Arable land in Rajshahi is shrinking rapidly due to widespread excavation of ponds, posing a serious threat to agricultural production and soil fertility. The district has lost 16,159 hectares of arable land between 2015 and 2023, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). In the 2024–25 fiscal year, fish production in Rajshahi reached 84,803 tons, far exceeding the district’s local demand of 52,063 tons, reflecting the rapid expansion of commercial fish cultivation. Officials and farmers say much of the high-yielding agricultural land has been converted into ponds in violation of Soil Conservation Guidelines and Agricultural Land Protection and Land Use Act, 2018. But if I lease the same land for a commercial pond, I can earn between Tk 80,000 and Tk 120,000 annually.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 13, 2026 18:41 UTC