, April 5 -- Thousands of hectares of boro paddy in Sunamganj's haor areas are under threat as severe waterlogging triggered by unusually heavy upstream rainfall continues to inundate croplands across the district.

The situation has turned critical since the last week of March when excessive rainfall in upstream catchment areas caused rivers to swell and overflow, sending water rushing into the low-lying haors.

Farmers are now locked in a dispute over how to manage the excess water.

While those in the upper haors are pressing to cut embankments to ease waterlogging, downstream farmers are resisting the move, fearing their fields will be submerged.

According to official data, at least 1,189 hectares of boro land have already gone under...