Padma’s Rising Water in Kushtia Floods 471 Hectares of Farmland

Flood conditions have worsened in Kushtia as water levels rise in the Padma River. With the river’s water level continuously rising over the past week, most areas of Chilmari and Ramkrishnapur unions in the district’s border Daulatpur upazila have been submerged. As a result, nearly 20,000 families — about fifty thousand people — across the two unions have been marooned by floodwater, with 471 hectares of farmland submerged.

As the water continues to rise, new areas are being flooded, causing severe hardship for residents of the two unions. Shortages of food and safe drinking water have emerged, and people in the affected areas are also struggling to manage their livestock.

According to data from the Water Development Board, the Padma River’s water level at Kushtia’s Hardinge Bridge point rose by a further 6 centimeters on Saturday (September 12) compared to the previous day, submerging new low-lying areas.

Local residents say they have been living in inhuman conditions while marooned for several days. Water has entered many homes, and shortages of cooking and drinking water have emerged. With roads submerged, even traveling outside for urgent needs has become difficult. Many have taken shelter on higher ground with their families and livestock.

Due to the rising water, the grounds and access roads of various educational institutions in Chilmari and Ramkrishnapur unions have also been submerged. Locals say classes have been disrupted at least 30 educational institutions across 40 villages in the two unions.

Despite mounting hardship, marooned residents have alleged that adequate relief supplies have not reached the affected areas, and have demanded prompt provision of food, safe drinking water, and necessary relief assistance.

Daulatpur Upazila Executive Officer Anindya Guha said 471 hectares of farmland in the two unions have been submerged by floodwater. Most of the Aman paddy and jute had already been harvested by farmers, though some crops were damaged by the water. Dry food has been distributed to flood-affected people, and 16 metric tons of rice will also be distributed. A medical emergency team with two medical officers has been formed to ensure urgent healthcare services.

He said educational institutions have not been formally declared closed, but students are having difficulty reaching schools due to the flooding, causing some local disruption to education, which will return to normal once the water recedes.

Kushtia-1 constituency Member of Parliament Mr. Reza Ahmed Bachchu Mollah said that within five to six days, two unions have been almost entirely submerged by floodwater, halting activities at all educational institutions in those two unions. He said field-level agricultural supervisors were supposed to give farmers advance warning, but failed to properly warn them; he has spoken with the agricultural officer about this and said an investigation would be conducted into why farmers were not warned in time, with necessary action to follow.

Mr. Reza Ahmed Bachchu Mollah further said relief supplies would also be distributed to flood-affected people in the two unions through party channels. He said the biggest problem is that these two unions are cut off from the mainland, making it extremely urgent to build a bridge to improve connectivity between the two unions and the mainland.

According to Water Development Board data, the danger level of the Padma River at Kushtia’s Hardinge Bridge point is 13.80 meters. Although the water currently flows below the danger level, the rising trend continues, and there are concerns that further hardship could befall the affected people if the water rises further.