Fresh floods likely in 10 districts in 72 hours

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) issued a special bulletin on Saturday evening, stating that five major rivers were surpassing danger marks at seven monitoring stations across six districts.

Short-term flooding may develop within the next one to three days in the low-lying areas adjacent to rivers in Feni, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Sylhet, Netrokona, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Gaibandha districts.

The agency said rivers in Sylhet division and parts of northern Bangladesh may exceed danger levels, with low-lying areas along the riverbanks at risk of temporary inundation.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast for Sylhet and neighbouring India’s Assam and Meghalaya states, which is expected to push up water levels in the Surma, Kushiyara, Sarigowain, Jadukata, Someshwari and Bhugai-Kangsha rivers.

In the south-east, the Muhuri, Feni, Selonia and Halda rivers could overflow in parts of Feni, Chattogram and Khagrachhari, while some low-lying areas of Lakshmipur and Noakhali may also be temporarily flooded.

The FFWC also warned that the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers could cross danger levels in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha, increasing the risk of flooding in nearby lowlands.

The forecasting centre said the flood situation could worsen in parts of Sylhet and Sunamganj over the next 24 to 72 hours as the Surma and Kushiyara rivers continue to rise.

Over the next three days, it cited, the total cumulative rainfall could reach 300-450 milimetre (mm) in north-eastern districts and 250-350 mm in northern frontier areas.

However, it said conditions are expected to improve in parts of Bandarban, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Moulvibazar and Habiganj, where water levels in the Sangu, Matamuhuri, Manu, Dhalai and Khowai rivers are forecast to recede.