SYLHET, June 23, 2024 (BSS) - Although flood situation in Sylhet and
Sunamganj is improving in a slow pace, over 15 lakh people have been
stranded in the two northwestern districts in Bangladesh.

Residents and officials of local administrations told BSS that overall flood
situation is in improving trend in both Sylhet and Sunamganj region as no
significant rainfall was recorded in the past couple of days.

Echoing the observation made by officials concerned and local people, flood
Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) predicted that overall improvement of
the flood situation in various low-lying areas of the North-eastern part of
the country may continue in the next 72 hours.
 
According to the local administration, 15,45,114 people have been marooned in
Sylhet and Sunamganj districts as this year's second spell of flood submerged
vast swaths of the two district creating huge suffering of the people.

Among the total people, who are marooned by flood water, 6.92 lakh people are
in Sunamganj and 8.52 lakh people are in Sylhet, they added.
 
Officials of Sylhet district administration said the first spell of flood
affected thousands of people in 13 upazilas and municipalities of Sylhet
district in late May and the flash flood prolonged in the first week of the
current month, leaving a large number of people marooned.
 
The authorities have set up 6,392 shelter centres after the second round of
flood hit Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. As flood water started receding,
people are going to home from shelter centres.
 
The Sunamganj district administration sources said flood water submerged 11
upazilas and Sunamgaj municipality.

Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Anwaruzzaman Choudhury said, "Volunteer
teams of city corporation are working to extend assistances for flood-hit
people. We have arranged adequate amount of food at shelter centres."

A devastating flood, triggered by heavy rainfall and onrush water from hilly
regions, have affected 20 lakh people in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts,
according to a statement of UNICEF issued on June 23.

The statement, signed by Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh,
read among 20 lakh flood affected people in two northeastern regions - Sylhet
and Sunamganj - 7.72 lakh are children.
 
The UNICEF called for emergency assistances for flood-hit children as they
(children) are the venerable segment of the population in case of any natural
disaster.

Sheldon Yett said, "When flood waters are in rising trend, unsecured
condition has been created for children. They face different problems
including drowning, malnutrition and various water-borne diseases."

The UNICEF in cooperation with Bangladesh government and other organization
working at field level have distributed safe drinking water among one lakh
flood-hit people in Sylhet and Sunamganj to reduce their suffering.

Water levels at 55 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning
Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 54 stations recorded fall.
 
Among the 110 monitored river stations, water levels at six river stations
are flowing above the danger level, a bulletin issued by the FFWC said here
today.
 
The Surma river is flowing at 23cm above danger level at Kanaighat station
while the Kushiyara at Amalsad, at Sherpur-Sylhet and
at Markuli, the Old Surma at Derai and the Someshwari at Kalmakanda are
flowing at 23cm, 39cm, 07cm, 33cm, 15cm and 29cm respectively.
 
The Brahmaputra-Jamuna river is in falling trend, which may continue in next
24 hours, the FFWC bulletin said, adding the Ganges-Padma rivers are in
rising trend, which may continue in next 72 hours.
 
The major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country except Kushiyara
river are in falling trend which may continue in the next 24 hours.
 
Overall improvement of the flood situation in various low-lying areas of the
North-eastern part of the country may continue in the next 72 hours.
 
According to the information from meteorological organizations, medium to
heavy rainfall in next 24 to 48 hours is expected in the Northern and
adjoining upstream parts of the country. As a result, the water level of
Teesta river in that region may rise in the next 48 hours.