Bangladesh, Sept. 27 -- About 15,000 hectares of cropland has gone under water in nine upazilas of Kurigram during the fifth phase flooding triggered by onrush of upstream water and heavy downpours.

The amount of damage incurred by farmers was not immediately clear.

A large-scale destruction of crops could potentially cause a shortage in the local market and trigger price hike.

"Damage to crops could increase further," said Shamsuddin Mia, the acting deputy director of Kurigram Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

He said it would take them about a week to estimate the loss.

"A total of 15,000 hectares of cropland containing Ropa Aman, peanuts, vegetables, among others, went under water in the district," Mia said.

60,000 peopl...