Teesta, Dudhkumar flowing above danger mark, rivers rising in B'putra basin. Photo : BSS

By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, Aug 14, 2025 (BSS) - The Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers are flowing above the danger mark and water levels of other major rivers are showing a rising trend today as it has been for the past few days. 
 
As a result, about 20,000 people from 5,000 families are stranded in the low-lying and char areas of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts, where a temporary flood situation is gradually developing.
 
Talking to BSS this afternoon, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said that heavy monsoon rains and water inflow from the upstream Indian states in the basin are likely in the next 24 hours.
 
"With further rise in water level, the Teesta was flowing 15cm above the danger mark at Dalia point near the Teesta Barrage Project in Nilphamari at 3pm today," said BWDB's Superintending Engineer for Rangpur Circle Md Ahsan Habib.
 
Besides, the Dudhkumar crossed its danger mark at Pateshwari point in Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram district and was flowing above the danger mark by 6cm there at 9 am today inundating some low-lying char areas. 
 
Some low-lying and char areas of several upazilas in Nilphamari and adjoining Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts also went under floodwater of the Teesta river.
 
The rising trend of water levels in major rivers is likely to continue for the next two to three days due to monsoon rains and intense water flow from upper catchment in the Brahmaputra basin.
 
"We are closely monitoring the situation round the clock to take steps to repair any damages or breached flood control structures on an emergency basis anywhere in Rangpur division under BWDB's Rangpur Zone," Engineer Habib said.
 
Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB in a bulletin today said heavy to very heavy rainfall has been observed in Rangpur, Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions and upstream states of India in the last 24 hours. 
 
In the next 24 hours till 9 am on August 15, there is a possibility of moderate to moderately heavy rainfall inside Bangladesh and upstream regions.
 
In the next 12 hours, water levels of the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers may continue to rise, and the Teesta and Dudhkumar may continue to flow above the danger mark and may stabilize in the following 12 hours. 
 
However, on the second and third days, the water levels of these rivers may start to recede and flow below the danger mark, the bulletin said.
 
Water levels of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system have increased in the last 24 hours and may continue to rise for the next three days, possibly flowing at the warning level and may stabilize in the next two days.
 
The recorded rainfalls in the upstream Indian states during the last 24 hours till 9am today were 99mm at Kalimpong and 47mm at Coochbehar in West Bengal and 56mm at Gangtok point in Sikkim.
 
"During the same period, 83mm rainfall was recorded at Pateshwari in Kurigram, 33mm at Kawnia, 34mm at Rangpur and 33m at Dalia points," the bulletin added.
 
The Teesta was flowing below its danger mark by 20cm at Kawnia, Dharla by 60cm below its DM at Kurigram and Brahmaputra was flowing below its danger mark by 110cm at Noonkhawa, 105cm at Hatia and 91cm at Chilmari points at 9 am today.
 
The Jamuna was flowing below its danger mark by 86cm at Fulchhari, 124cm at Bahadurabad, 108cm at Shaghata, 111cm at Sariakandi, 144cm at Kazipur and 105cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.
 
The Jamuna was flowing below its danger mark by 98cm at Fulchhari, 105cm at Bahadurabad, 93cm at Shaghata, 89cm at Sariakandi, 120cm at Kazipur and 86cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am today.