DHAKA, July 7, 2020 (BSS) – The flood situation may remain steady in three northwestern districts of Natore, Naogaon and Sirajganj and four central districts of Rajbari, Faridpur, Munshiganj and Shariatpur as water levels of rivers in Brahmaputra and Padma basins marked fall till 9am today.
Water levels of all major rivers in all three –Gages-Padma, Meghna or Surma-Kushiyara and Brahmaputra-Jamuna– basins were in reducing trend till 9am today and it may continue in the next 24 hours in both Padma and Meghna and 48 hours in Brahmaputra basins, said a bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC).
Rivers in the Padma basin flow through Rajbari, Faridpur, Shariatpur and Munshiganj while rivers in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna basin flow through Kurigram, Gaibandha, Natore, Naogaon, Bogura, Jamalpur, Sirajganj, Tangail and some parts of Manikganj.
Thousands of people in 12 northern, northeastern and central districts including Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Thakurgaon, Bogura, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Tangail, Sylhet Sunmganj and Shariatpur are bearing the brunt of floods due to the onrush of water from the upstream in all three — Brahmaputra, Meghna and Padma– basins for the last several days.
Water levels were flowing above danger marks (DM) at 8 points in rivers in the three basins till 9am today while water levels at 63 river stations out of total 101, monitored by FFWC, marked a fall while 37 stations recorded a rise and one other remained steady.
According to FFWC, the recorded rainfalls were 95 millimeters at Bogura and 33mm at Jariyangail station in the last 24 hours till 9am today in the downstream.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) today predicted light to moderate rain is likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, at many places over Dhaka, Mymensingh and Rajshahi divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at some places over the country in the next 24 hours till 9am tomorrow.
Maximum rainfall was recorded 67millimeters (mm) at Teknaf in the last twenty-four hours till 6am today.
Our Rangpur Office Reports: the displaced flood-hit people started returning homes at most places following further improvement in the flood situation in seven northern districts in the Brahmaputra basin during 24 hours till 9 am today.
Meanwhile, sporadic incidents of riverbank erosion have been reported from around 50 points alongside the Dharla, Dudhkumar, Teesta, Brahmaputra, Ghaghot and Jamuna rivers due to stronger river current with recession of floodwaters.
Water levels of the Brahmaputra marked falls by 21cm at Noonkhawa and 20cm at Chilmari while Dharla marked a fall by 29cm at Kurigram and Ghaghot by another 19cm at Gaibandha points during the period.
Water levels of the Jamuna marked sharp falls by 18cm at Fulchhari, 23cm at Bahadurabad, 25cm each at Sariakandi and Kazipur and 17cm at Sirajganj points during the period.
The Brahmaputra was flowing below the DMs by 45cm at Noonkhawa and 32cm at Chilmari while Dharla by 8cm at Kurigram and Ghaghot by 28cm at Gaibandha points at 9 am.
The Jamuna was flowing at the DM at Fulchhari while below the DMs by 6cm at Bahadurabad, 7cm at Sariakandi, 10cm Kazipur and 11cm at Sirajganj points.
However, water level of the Teesta marked a rise by 25cm at Dalia point in Nilphamari and was flowing 25cm below the DM there at 9 am today.
Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said sporadic riverbank erosion has been reported alongside the major rivers from Kurigram, Gaibandha and other areas and protection works are continuing at most places.
Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam said the displaced people already started returning homes as the flood situation continues improving everywhere in Rangpur division.
“The district administrations are ensuring proper distribution of relief goods, baby foods, animal fodders and cash money among the flood-hit people,” he said, adding that the government continues allocating more rice and money frequently for the purpose.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) for Kurigram Dilip Kumar Saha said 400 tonnes of rice and Taka 36.50 lakh allocated by the government are being distributed among 1.22 lakh flood-hit people of 16,100 families in the district.
“We got new allocations of 200 tonnes of rice and Taka five lakh on Monday for distribution among the flood-affected people of the district,” Saha added.
Gaibandha DRRO Mokhlesur Rahman said distribution of 200 tonnes of rice and Taka 13 lakh continues among 3.25 lakh flood-hit people in the district.
“The government allocated 200 tonnes of more rice and Taka five lakh on Monday,” he added.
Similarly, the government continues relief activities in the other flood-affected districts of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Bogura and Sirajganj despite continuous improvement of the flood situation.
Talking to BSS today, Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Amin Ahmed Khan said a total of 713 medical teams have been extending health and medicare services to the flood-hit people in Rangpur division alone.
In Jamalpur the overall flood situation has significantly improved as the river Jamuna is now flowing below its DM.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Office sources said the flood affected nearly 4,00,000 people of 351 villages in 49 unions under all seven upazilas in the district and damaged standing crops on 4455, out of 13343 hectares of land have been.
The DAE office said the loss of crops on account of the flood was estimated at about Tk 43 crore 52 lakh 66 thousand.
District Administration sources said the people who were in shelter centers started returning homes as flood water started receding since a couple of days .