Farmers in the haor regions of north-eastern Sunamganj district are expressing growing concerns over the slow progress of the construction of protective dikes for their Boro crops.
Despite a directive to complete the work by February 28, the majority of the projects remain unfinished, with less than 50% of the work completed to date.
This delay has put farmers in a state of uncertainty, as the looming monsoon season threatens to cause significant damage if the work is not completed on time.
The Boro crop protection dikes are being built under 28 different Project Implementation Committees (PICs) across the haor areas of Sunamganj, with a total allocation of 33 million taka (about $271,311) for the project.
However, local farmers are worried that the ongoing slow pace of construction will not allow the remaining work to be completed before the deadline.
With the possibility of heavy rains and rising water levels, they fear that any delay could lead to severe and irreversible damage to their crops.
According to field reports, the government has been allocating millions of taka every year to build these dikes to protect farmers’ Boro crops.
Ideally, if the work is completed on time and built to the required standard, crop damage due to natural disasters would be the only foreseeable risk.
However, there have been frequent allegations of corruption, inefficiency, and delays in the execution of these projects.
After securing contracts for the construction, many contractors and committee members lose their enthusiasm and fail to complete the tasks as planned, often engaging in questionable practices.
For instance, in the Char Mahalla Union’s Chanpur area, one of the PICs was allocated 688,113 taka (about $5,641) for 605 meters of dike work along the northern bank of the Buki River.
However, only about 20-25% of the work has been completed, and the construction quality remains subpar.
Reports suggest that insufficient soil was used in the dike, and the workers attempted to complete it by spreading a thin layer of road dirt.
In a particularly troubling incident, a local farmer alleged that 10 of his trees were felled to make way for construction, resulting in a financial loss of around 30,000 taka (about $246).
There have also been complaints about the high levels of irregularities and corruption within the PIC committees.
Many locals have expressed concerns that these issues will continue to plague the project and could lead to substantial financial mismanagement. In some areas, such as the Zayuabazar, South Khurma, and North Khurma unions, multiple dikes are facing similar issues with slow progress and concerns about their durability.
The allegations extend to the local officials of the Water Development Board as well. Reports suggest that some officials have allocated more money than necessary for certain projects, raising questions about the actual use of funds.
In the case of the 8th PIC in Char Mahalla Union, 13,98,159 taka (about $11,464) was allocated for 773 meters of dike work, but the progress remains relatively low compared to the financial allocation, further fueling suspicions of mismanagement.
Shafiqul Islam, the Additional Chief Engineer of the Sylhet Water Development Board, assured that if any complaints are received regarding corruption or inefficiency by field officers or contractors, immediate action will be taken against them.
According to him, 70% of the work has been completed as per the latest reports from the concerned project officials.
However, the Upazila Executive Officer of Sadar, Mohammad Tariqul Islam, emphasized that any form of irregularity, corruption, or negligence in the construction of these protective dikes will not be tolerated.
He vowed to take strict action against any offenders, no matter their influence or position. Islam also underscored the importance of having clear signage at each project site, so that people can easily access information about the project and raise objections if necessary.
Farmers, who rely on the timely completion of these dikes to protect their crops from flooding, are now anxiously awaiting the outcome of the ongoing projects.
With the deadline fast approaching, they are hopeful that the authorities will address the delays and ensure that the dikes are completed to provide the necessary protection for their livelihoods.
