April, May, and June are crucial months for agriculture in Bangladesh. These are the months when Boro rice is harvested and Aman rice is planted. It's also the peak season for harvesting summer fruits and vegetables. But unfortunately, these months are also when lightning strikes happen most frequently.

Experts say that the districts most important for agriculture are also the ones most at risk of lightning. This overlap between peak farming activities and lightning season creates a new danger for farmers.

Just this Monday (May 12) morning, a farmer named Mohammad Firoz (35) from Banshkhali in Chattogram died after being struck by lightning while working in a spiny gourd field. The day before, on Sunday afternoon, three more farmers died in Kishoreganj's Bhairab, Kuliarchar, and Hossainpur areas due to lightning. They were Foysal Mia (28) from Srinagar village, Faruk Mia (65) from Rosulpur, and Kabir Mia (25) from Hajarinagar. Another farmer, Abu Bakar (60), from Araibaria village in Hossainpur, was injured.

Locals said lightning started around 3 pm that day, but the farmers had already worked in the fields for a while before that.

A recent study by two professors from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) highlighted the growing risk of lightning in Bangladesh's agricultural sector. According to their research, lightning is becoming a serious concern, especially since April to June is not only the peak season for farming but also the peak time for lightning. They note that farmer deaths from lightning have an indirect but real impact on agriculture.

The study analyzing how lightning affects agriculture stated that the most important agricultural districts in the country have become lightning hotspots. The agriculture-dependent districts in the country are at higher risk of lightning. These districts include Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Sirajganj, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, and Panchagarh. Additionally, researchers have identified Dhaka, Rangamati, and Khagrachari as lightning-prone areas.

Tanmoy Mazumdar, assistant professor in the Urban and Regional Planning (URP) Department at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and a member of the research team, told Bonik Barta, "We have observed that lightning is directly affecting people working in the agriculture sector. April to June is the most suitable time for harvesting Boro rice and cultivating Aman rice. During this period, lightning occurs more frequently in Bangladesh. As a result, farmers working in the fields are at higher risk. That is why the death rate from lightning is higher among farmers. NASA data shows that lightning incidents usually occur in the early morning, between 11 am and 1 pm, and between 5–6 pm. During these times, farmers typically work in the fields. Also, the important agricultural districts have been identified as major lightning hotspots. To save farmers from lightning deaths, raising awareness and building lightning-safe shelters across large field areas is necessary so that farmers can take shelter when lightning starts."

Agriculture experts say that April to June are important for the country's agriculture. During this time, Boro crops are harvested. After that, land is prepared, and planting is done for Aman and Aus rice. This period is also crucial for summer vegetables and fruits. The districts identified as lightning hotspots—Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Sirajganj, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, and Panchagarh—contribute significantly to the country's agriculture. Md Omar Faruk, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Sunamganj, told Bonik Barta, "If lightning-related farmer deaths increase in important agricultural areas, eventually there will be a shortage of people interested in farming. Farmers come to us and express their concerns. We try to make them aware. However, effective action must be taken by the Ministry of Disaster Management or the Meteorological Department. As agricultural officers, we can't do much in this matter."

Agriculture in the country faces many threats, and lightning has become a new concern. In 2019, Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman, professor of Geography and Environment at Jagannath University, studied deaths and injuries caused by lightning. His research found that between 2012 and 2016, 1,002 people died and 613 were injured due to lightning strikes. The study also showed that after 2016, lightning-related deaths began to rise rapidly.

According to another study, 272 people died from lightning in 2018, 236 in 2019, 213 in 2020, 296 in 2021, and 253 in 2022. Regarding this, Dr. Moniruzzaman said, "Our research shows that a significant number of the dead and injured were involved in farming. If farmers continue to be affected like this, the future of agriculture will be at risk. Especially since April, May, and June are the Boro season. If farmers are not protected, they may be forced to change professions."

Experts say that around 8 million lightning strikes occur every minute across the world. In the past, many people died from lightning in developed countries. However, by installing lightning rods or poles and raising public awareness, they have reduced the death rate.

To reduce lightning-related deaths, delivering lightning forecasts directly to people is important. Thanks to modern technology, predicting when and where lightning may strike is now possible. That means it's possible to know in advance whether thunderclouds will pass over a particular area.

Dr. Moniruzzaman added, "The Meteorological Department can use radar systems to deliver advanced lightning warnings to local people. This can be done through social media, radio, television, and other mass media. If people are informed, they can stay indoors for 30–45 minutes when lightning is likely. Many older buildings used to have lightning rods installed for protection, but their use has now decreased. Still, in many old buildings in the city or across the country, the tops are equipped with three-pronged iron rods connected by electrical grounding wires, which are called earthing wires. We can install such lightning rods in buildings. Also, lightning arresters (also called lightning isolators) can be installed on electric poles or towers in open areas. A lightning arrester creates a gap between electrical wires and the ground to protect power transmission and telecommunication systems from damage. Since farmers are most affected, it is important to build shelter centers in the large haor regions to protect them."