A groundbreaking change has begun in the Betna River basin in the Satkhira basin with the excavation of the Betna River and restoration of the connecting canal. As a result, the people of the areas surrounded by the river are losing their lives in the silent Kushi Revolution in the Betna basin. About 1.4 million people in the five upazilas of the district – Tala, Kalaroa, Satkhira Sadar, Debhata and Asashuni – have been freed from the curse of long-standing waterlogging and have found a new lease on life in agriculture and livelihood.
The Betna River, which was almost dead due to encroachment and pollution after 2000, was brought back to life in 2021 by the Satkhira Water Development Board at a cost of Tk 350 crore. Along with the excavation of a 250-kilometer connecting canal, 45 kilometers of the Betna River and 35.5 kilometers of the Morichchap River have been restored to navigability, the benefits of which have been seen in the current monsoon season.
According to the Satkhira Meteorological Office, this year, Satkhira has received 1,691 millimeters of rainfall in the current monsoon season, which is 576 millimeters more than last year. Last monsoon season, the district received 1,115 millimeters of rainfall. However, this time no village was submerged, crop fields were saved, and fish enclosures were not washed away. Instead, laughter has returned to the fields of various crops including paddy, jute, kul, and mango, and dreams have returned to fish farms.
Abdul Kader Sardar, a farmer from Tala Upazila’s Oilkupi village, said that this time the enclosure did not submerge. He earns 15-18 thousand taka every week from vegetables planted in the enclosure fence of 5 bighas of land, and he sells bagda shrimp for about 10 thousand taka. There are thousands of such self-reliant farmers who are providing a solid foundation to the economy of the district.
Satkhira PAUBO-2 Executive Engineer Abdur Rahman Taskia said, “People are getting the benefits even before the excavation work is completed – this is our big achievement. This success will be permanent only if we can protect the navigability of the river through silt management and ensure public awareness.” According to the 2023 census, the number of direct beneficiaries in the 5 upazilas of the Betna River basin is 13,92,816 people. Not only waterlogging, but also the excavation of the river has created a freshwater swamp, which will become one of the main sources of irrigation in the dry season. If the revolution that has already been initiated in the production of fruits, fish, vegetables and cash crops continues, agriculture in Satkhira will be a symbol of self-reliance.