, June 26 -- Farmers in five villages of Barguna's Amtali upazila formed a human chain on Thursday demanding construction of a sluice gate after removing an embankment built across the Garai canal to prevent waterlogging that has damaged thousands of hectares of cropand.

In Khakdan village, frustrated farmers waded knee-deep into waterlogged paddy fields to stage protest.

The protesters alleged that influential individuals have occupied government land along the canal, blocking the water flow, which has led to severe waterlogging in Kukua, Rayabala, Khakdan, Athargachhia, and Godanga villages - affecting nearly 25,000 residents and 2,500 hectares of cropland.

According to locals and officials of the Water Development Board (WDB), a flo...