Crops, vegetables worth Tk 500cr ruined by Sylhet flood: Official

The sudden floods in Sylhet have wreaked havoc not only on human lives but also on crops and vegetables which may push the prices of these items higher in the local market, according to an official of the Divisional Agriculture Office in Sylhet.

While talking to the Business Insider Bangladesh Md Kazi Mojibur Rahman, deputy director of the Divisional Agriculture Office in Sylhet, said that the unprecedented flood has damaged Aush Paddy of around 53,400 hectares of land in the Sylhet area.

The flood also damaged Aman Paddy (bona aman) of around 14,600 hectares of land at the same time, Rahman said.  

Besides, the flash flood has also eaten up vegetables of around 6,300 hectares of land, according to the official.

“Total crop and vegetable loss will be approximately Tk 500 crore,” said Rahman.

A list of damage to crops and vegetables will be handed over to the ministry concerned and sought the government’s assistance so that the farmers there can get rid of the situation, he said.

All roads, highways, educational institutions, government, semi-government and non-government offices, and cropland went underwater in the district compelling the government to suspend SSC and its equivalent examinations scheduled for June 19 across the country.

Sensing danger, the government has deployed members of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and paramilitary forces BGB along with police and local administration to tackle the situation.

The rescue operations and relief works are still going on in the flood-hit areas.

Amid the deteriorating flood situation, the meteorological department on Monday predicted more downpours in Sylhet and other parts of the country in the next 72 hours due to an active monsoon over Bangladesh.

“Moderate to heavy rain may occur at many places in Sylhet division in the next 72 hours as monsoon over Bangladesh is active now,” Monwar Hossain, a meteorologist at Bangladesh Meteorological Department, told the Business Insider Bangladesh.