Photo : Daily Messenger
In Sherpur, Bogura, the blockage of a culvert, intended to seize government-owned land, has led to severe flooding in nine villages, trapping thousands of residents in their homes. Additionally, about 3,500 bighas of land have become barren due to waterlogging.
The affected villages include Mirzapur, Rajbari, Ramcharan Mukund, Dari Mukund, Kanaikandar, Hatiagara, Arongshail, Madanpur, and Krishnapur in Sherpur Upazila. The flooding has caused water to enter mosques, homes, and educational institutions, submerging roads and other infrastructure. Despite repeated appeals to local and government authorities, including the Union Parishad, Upazila Parishad, and agricultural offices, no effective solution has been provided to the suffering residents.
For the past four years, farmers in these villages have been unable to cultivate their lands. The floodwaters have also disrupted the education of school-going children. The agricultural sector has been hit hardest, with 3,500 bighas of land lying uncultivated. The persistent waterlogging has brought normal life in these villages to a standstill.
Local residents report that they have been battling waterlogging for an extended period. The submerged lands once yielded 18 to 21 maunds of Boro paddy per bigha, which was a primary source of income for many families. Now, they struggle to make ends meet.
Ashadul, a resident of Madanpur village, mentioned that his 60 bighas of land have been underwater for the past four years, causing him an estimated annual loss of 2.5 million BDT.
Farmer Ramzan Ali from Rajbari village warned that unless the drainage system is fixed, agriculture in the area would collapse, leaving many farmers in financial ruin.
Zahidul Islam, Chairman of Mirzapur Union Parishad, explained that the situation arose due to the construction of a pond and the blockage of two culverts in Arongshail village. Although the culverts were reopened, they were blocked again, causing severe inconvenience and damage. He emphasized the need for legal action against those responsible.
Sumon Jihadi, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Sherpur, acknowledged the issue and assured that steps would be taken within seven days to resolve the waterlogging problem, even if it requires a government project.
Messenger/Sajib
