Feni Suffers Over BDT 146 Crore in Flood Damage, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock Sectors Severely Impacted

Recent floods in the Feni district have caused widespread damage to the agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors, with preliminary estimates placing the total loss at BDT 146.43 crore. Continuous heavy rainfall and upstream water runoff have inundated vast low-lying areas in Feni Sadar, Chhagalnaiya, Daganbhuiyan, Fulgazi, and Parshuram upazilas, causing extreme hardship for thousands of people and disrupting their livelihoods.

According to the preliminary report from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), 5,564.61 hectares of cropland have been affected. This includes 845 hectares of Aush paddy, 537 hectares of summer vegetables, 14 hectares of chili, 7 hectares of ginger, 2.5 hectares of turmeric, 0.11 hectares of tomatoes, 689 hectares of Aman paddy seedbeds, and 3,470 hectares of reserved ginger. Approximately 28,835 farmers have been affected by these floods, incurring financial losses amounting to BDT 38.07 crore.

Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, a farmer from Darbarpur Union in Fulgazi Upazila, stated, "My entire three bighas of summer Aman seedbed have been destroyed. Every year, floods ruin our crops and plunge our families into financial crisis." Mostafizur Rahman from Dhanikunda in Parshuram Upazila added, "Five bighas of vegetable land have been submerged and destroyed. We are facing massive losses again within a year. If this continues, we will starve."

Mohammad Atiq Ullah, Deputy Director of DAE, said, "Many areas are still waterlogged. We will be able to assess the actual extent of the damage once the water completely recedes. We are conducting preliminary calculations and will recommend compensation for the affected farmers."

The total loss recorded in the fisheries sector is BDT 8.71 crore. According to the District Fisheries Office, 276.20 metric tons of fish worth BDT 5.90 crore have been washed away from 2,330 ponds, water bodies, and farms. Additionally, 128 metric tons of fish fry worth BDT 3.50 lakh have been lost. Infrastructural damage stands at BDT 42.50 lakh.

Md. Alamgir, a fish farmer from Munshirhat Union, reported a loss of BDT 2.5 lakh due to fish being washed away from his three ponds. He said, "We don't know how we will recover from this loss." Abdur Rahman from West Aloka village in Parshuram Upazila reported similar losses, stating, "All the fish from my net-enclosed pond have been washed away. Last year too, officials did not help us properly, so it's impossible to recover from this loss without assistance."

Aminul Islam, District Fisheries Officer, stated that the final report is being prepared, and a list will be sent to the government for compensation.

The floods have claimed the lives of 10,600 chickens and ducks – with 1,400 in Fulgazi, 7,200 in Parshuram, and 2,000 in Chhagalnaiya. Additionally, 235 ducks, 3 goats, 1 sheep, and 4 cows have died, according to the District Livestock Office.

Livestock feed has also suffered extensive damage: 7 metric tons of feed valued at BDT 2.58 lakh, 30 metric tons of bran worth BDT 1.70 lakh, and 160 metric tons of grass valued at BDT 7.65 lakh have been destroyed. Kamal Hossain from Amjad Hat Union sadly remarked, "My only source of income, a cow, has died. We are now destitute. This crisis will never end without sustainable embankment construction." Md. Hasan, owner of Bismillah Poultry in Bijoypur, lamented, "Years of hard work and dreams were shattered in an instant, causing a loss of BDT 4.50 lakh."

Dr. Md. Mozammel Haque, Feni's Livestock Officer, estimated the loss in this sector at BDT 64.89 lakh. He stated, "Compensation will be distributed among the affected and marginalized farmers once government approval is received."

Embankment breaches have occurred in 41 locations across five upazilas along the Muhuri, Kuhua, and Silonea rivers. The Water Development Board estimates the damage to be approximately BDT 9 crore. Assistant Engineer Abul Kashem stated, "Embankment breaches have been reported in 41 locations across five upazilas since July 8."

Meanwhile, a total of 126 roads (300 kilometers) in three upazilas have been damaged by floodwaters. Mahmud Al Faruq, Executive Engineer of Feni Roads and Highways Department, reported this damage to be BDT 90 crore.

Although 9,195 flood-affected individuals have left shelters, 365 people from 122 families are still residing in 9 centers, indicating the long-term impact of this disaster.

While this flood is devastating, an even more destructive flood occurred in August of last year, claiming 29 lives and affecting over a million people in the district. That flood caused an overall damage of approximately BDT 2,686.205 crore, including roads, schools, homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.

With the memories of last year's disaster still fresh, many in Feni are now wondering how many more blows their community can endure without sustainable and long-term solutions.