Special Correspondent //

Water levels in the country’s rivers are rising due to rain and upstream inflows. In particular, the water of Teesta, Padma and Jamuna is flowing close to or above the danger level at various points. This has raised the threat of flooding in vast low-lying areas of at least 12 districts. Cropland, houses and char areas have already been submerged in several districts. Thousands of families have been waterlogged.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Center of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (PWB) said in its latest bulletin on Wednesday – Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram, Rajbari, Faridpur, Pabna, Manikganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Munshiganj and low-lying areas along the rivers of Dhaka are at risk of flooding. Aman paddy and vegetable fields have been submerged. People are suffering as water enters their homes.

News sent by correspondents-

Water in Rajshahi slums: Low-lying areas have been flooded due to the inflow of Padma water into Rajshahi metropolis. In the northern areas of the city, footpaths are submerged with just a little rain. The water of the Padma flowing through the southern end has overflowed into many homes.

Halima Begum, a resident of Kharbona, Panchabati, is now knee-deep in water. She has raised the stove on the chowki for cooking. This is the situation due to the rising water of the Padma.’

A visit to the slums adjacent to the embankment of the Water Development Board in the Srirampur area showed that the water of the Padma has entered the houses. The locals said, ‘We live in the city, but we live like in a village. When the water level in the river rises, the houses drown – this is a problem every year.’ In the Roypara area adjacent to the Aam Chattar, the surrounding slums are floating in the overflowing water of the Baten Beel.
They also said, ‘There is no drain for rainwater to drain here. All the water goes into the bill. When the bill is full, it enters the houses. The same suffering year after year.’ Rajshahi Raksha Sangram Parishad General Secretary Md. Jamat Khan complained, ‘Although there is development in the central city, the condition of the suburbs is pathetic. There are big projects and money lying around, but development is not happening. Only taxes are being increased. We want the development of the city to be balanced.’

Pure water crisis in 15 chars of Padma in Bagha: Waterlogged in Bagha of Rajshahi A pure water crisis has arisen in 15 chars of Padma. About 17,000 people have been waterlogged in 15 chars for a week. Most of the tube wells of houses are submerged in water. Such a picture was seen on Thursday when we went to the spot.

People on the banks of Jamuna in fear of floods in Bogra

The water of the Jamuna river continues to rise in Saryakandi of Bogra. The Water Development Board has said that there is a possibility of flooding in the last week of this month or the first week of September. People on the banks of Jamuna are in fear of floods. The upazila administration has made advance preparations to deal with the floods. Executive Engineer of Bogra District Water Development Board Nazmul Haque said that the water level of the Jamuna will continue to rise and there is a possibility that the water level will be close to or exceed the danger level in the next three days. Sariakandi Upazila Executive Officer Shahriar Rahman said that although there is a threat of flooding, there is no reason for the locals to panic. Advance preparations have been made to deal with the flood.

More than 500 families trapped in Lalpur

The Padma water level in Lalpur, Natore has risen, submerging crops on about 518 hectares of char areas. More than 500 homes in 18 villages have been flooded. Natore Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md. Rifat Karim said that the water level at Ishwardi Hardinge Bridge Point was 12.90 meters as of 9 am on Thursday. Currently, the Padma water in Lalpur is flowing 90 centimeters below the danger level. The water level may continue to rise for the next two days. On Thursday, a visit to the Padma char areas showed that due to the rise in the Padma water in the past few days, about 18 char areas including Nowshara Sultanpur, Chakla Binodpur, Diyarshankarpur, Araji Baknai, Rasulpur and Moharkaya in the upazila have been flooded, damaging homes and various types of crops.

Teesta River swells further in Dimla

The Teesta River has swelled further in the Bangladesh side due to heavy rains, hill slopes and water release from Gazoldoba. It was flowing above 18 centimeters at 12 noon on Thursday. At 3 pm, it was flowing above the danger level by 3 centimeters. The water continues to rise. 44 sluice gates have been opened at Dalia Point in Dimla Upazila of Nilphamari on the Teesta Barrage to control the flow of water. Executive Engineer of Dalia Division of the Water Development Board, Amitabh Chowdhury, said that the Teesta basin area has been flooded. Homesteads and crop lands in the lower reaches of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, and Kurigram districts have been submerged. According to sources, about 4,000 cusecs of water was released from the Gazoldoba Teesta Barrage in India upstream on Thursday. If the water release continues, the flood situation in Teesta will further deteriorate.

Low-lying areas in Kurigram are flooded

The water level of Teesta, Dudhkumar, Dharla, and Brahmaputra rivers is rising in Kurigram. The water level of Dudhkumar river is flowing 6 centimeters above the danger level. The low-lying areas are flooded. Agricultural land in the char area is submerged. The district administration has opened control rooms in 6 flood-prone upazilas to deal with the floods.

Flood situation worsens in Kushtia

The flood situation has further deteriorated in Daulatpur, Kushtia. The water level in the Padma has increased by 10 centimeters in the last 24 hours. Several thousand families in 4 unions along the river banks of the upazila are waterlogged. Most of the roads are submerged. The situation is particularly dire in most areas of Chilmari and Ramakrishnapur unions. On Wednesday, classes were suspended in 18 educational institutions in these two unions. On Thursday, 3 more educational institutions were added, making a total of 21 schools closed. Crops on about 1,000 hectares of land have been submerged. The upazila administration has started working to help the flood-affected families. Upazila Executive Officer Abdul Hai Siddiqui inspected the flood-affected areas. He said that food assistance is being provided to the flood victims.

Bhola ferry and launch ghat submerged

Ilisha launch and ferry ghat submerged due to rising water in Bhola. Passengers on Bhola-Lakshmipur, Bhola-Dhaka routes are facing extreme hardship. On Thursday, for the fourth day, the approach road in the ghat area was submerged in tidal water for 8 hours. Passengers from about 21 districts including Dhaka and Chittagong are facing hardship while boarding and disembarking from the launch. Loading and unloading of ferries is stopped due to the submergence of the Elisha ferry ghat. The Meteorological Department has issued warning signal number 3 due to rough seas and low pressure. As a result, the BIWTA authorities have stopped navigation on 10 routes in the district including Bhola-Lakshmipur, Bhola-Monpura, Betua-Dhaka from Thursday afternoon.

Express your opinion.