Bangladesh Floods Devastate Agriculture and Fisheries Sectors

Severe floods across 43 districts in Bangladesh, including heavily hit areas like Chattogram and Sylhet, have devastated local agriculture, affecting over 500,000 farmers.

The Department of Fisheries reports nearly Tk400 crore in losses after fish and shrimp fry were washed away by rising waters. Furthermore, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) confirms that crops on approximately 115,000 hectares of land have been damaged, which includes 62,500 hectares of vital Aush and Aman seedbeds.

Although floodwaters have started to recede, agricultural workers still face immense challenges recovering submerged vegetable fields and securing their livestock. In immediate response, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid announced that the government will prepare replacement seedbeds on state-owned land, distributing these seedlings to affected farmers entirely free of cost.

However, experts caution that reactive measures are not enough. Former agriculture secretary Anwar Faruk stressed the critical need for better inter-departmental coordination to manage these disasters efficiently and avoid wasted relief funds. To protect future livelihoods, he strongly urged the government to implement stronger early warning systems and prioritize climate-resilient agricultural practices.