Jhenaidah Correspondent Correspondent: Thousands of bighas of farmland across six upazilas in the district have been inundated due to persistent rainfall over several days in Jhenaidah. Fields of vegetables, paddy seedbeds, and newly sown Aman paddy have been flooded in the Sadar, Kotchandpur, Maheshpur, Kaliganj, Harinakundu, and Shailkupa upazilas.

The absence of an adequate drainage system for rainwater has led to waterlogging in the fields, causing significant harm to the crops. Many farmers are still unable to sow new paddy in their fields.

Mahbubur Rahman, a farmer from Laudia village in Sadar upazila, expressed, “My two bighas of paddy land are underwater. I am uncertain when the water will recede. Once it does, I will need to replant paddy seedlings. But where will I find seedlings now?”

Kotchandpur farmer Ashadul Islam remarked, “My one bigha of paddy seedlings has been ruined due to the relentless rain. Even if I replant, it will take time to recover from the damage.”

Ramzan Ali from Maheshpur stated, “The fields of many farmers, including mine, are submerged. I am concerned – I don’t know if I will be able to harvest Aman paddy this year at all.”

Shasthi Chandra Roy, deputy director of the Jhenaidah Department of Agricultural Extension, noted, “Waterlogging has occurred in certain areas. Efforts are being made to remove the embankments with assistance from the Water Development Board and the administration. The issue has been addressed in several locations, and work is ongoing in the remaining areas.”

As per the Agriculture Department, approximately 7,500 hectares of cropland have been flooded so far across six upazilas in Jhenaidah district.