Md. Kamruzzaman Khan Picklu, Chitalmari, Bagerhat:
Hundreds of shrimp farmers in Bagerhat district are passing days in furry since they did not see any significant rainfall in the span of last few months while extreme heatwave intensified their worries.
In Chitalmari of Bagerhat, due to a prolonged drought and extreme heat wave, shrimps and other fishes are dying in the farms, which are locally called ‘Gher’.
Besides, water shortage has occurred due to obstruction of most of the canals in the area. In this situation shrimp farming is under serious threat.
Talking to local farmers, it was learned that most of the shrimp farms in the area have dried up due to drought since there is no rain in the last few months. 
In addition, due to the rise in temperature, the water in the enclosure became too hot and the fish became infected. Rui-katal and other fish including shrimp are dying for this. If such hostile weather continues, the farmers will face huge losses. In such a situation the farmers have lost their way.
Gorachand Ghosh, a shrimp farmer from Durgapur village of the upazila and a local UP member, Vibhas Mondal and Asim Mondal of Shyampara village expressed their frustration and said that such hostile weather has not been seen in the last few years.
Thanks to the long absence of rain this year, most of the shrimps farms have dried up. Other fish including shrimps are dying at a massive rate due to the heat of the surrounding water. They are expecting to face extreme losses.
Upazila Fisheries Officer Sohail Mohammad Zillur Rahman Reagan said shrimp has been farmed on 6,890 hectares of land in the area.
Due to the drought and rising temperatures, many fish are dying this year, he said adding that water shortage has occurred due to dams in many canals.
He also expressed his fear, that if it does not rain soon, the farmers will certainly incur huge losses.
