Paddy fields in the Kaowadighi haor region of Moulvibazar remain submerged, leaving mature rice crops under water. Farmers are attempting to salvage whatever harvest is still accessible, but continued rainfall has caused widespread damage. Many bundles of harvested rice are rotting, while some grains have already begun to germinate in standing water. According to local farmers, the combination of waterlogging, post-harvest losses and market rejection has placed marginal cultivators, sharecroppers and lease-based farmers in a severe financial position.
Farmers report that labour shortages and the lack of boats have compounded the difficulties of recovery. Where boats are available, transport costs remain high, and daily wages for labourers have increased. As a result, the cost of retrieving submerged paddy often exceeds the value of the harvested crop. Buyers, citing spoilage and quality deterioration, are either refusing to purchase the paddy or offering significantly reduced prices, making it economically unviable for farmers to sell their produce.
On Sunday afternoon in the Biruimabad area of Akhaura Union under Moulvibazar Sadar Upazila, farmers were seen attempting to salvage their crops whenever brief sunlight appeared. Activities included cutting partially mature rice, transporting bundles by boat to higher ground, and threshing wet paddy. In several locations, stored bundles had already begun to decay, while elsewhere rising water levels were submerging freshly collected stocks. Some farmers reported leaving cut paddy in water due to the unavailability of boats.
Farmers stated that transporting 40–50 bundles of rice requires boat rent of 400–500 taka and labour costs between 800 and 1,000 taka, significantly reducing any potential profit from sales.
Cost and production details (reported cases)
| Farmer |
Area cultivated |
Harvest recovered |
Labour cost |
Output value / return |
| Gopal Nunia (Rajnagar, leased land) |
5 katha (1 katha = 30 decimals) |
4 decimals |
~8,000 taka |
2–3 maunds of paddy; production cost earlier exceeded 10,000 taka |
| Jalil Mia (Rajnagar, mortgaged land) |
5 katha |
~0.5 katha |
Not specified |
Partial harvest; significant portion still submerged |
| Abdul Kadir (Biruimabad, sharecropping) |
10 katha |
4 katha harvested |
24,000 taka |
Sold for 23,000 taka; 6 katha still underwater |
Gopal Nunia stated that he was only able to recover a small portion of his leased land, noting that most of the field remained submerged. Jalil Mia reported that a lack of boats prevented full recovery of harvested bundles. Abdul Kadir indicated that a substantial portion of his cultivated land remains underwater, and that he has since begun renting a boat to transport other farmers’ produce due to his own loss.
Other farmers in the area reported similar conditions. Alal Mia from Burikona village stated that most of his 20 katha of cultivated land remains under water, with only a portion of harvest recovered in poor condition. Shafik Mia reported complete loss of stored food supply from the damaged crops.
Farmers collectively stated that they are unable to cover basic subsistence needs due to crop damage and loss of market value.
In response to the situation, the Haor Protection Movement in Moulvibazar submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the district administration, demanding measures for crop protection in the Kaowadighi haor area.
Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension in Moulvibazar reported that field-level assessments are ongoing. According to the department, approximately 2,349 hectares of paddy land in the district have been submerged due to flooding. Authorities also noted that although irrigation measures are in place in parts of Kaowadighi haor, heavy rainfall has slowed water drainage, preventing rapid reduction of water levels.
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