Lightning protection devices has been sought to installed by the farmers of Jamuna River to save lives in Bogura Char area. Meanwhile, Rural Development Academy (RDA) has experimentally installed 15 lightning arrestors across the country along with two  at Nayapara Char in Sariakandi upazila of the district. The research initiatives is going on the matter.

According to their research, there has been no damage in the past one year within one and a half kilometers of the installed lightning rod.  It has been found that more than two lakh people live in total 71 pastures in Sariakandi, Sonatala and Dhunat upazilas of Bogura of Jamuna River.

Every year due to the erosion of the river, the most peaceful four-dwellers have to move from one char to another. Their livelihood is fighting with the river. Majority of the people of Char are low class, who are dependent on agriculture.

Fodder farming is a variety of crops including domestic and foreign vegetables and high-yielding chillies. The crops produced here go all over the country. But men and women of various professions are losing their lives due to lightning strikes in houses and treeless vast open fields.

According to the government, at least 40 people have died due to lightning in Bogura in the last four years. Moreover, many people have lost their performance due to lightning injuries. The government declared it a disaster in 2015 due to the increase in deaths due to lightning strikes. Several projects were also taken to prevent death in this incident.

A 30-40 foot long rod consists of three- to four-inch GIP pipe and copper wire. A device is placed on top of the bar. It is called a lightning arrester. Its main function is to pull the lightning to the ground if it falls within the specified diameter. This device is active all the time. By doing this, the farmers can work safely in the field.

Abdur Rashid Mondal of Karnibari union of Sariakandi died after being struck by lightning while clearing the pepper field. Ashraful Islam (45) and Babu Mia (51) of that village were injured in the same incident.

Ayan Uddin, the victim of robbers, said that since there are no tall trees and houses in the Char area, the farmers and laborers of Char are victims of such accidents every year. Crops are also getting damaged. Families of accident victims are suffering.

However, no such incident took place in Nayapara village of Hatsherpur union due to the installation of lightning rod. Therefore, our demand that lightning rod should be installed in every char like Nayapara.

Project Director of Char Development Research Center and joint director of RDA Dr. Abdul Majeed Pramanik said that the death rate of farmers and laborers in the country’s Char area and Haor area due to lightning is the highest. Although the death rate from lightning has increased in recent years due to climate change, there has been no loss in the diameter of our installed lightning arresters.

Therefore, in order to prevent the loss of life of farmers and laborers due to lightning strikes, it is necessary to install sufficient number of lightning protection bars in the Char area by public and private initiatives. Rural Development Academy is working towards that goal.