[object Object]

Chattogram, Bangladesh – At least 7,400 commercial and privately owned ponds, shrimp farms, and other water bodies across Chattogram have been submerged by five consecutive days of heavy monsoon rain. The Department of Fisheries estimates the current financial damage at Tk 39 crore (approximately $330,000 USD), with officials warning that the toll could increase as floodwaters continue to spread.

Fish farmer Robiul Hasan Munna of Ramdash Hat in Hathazari reported that two of his ponds, containing fish fry produced from Halda River carp eggs, were inundated. "The current market price is at least Tk 4,000 per kg. I have lost fish fry worth more than Tk 300,000," he told The Daily Star.

Salma Begum, the district fisheries officer, confirmed that reports of flooding have been received from 7,400 sites across the district. Patiya is the hardest-hit area, with approximately 1,400 water bodies affected, followed by Anwara (around 1,100) and Banshkhali (450). Shrimp farming, concentrated in Banshkhali and Anwara, has seen at least 55 farms flooded.

“

The current market price is at least Tk 4,000 per kg. I have lost fish fry worth more than Tk 300,000.

Hathazari is particularly known for its valuable fish fry, cultivated from naturally collected Halda River eggs. Around 145 fish farms in this area have also been submerged. In Chhanua, Banshkhali, shrimp farmer Rahim Uddin lost around Tk 6 lakh (approximately $5,000 USD) when three of his farms flooded due to a damaged sluice gate that failed to drain floodwater into the sea.

Anupam Pal, a sub-divisional engineer with the Bangladesh Water Development Board in Banshkhali, explained that one of two drainage gates at Madhukhali in Chhanua is unusable, exacerbating the flooding. This has led to submerged houses and fish farms. The prolonged rainfall, with 214 mm recorded in Chattogram within 24 hours ending at 3:00 PM on the day of reporting, has caused widespread waterlogging, landslides in hilly regions, and marooned thousands in southern Chattogram.

“

One of the two drainage gates at Madhukhali in Chhanua has become unusable, worsening flooding in the area.