Kurigram, July 24 -- Once hailed as the 'golden fiber' of Bangladesh, jute is now fighting for survival in Fulbari upazila of Kurigram district, as a persistent water crisis stalls the crucial retting process, leaving farmers anxious and uncertain about their yields.

Despite fields brimming with ripe jute, many farmers are hesitant to begin harvesting.

Without sufficient water for retting -- the vital step in extracting fibre -- they fear their crops may rot, pushing them into heavy losses.

A recent visit to different areas of Fulbari revealed growing frustration among jute farmers.

Most local water bodies have dried up, offering little to no help for retting.

Only those residing near the Dharla, Baromasia and Neelkamal rivers have m...