Sreepur Flood Management Crisis: Ineffective Embankments Worsen Waterlogging in Haor Region

A new and unprecedented crisis is unfolding in the Haor region of Sunamganj, where widespread waterlogging has submerged vast areas of crops despite the absence of torrential upstream floods and intact crop protection embankments. This situation raises serious structural questions about the traditional Haor management system and the effectiveness of the multi-billion Taka embankments built annually. Over the past decade, 1,370 crore Taka have been spent on constructing and renovating 710 projects totaling 602 kilometers of embankments. However, instead of providing protection, these embankments have created a trap, blocking the natural flow of rainwater from the Haors to rivers. Experts and environmentalists argue that the unplanned network of embankments obstructs drainage, leading to severe waterlogging. The accumulation of silt due to annual earthwork is reducing river depths, shrinking their water-carrying capacity. The situation necessitates a fundamental shift in Haor management strategies, focusing on river dredging and constructing nature-friendly sluice gates instead of solely relying on earth embankments.

This news is significant as it highlights a critical failure in flood management infrastructure, leading to substantial agricultural losses and questioning the effectiveness of public spending on disaster preparedness.