Lalpur: Floodwater from the Padma River has submerged crops on 689 hectares of char land in Lalpur upazila of the district. Water has entered homesteads and courtyards in Nowshara Sultanpur, Chakla Binodpur, Diyar Shankarpur, Araji Baknai, Rasulpur, and Moharkaya villages under Bilmaria union, as well as parts of Lalpur Sadar union.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Department of Agriculture reported that the submerged crops include 660 hectares of sugarcane, 14 hectares of vegetables, 11 hectares of bananas, and two hectares each of cotton and transplanted rice. Local farmers have expressed concern over their losses. Muntaz Ali of Bilmaria village shared, “My three bighas of rice and pumpkin fields have gone under water.”
Farmer Alal Ali of Araji Baknai Char stated that crops on about four and a half bighas of land, including rice and pumpkin, have been submerged. The flooding has also led to a fodder crisis for livestock, with Arif Mandal of Ilshamari char expressing distress over the lack of grass for cattle and buffaloes.
Lalpur Upazila Agriculture Officer Pritam Kumar Hor confirmed the inspection of the char area and the damage to various crops caused by the flood. Meanwhile, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board Md. Rifat Karim noted that the water of three main rivers in the district is flowing below the danger level.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Mehedi Hasan mentioned that dry food has been distributed among 60 affected families. He reassured that the situation has not yet necessitated shifting residents to shelter centers and expressed hope for improvement in conditions.