Staff Reporter :
All the major rivers except Jamuna are in spate following heavy rains for three consecutive days in the region and beyond the border, creating a sense of fear for another round of floods in the country.
As a result, the major rivers of Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona districts in the north-eastern region have been rising rapidly in the late monsoon, forecasting a negative impact of climate change.
According to the Flood Forecasting Warning Centre (FFWC), rivers water of the Brahmaputra, the Ganges and the Padma which may continue to rise in the next 24 hours, while the Jamuna river is in steady state which may continue next 24 hours.
Besides, all the major rivers in the north-eastern region of the country are likely to continue to rise in the next 24 hours, FFWC bulletin added.
Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, Executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board said, “As per information of meteorological agencies, there is chance of medium to heavy rainfall at some places in the north-eastern part of the country and adjoining upstream part of India in the next 24 hours. As a result, low-lying areas of the region may experience flood water.”
He further said that people from some parts of the country are likely to face another round of flooding.
“Heavy rain is ongoing upstream. As a result, floodwater will continue inundating the Teesta basin and Sylhet division for most of this week. But the increased level of water won’t last long,” Arifuzzaman said.
Our Sylhet Bureau office reports: Incessant rains since early Saturday submerged many parts Sylhet city under knee-deep water. Vast areas of the city have been hit by acute waterlogging.
Water has also entered households and shops, causing immense sufferings to people living in low-lying areas.
Locals complained that waterlogging happened due to poor drainage system in the city.
“A downpour for a couple of hours inundates most of the city areas due to incomplete drainage construction. Besides, rainwater can’t pass as local influential people have filled up almost all the water bodies,” said Kawsar Mia, a city resident.
According to the FFWC, water level is rising fast in rivers and flowing through Sylhet and Sunamganj. A temporary flooding is likely to affect these two districts within this week. However, the losses will be minimal as no crop is currently being cultivated in the division’s Haor areas.
“The current bout of rain will continue till September 6, while another round may drench Sylhet division next week,” said Saeed Ahmad Chowdhury, a senior meteorologist at Sylhet Meteorological Center.
According to forecast by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), seasonal air will cause rain in Sylhet division for the next few days. Besides, a forecast from Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) has said that water level in almost all the rivers of the country will rise due to excessive rain in the upstream.
In June, a record-level flooding inundated almost 80 percent area of Sylhet division. The deluge that ravaged the region from June to August claimed more than 80 lives and forced many to flee their flooded homes and take shelter on highways and buildings in whatever little dry places were left.
Mendibagh, Kusighat, Topkhana, Kalighat, Sheikhghat areas adjacent to Surma river in the city are seen to be full of water. If the water rises further, water will enter the business establishments in that area. The Sylhet Water Development Board says that the water in Surma and Kushyiara has not yet crossed the danger level, but the water in the river is rising.
