The story goes like this: for years, locals near the rivers, in absence of proper waste management facilities, dump household garbage (which include large amounts of plastic) right into the river, thinking that the water will carry it away.
Teesta water flowing 40 cm above danger level banglamirrornews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from banglamirrornews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
First, there was Cyclone Amphan which damaged crops worth Tk 6.72 billion, according to the agriculture ministry.
Then there was what scientists call the longest flood in around 20 years, completely upending the crop schedule of Aman rice and staple root vegetables.
A statement from the agriculture ministry last week estimated that 1,05,000 hectares of the Aman rice harvest was ruined last year, leading to a production shortfall of 20 lakh tonnes.
Despite counting heavy losses due to extreme weather conditions and natural disasters, farmers still managed to pull through keeping the nation fed with no major food or grain crisis on their watch.