Bhabadah, often called the “Sorrow of Jashore,” has faced persistent waterlogging for over 40 years. This crisis, affecting Jashore, Khulna and Satkhira regions, traces back to the early 1980s when dams and sluice gates disrupted the normal flow of rivers. A significant number of people in over 300 villages endure devastating floods each monsoon, disrupting livelihood, displacing families and halting education. Although several efforts were taken by the Bhabadah Water Drainage Movement Committee, which has advocated tirelessly for solutions, there has been little long-term relief.
In August, heavy rain once again flooded the region, impacting around a million people. Many children have not been capable of attending school, over 75,000 hectares of farmland have been damaged and numerous families are facing acute hardship. Though the Tidal River Management (TRM) system has been suggested and incompletely implemented in some areas, more comprehensive and sustainable measures are required to ensure permanent stability.
Recently, Adviser to the Ministry of Water Resources Syeda Rizwana Hasan along with officials of Water Development Board, visited the affected areas. She committed to immediate relief and permanent solutions, pledging to re-excavate the Amdanga canal to permit water to drain into the Bhairab River. Although this intervention may provide short-term respite, a widespread and sustained approach is essential to address the root causes of waterlogging.
The local community, however, has raised concerns that extend beyond the practical challenges. They allege that corruption and mismanagement in the WDB and other organisations have hampered actual progress. Local leaders, farmers and students who have endured decades of seasonal suffering claim that the funds allocated for water management projects have been misused, resulting in unsuccessful measures that only aggravate the problem. To address this, the authorities concerned must ensure transparency and answerability. An oversight mechanism to monitor the use of public funds and the progress of projects is necessary to build trust with affected communities.
The Bhabadah’s waterlogging crisis is not
just an
environmental issue; it is a social and
economic tragedy that has persisted for too long. The authorities concerned must prioritise a solution
that ensures
immediate relief and a long-term
end to this
hardship
A viable, multi-facted strategy is needed. This includes regular dredging of rivers and canals, stable maintenance of dams and execution of TRM where possible. Furthermore, forming community-led committees that include local leaders, farmers and students may ensure the voices of the people most affected are heard in policy discussion. This participatory approach will also enable real-time feedback on the effectiveness of implemented solutions.
The Bhabadah’s waterlogging crisis is not just an environmental issue; it is a social and economic tragedy that has persisted for too long. The authorities concerned must prioritise a solution that ensures immediate relief and a long-term end to this hardship. If implemented with dedication, transparency and actual local engagement, these measures could transform Bhabadah from a symbol of despair into one of resilience and recovery.
For the people of Jashore, Khulna and Satkhira, this should be the last time they face such devastating waterlogging. They deserve a future free from the yearly ordeal of floods, where their children may appear at school, their fields yield harvests and their families live in security. The authorities concerned have the opportunity to make this vision a reality.
