A. F. M. Asad Ullah Asad: Water from Tanguar Haor is flowing in after the collapse of the Nazarkhali embankment in Tahirpur, Sunamganj. The embankment gave way on Saturday afternoon as water levels in the Patlai River rose due to hill floods from upstream.
It has been learned that the Nazarkhali embankment area supports Boro paddy cultivation across 10,000 acres of land by farmers from 82 villages in four unions of Tahirpur and Moddhanagar Upazilas. Since this embankment is part of a Ramsar site, it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), nor are there any government initiatives for its construction. Thus, farmers construct this temporary embankment each year and cultivate early varieties of paddy.
Local sources confirmed that while the embankment has broken, there is no risk of crop damage as most farmers have already harvested the paddy they planted in the haor.
Ahmed Noor, a farmer from Moddhanagar Upazila, said, “I cultivated early paddy in Tanguar Haor and have already managed to harvest and store it.”
Kala Mia, a farmer from Tahirpur Upazila, stated, “Only a small amount of paddy is cultivated in Tanguar Haor. Farmers have already harvested what they planted. The embankment that broke was built by us.”
Mamun Howladar, Executive Engineer of the Sunamganj Water Development Board, commented, “The Nazarkhali embankment is not under BWDB jurisdiction. Therefore, we have discouraged farmers from cultivating crops there. Additionally, we have instructed the Upazila Fisheries Officer to ensure that fishermen refrain from catching mother fish while water flows into the haor.”
