RANGPUR, Sept 5 2021 (BSS) - The flood situation continued improving
during the last 24 hours ending at 9am today with sharp falls in water levels
of major rivers in the Brahmaputra basin.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of
major rivers marked sharp falls at all points and were flowing above the danger level (DL) today at eight points in the  basin.

Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh today told
BSS that incidents of sporadic riverbank erosion have been reported from more
areas alongside major rivers in Kurigram, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat
districts.

"Currently, riverbank protection works are continuing at several
vulnerable points alongside major rivers in the Brahmaputra basin where the
flood situation might continue improving during the next 72 hours," Ghosh
added.

BWDB officials said water levels of the Dharla marked a fall by 17cm at
Kurigram while Brahmaputra marked a sharp fall by 26cm at Chilmari points
during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am today.

The Dharla was still flowing above the DL by 44cm at Kurigram while
Brahmaputra by 17cm above the DL at Kurigram points at 9 am today.

Besides, water levels of the Jamuna marked sharp falls by 23cm at
Fulchhari and 18cm at Shaghata in Gaibandha, 25cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur,
15cm at Sariakandi, 10cm at Sirajganj and by 7cm at Kazipur points in
Sirajganj during the period.

However, the Jamuna was still flowing above the DL by 25cm at Fulchhari
and 12cm at Shaghata, 34cm at Bahadurabad, 53cm at Sariakandi, 60cm at
Kazipur and 57cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.

The Brahmaputra was flowing below the DL by 41cm at Noonkhawa and 23cm at
Hatia in Kurigram while Ghaghot by 4cm at Gaibandha while Teesta was flowing
below the DL by 20cm at Dalia points in Nilphamari at 9 am today.

Talking to BSS, Executive Engineer of BWDB for its Kurigram Division
Ariful Islam said riverbank protection works are continuing at some
vulnerable points alongside major rivers in the district.

Executive Engineer Mokhlesur Rahman for Gaibandha Division of BWDB said
riverbank protection works are continuing at few vulnerable points alongside
major rivers in the district.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said
floodwater has submerged standing crops on over 30,000 hectares of land in
low-lying areas of Rangpur agriculture region alone till Saturday.

"The extent of crop damages would be less as floodwaters started
receding in a shorter period from submerged croplands in Rangpur, Kurigram,
Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat districts," said Additional Director of the DAE's
Rangpur region Bidhu Bhusan Ray.

Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md Zakir Hossain said the
district administrations have further intensified relief activities in flood-
affected districts of Rangpur division.

Distribution of Taka 3.50 lakh and 20 tonnes of rice among flood-
affected people in Rangpur, 80 tonnes of rice and Taka eight lakh in
Gaibandha and 280 tonnes of rice and Taka 12 lakh in Kurigram continues among
flood-affected families.

Similarly, the district administrations are continuing relief activities
in other flood-affected northern districts in the Brahmaputra basin where the
flood situation continues improving rapidly.