At least 15 people have died and nearly five-million people have been marooned as floodwater has engulfed the 11 districts, leaving hundreds of homes, fishing enclosures and important establishments under several feet deep water.
Many people, with their belongings, are seen wading through waste to knee-deep water to reach safer places as houses have gone under water while some are crying for help to take them to a safe shelter.
Many are still living in their houses as they do not have any alternative. Many took shelter on the roof- top of their houses and having only puffed rice. Many are crying for relief materials and safe drinking water.
People, who are staying out of those affected areas, are anxious, as they are not getting information on their kin.
Record shows that seven rivers, including Khuwai, Kushiara, Manu, Gomati, Halda, Dhalai and Feni are still flowing over the danger level at various points.
Describing the ordeals, locals of Dhum Union under Mirsarai say that many people are still marooned. They are appealing for a boat to go to a safe place. But they cannot be shifted to shelter centres due to shortage of boats.
A local named Mohammad Sabuj told reporters that some families have been stranded at Nayerpur area.
“We need some boats. But, we cannot manage any boat despite hectic attempts,” he said.
It is learnt that people of that area did not leave their houses on Thursday night as water did not enter into their houses.
As water rises at night, many took shelter on the roof-top. Many wished to go to shelter centres on Friday, but they could not move due to shortage of boats.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahfuza Zerin told media that people of that area were asked to leave their houses for a safer place but they refrained from doing so.
“Now they are crying for moving to safer place due to the rise of water on Thursday night. We are trying our best and sending boats. But, the number of boats are not enough,” she said.
Road communications between Dhaka and Chattogram and other parts of the country have been disrupted as national and regional highways went under two to four feet-deep water.
l Five million still marooned
l Cry for succour, water begins to recede
l Communications snapped
Bangladesh Railway has also suspended the operation of 26 trains on the Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Cox's Bazar, Chattogram-Sylhet, Chattogram-Jamalpur and Chattogram-Bhuyapur routes as railway tracks have got damaged at several points due to flash floods in different districts of the east zone of the Bangladesh Railway.
Against the backdrop, there is a sign of improvement as water of the rivers has started receding in some of the flood-hit areas.
Experts hope that the situation may improve if there is no downpour or further onrush of waters from the upstream.
But, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecasts that there may be heavy rain in some parts of the country while landslide may occur at places over the hilly regions of Chattogram division.
Meanwhile, a youth died on Thursday evening while rescuing flood-hit people in Feni.
The deceased was identified as Saiful Islam, a construction worker.
Disaster Management and Relief Ministry's Assistant Secretary Hasan Ali on Friday said 15 people died and 48 lakh people had been affected as the ongoing flood hit 11 districts.
Of the 15, four died in Cumilla, one in Feni, four in Chattogram, one in Noakhali, one in Brahmanbaria, one in Lakshmipur and three in Cox's Bazar districts.
Feni, Cumilla, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Chattogram, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox's Bazar districts have been affected in the ongoing flood since August 20.
Earlier at a briefing at the secretariat, Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Kamrul Hasan said 8,87,629 families had been stranded in the flood while 1,88, 739 people were given shelter to shelter centres.
Kamrul Hasan said Army, Navy, Coast Guard, BGB, fire service and police members as well as volunteers, including students are working for rescue activities in the flood-hit areas.
