Country’s overall flood situation will completely be improved within a week, Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) experts expressed hope on Wednesday.
“The overall flood situation has been improving for the last three days as water level continues to decline in many rivers. Water level has been declining in the Ganges basin for the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday. We expect that the situation will completely be improved within a week,” Md. Arifuzzaman Bhuyan, executive engineer, FFWC, told Bangladesh Post on Wednesday.
A total of 55 lakh 63 thousand and 777 people have been affected in the ongoing deluge.
Besides, the flood water damaged houses, crop lands, tress and washed away fish ponds in the 33 north, northwest, northeast and mid-districts across the country.
The flood coupled with onrushing of water from upstream catchment areas amidst heavy downpour in undated most low-laying areas of Dhaka, Gazipur, Tangail, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Gopalganj, Kishorganj, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Jamalpur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Brahmanbaria, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore, Sirajganj, Bogura, Pabna, Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Sunamganj districts, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and Ministry of Water Resources.
On the other hand, the government has so far distributed more than Taka 2.42 crore cash assistance among the flood affected victims as more than 55 lakh people have been badly affected by the recent flood.
The government has so far dispensed Taka 2, 42, 71,200 out of allocated Taka 4,16,50,000 in cash among the flood-hit people till August 4,” according to the data provided by the district administrations.
In addition, the government has also allocated 16,410 tonnes of rice, from which, 10,048 tonnes have been distributed among the flood affected people in 33 districts
On the other hand, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Wednesday predicted moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall at some places over southern part of the country.
It also forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places in Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka and Rajshahi divisions and at some places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions today (Thursday).
According to, FFWC, Met office and agencies, amidst heavy downpour and onrushing of water from upstream catchment areas, water level in many of the rivers has started rising again in Ganges basin after receding in six consecutive days.
Local office of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has recorded a rising trend of water at the points of Pankha, Rajshahi and Hardinge Bridge afresh in the past 24 hours ending 9 am on Wednesday, Mukhlesur Rahman, Superintending Engineer of BWDB,
Water levels of the Ganges River marked rise by two centimeters (cm) at Pankha in Chapainawabganj, one cm at Rajshahi and three cms at Hardinge points, while the water level in the Padma River fell by five cm at Goalunda point.
However, the Ganges River was flowing 171 cm, 179 cm and 93 cm below the danger level at Pankha, Rajshahi and Hardinge Bridge points respectively while the Padma River was flowing 73 cm above the danger mark with a five cm fall at Gualundo point, he added.
Of 30 river points monitored in Ganges basin on Wednesday, water levels went up at 14 points, while decreased at 15 stations and remained stable at one point at 9 am in the day.
The rivers were flowing below the danger level at 23 points, while above danger mark at five points on Wednesday morning.
On the other hand, the water level of the Korotoa River and the Jamuna River under the Brahmaputra Basin which flow through Bogura and Sirajganj districts was seen a declining trend further in the morning, forecasting improvement of the flood situation in the two districts within the next couple of days.
Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), said the water level in the Korotoa River decreased by one cm at Chak Rahimpur, while declined by eight cm at Bogura point.
The river was flowing four cm above the danger mark at Chak Rahimpur, while 169 cm below the danger mark at Bogura stations on Wednesday morning.
The Jamuna River declined by 17 cm at Sariakandi in Bogura, 18 cm at Kazipur in Sirajganj and 11 cm at Sirajganj points and the river was still flowing 31 cm, 4 cm and 19 cm above the danger mark at Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points respectively.
He also said the water level in the Gur River decreased by four cm at Shingra point in Natore district.
The Atrai River was flowing 67 cm above the danger level at Baghabari point in Sirajganj district with a six cm fall afresh on Wednesday morning.
Water level in the Mohananda River further went up by five cm at Rohanpur in Chapainawabganj district and the river was flowing 84 cm below the danger mark while water level in the same river went up by five cm at Chapainawabganj point.
The Atrai River was flowing six cm below the danger mark at Atrai point in Naogaon with an eight cm fall afresh while 311 cm below the danger mark with 75 cm fall at Mohadevpur point in Naogaon.
Of the 16 river points both in Ganges and Brahmaputra Basins, monitored in many of the districts under Rajshahi division regularly, water levels decreased at 10 points, went up at five points and remained stable at one point.
However, the rivers were flowing below the danger level at 10 points, while above danger mark at six points on Wednesday morning.
In kurigram, people are returning to their homes as the flood situation gradually improves in Kurigram with major rivers flowing through the districts all flowing below the danger level.
Brahmmaputra was flowing 11cm below its danger level at Chilmari point while Dharla was flowing 21cm under its danger mark at Bridge point area. Teesta was 55cm below the red mark at Kaunia point on Wednesday morning.
An estimated 350,000 people in 56 unions of the district have been affected by the flood. Many of those who took shelter on high grounds are starting to return to their homesteads as the flood water is receding.
