We are concerned about the lack of, or slow pace in, preparation for the upcoming floods as seen in a number of haor and other vulnerable regions even though the monsoon season is approaching fast. According to media reports, one key problem relates to the vulnerability of existing flood protection embankments or those under construction, where a large part of the work either remains unfinished or is being hastily executed without adequate quality control—inviting the risk of being overflown or washed away once the monsoon sets in. The threat this situation poses to crops, homes, and life in general cannot be stressed enough.

A recent report by Prothom Alo highlights the risks facing Sunamganj, where the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) is implementing a Tk 308 crore project to construct permanent embankments in 14 haors across seven upazilas. But so far, less than 60 percent of the work has been completed, making it unlikely that those will be ready in time. Sloppy work has also been seen during field visits to multiple sites. For example, in some cases, soil work remains incomplete but concrete blocks are already being placed there; in others, construction appears rushed and poorly planned, with some sections already eroding due to early rains. BWDB officials have denied allegations of negligence or irregularities and attributed the slow progress to various constraints. But the fact is, things would have turned out differently had they planned better and started earlier.

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Our embankments are contributing to floods, not stopping them

A similar trend of neglect has also been observed in Shariatpur's Jajira end of the Padma Bridge project area, where, according to a report by this daily, a two-kilometre-long embankment has been facing erosion for months. BWDB delayed repair work for over four months after a 100-metre section collapsed last November. Only on April 24 did they finally begin repairs with geo-bags and CC blocks. If the embankment is not reinforced properly and fast, several critical infrastructures within 500 metres of the bridge's Jajira end and four surrounding villages could come under severe threat from erosion. In another alarming development, there was a severe breach in the BWDB embankment along the Kapotaksha River in Assasuni upazila of Satkhira on Friday, triggering fears that saline river water could inundate at least five nearby villages.

These are not isolated incidents. Embankments built by the BWDB routinely give way due to natural calamities, tidal pressure, and poorly planned or weak construction, affecting communities time and again. These failings reveal a wider problem of bureaucratic inefficiency, poor planning, contractor negligence, and inadequate local engagement, all of which must be addressed. We urge the government to undertake a critical review of the state of flood preparedness across the country. It must mobilise resources to properly complete all embankment works in haor and erosion-prone areas, empower community-led flood protection schemes wherever feasible, and strengthen rapid-response mechanisms in vulnerable regions so that any damage from flooding or erosion can be minimised.