Farmers in five villages across Cumilla’s Adarsha Sadar and Burichang upazilas say nearly 500 acres of agricultural land remain underwater for most of the year, causing major crop losses. The report, published on August 15, 2026, identified affected land in Maheshpur and Palpara of Amratali, and in Sholonal, Chhoygharia and Bhorasar. Farmers who once cultivated three crops annually now struggle to produce even one crop.

Residents alleged that influential people have narrowed the drainage canal by filling sections with soil in an attempt to create plots, while waste from Bhorasar market is regularly dumped into it. The canal runs from Maheshpur through Sholonal to the Payater water body. It has not been properly dredged or cleaned for a long time, they said. Recently planted transplanted Aman rice has submerged, and replanting would double farmers’ costs.

Agriculture officer Mohammad Nizam Uddin said drainage had previously been arranged by cutting soil in several places and that necessary measures would be discussed with the upazila executive officer. Executive officer Fatematuz Johra said an official had been sent for an on-site inspection, with canal excavation and action against those responsible for filling it to follow soon.