The Tita Beel and Barashia Canal in Alfadanga Upazila have been overrun by water hyacinth, making it increasingly difficult to navigate the waters. The rapid spread of the invasive plant has nearly halted boat traffic and fishing, causing significant distress for local communities.
In Togarband Union, hundreds of residents depend on fishing in Tita Beel for their livelihoods. The thick growth of water hyacinth now prevents them from casting nets, leaving many families financially strained. Locals have attempted to remove the weeds, but they quickly return, undoing their efforts.
Layek Mia, a fisherman from Tita village, has been unable to fish for over a month due to the dense vegetation. He purchased nets with a loan of nearly 200,000 taka and relies on fishing to support his household. “The water hyacinth has spread so extensively that we cannot set our nets. We appeal to the government to help clear it,” he said.
Fishermen Monir Hossain and Ramjan Mia echoed his concerns, noting that two months have passed without fishing. They warned that if the hyacinth is not removed, fish production will decline further, and many households will continue to struggle to survive.
The Tita Beel is also home to a scenic floating bridge, considered the country’s third floating bridge, which attracts visitors from distant areas. Tourists often explore the beel by boat and bathe in the waters, while local residents earn income by renting boats by the hour. However, the rapid growth of water hyacinth has brought boating to a standstill, forcing tourists to leave and leaving boat operators unemployed.
Rakib Hasan, a local student who supplements his income by operating a boat, has also been affected. He relies on the earnings to fund his education and support his family, but has been unable to navigate the beel for two months.
The Barashia Canal adjacent to the upazila has similarly been engulfed by water hyacinth, disrupting the lives of residents on both banks. Housewives reported that duck farming has been negatively affected, as ducks cannot swim properly in the congested water, reducing egg production.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Russel Iqbal confirmed that he has received reports of the water hyacinth invasion in both the beel and canal. He stated that, for the benefit of local communities, an initiative will be launched soon to remove the invasive plants and restore normalcy to the waterways.
