Farmer Collapses as Flood Destroys Rice Crop

A 55-year-old farmer died after collapsing in his paddy field upon witnessing his entire rice crop submerged by floodwater in Bangladesh’s Brahmanbaria district.

The incident occurred around 8:00 am on Saturday in Rampur village under Goalinagar Union of Nasirnagar upazila, when farmer Ahad Mia went to his fields accompanied by agricultural labourers to harvest his rice.

Ahad Mia, a resident of Ward No. 9 of Goalinagar Union, had cultivated paddy on approximately six bighas of land, reportedly growing BRRI-29 rice. However, continuous rainfall over recent days had left vast stretches of farmland in the haor region inundated, including his own fields.

According to family members and witnesses, the farmer suffered a sudden collapse after seeing that all his standing crops had been submerged. He became unconscious on the spot and died in the field before any medical assistance could be provided.

While relatives initially described the cause of death as a stroke, medical officials provided a slightly different view. Dr Md Saiful Islam of Nasirnagar Upazila Health Complex suggested that the death may have resulted from a heart-related condition triggered by acute emotional distress.

Ahad Mia’s elder brother, local Union Parishad member Ahmad Hossain, confirmed the incident, stating that his brother had gone to the field with labourers in the morning and was devastated to find the entire harvest destroyed. The deceased is survived by two sons and one daughter.

Local farmer Dudh Mia reported that at least three other farmers from the same area have fallen ill due to similar distress over crop losses and are currently receiving treatment at different medical facilities. He also noted that between 4,000 and 5,000 bighas of paddy fields across Goalinagar Union have been submerged due to recent heavy rainfall, causing widespread agricultural damage. Additionally, harvested paddy stored in threshing yards is also being damaged by rainwater.

After the incident, labourers and locals recovered the body and transported it to his home. The funeral was held later in the day following the Zuhr prayers in Rampur village.

Summary of the Incident

Nasirnagar Upazila Agriculture Officer Imran Shakil stated that he had been informed of the farmer’s death while working in the field and had dispatched a sub-assistant agriculture officer to the site for investigation and verification.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahina Nasrin also confirmed awareness of the incident, noting that several farmers in the area have been affected by both crop loss and health complications. She added that if the incident is officially verified, the names of affected families will be forwarded to the relevant authorities to arrange potential assistance and relief support.