>
Farmers render voluntary service to repair an embankment at Domrabad village in Mirzaganj upazila under Patuakhali district to save their aman paddy from saline water that enters the fields from nearby rivers and canals during high tide.Photo: STAR
Over 50 farmers of Domrabad village in Amragachhia union in Mirzaganj upazila under the district on Tuesday started voluntary work to repair a flood control embankment for saving their aman paddy from salty water. "Heavy rainfall and tidal surge this year caused damage at around 20 points of the over one km flood control embankment in the village. Salty water enters the fields through the points twice daily during high tide, threatening over 1000 acres of aman paddy fields," said Sultan Ahmed, chairman of Amragachhia union parishad (UP). Villagers, both male and female, started repairing the damaged embankment from Kashinath to Domrabad Government Primary School on voluntary basis to save their aman paddy from salty water of adjacent rivers and canals, said Abdus Salam Gazi, local UP member. Over 1000 acres of agricultural land will be saved from intrusion of saline water after completion of the work, said Abdul Mannan, a farmer of the village. Under an initiative of development organisation Brac, the villages earlier got organised under the banner of 'Polli Samaj'. "They meet every two months and take up plan for social work including prevention of child marriage, dowry etc. They themselves manage money to for such benevolent works," said Mohsin Uddin, Patuakhali district manager of Brac.
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