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Around 5,000 people in five villages of Ullapara upazila in Sirajganj have been suffering from prolonged waterlogging for the past five years, leaving nearly 5,000 bighas of farmland uncultivated.
The affected villages are Agarpur, Khudra Simla, Kalikapur, Kheisar and Jalshuka under Ramkrishnapur union. Residents blame unplanned excavation of ponds, encroachment on drainage canals and blocked culverts for the persistent waterlogging.
Large areas of the villages remain submerged throughout the year, with water ranging from knee-deep to waist-deep on roads and other public spaces. Rural roads, school grounds, playgrounds and yards of houses have also gone underwater, disrupting normal life and students’ movement to educational institutions.
Residents said the situation becomes worse during the monsoon as water cannot drain out through its natural channels.
They alleged that some people had excavated ponds by occupying government canals and drainage routes. The outlets of several bridges and culverts have also been blocked, obstructing the natural flow of water. In particular, a blocked culvert in the Adachari area of Agarpur village has disrupted drainage from several surrounding villages.
Farmers have suffered the most from the prolonged crisis. The affected farmland once produced 20 to 25 maunds of paddy per bigha, but has remained unsuitable for cultivation after years of inundation. Many farmers have been forced to abandon agriculture, while others are facing huge financial losses.
Prolonged waterlogging has also damaged mud-built houses and increased the risk of skin diseases and other waterborne illnesses as residents are forced to move through contaminated water.
Local farmers fear that many families could lose their farmland and homesteads unless drainage is restored quickly.
Ramkrishnapur Union Parishad Chairman Nowjes Ali Nayeb told Sarabangla that blocked culverts were obstructing the flow of water.
“We have informed the higher authorities about the problem several times,” he said, expressing hope that a special project would be undertaken to resolve the waterlogging.
Ullapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Raihanul Islam said effective measures would be taken soon to address the problem.
