With the water level in all the major rivers rising and dropping in some, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) has said it is unlikely that the ongoing flood around the country will improve in the next 24 hours.
According to the bulletin issued with data until 9am Wednesday, the situation may further worsen in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona in the next 24 hours.
The flood situation in Bogra, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Tangail, Manikganj, Natore, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Madaripur, Rajbari, Shariatpur and Dhaka may also remain unchanged.
Moreover, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecasts that heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur all over the country in the next few days, which will contribute to raising the rivers’ water level further.
Md Abdul Mannan, a meteorologist at BMD, told Dhaka Tribune that rainfall will continue until Friday and may start declining from Saturday.
“There is rain in upstream [India]. Upstream rainwater in Bangladesh catchment areas of the north-western region [inside India] has no way to go to the Bay of Bengal, except through our rivers.
“So all these water will raise the water levels of these rivers more as they go through,” he said.
Weather forecast
BMD in its bulletin at 9am Wednesday said monsoon was active over Bangladesh and strong over the North Bay.
And because of that, in the next 24 hours, light to moderate rain/thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions.
Moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely at different places around the country.
Meanwhile, in a marine warning issued on Tuesday, the Met Office had asked the maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra to hoist local cautionary signal No 3.
The warning was issued as, under the influence of strong monsoon, squally weather may affect the ports, North Bay and the adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.
All fishing boats and trawlers over the North Bay were advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.
Water level
According to the FFWC bulletin, until 9am Wednesday, 19 rivers were flowing above the danger mark at 30 water level monitoring stations across the country, leading to flooding in 17 districts so far.
Of the 101 monitoring stations, 72 recorded a rising trend in the water level of different rivers at 9am, 28 stations observed a decreasing trend, and one remain unchanged.
According to FFWC, the water level of the Brahmaputra River was rising and may continue to do so in the next 48 hours. Jamuna River was stable but may start rising in the next 24 hours.
These two rivers are mainly responsible for the flood in the country’s northern districts.
The water level of upper Meghna basin in the north-eastern region is also rising, and will continue in the next 48 hours, FFWC said. The rising water will inundate more districts of the region in the next 48 hours.
Moreover, the Teesta River may cross the danger mark at Dalia point during the same period.
Ganges and Padma rivers were stable in the last 24 hours and may remain that way in the next 48 hours.
Currently, Padma River is flowing 104cm above the danger mark at Goalondu point, 75cm at Bhagyakul, 65cm at Mawa, and 35cm at Sureshwar point.
Rivers surrounding Dhaka rising
Meanwhile, Dhaka city is immensely suffering from waterlogging after heavy rain battered the capital for the past few days.
These led to the rise in the water level of rivers surrounding the city, which may continue in the next 24 hours. As a result, some neighbourhoods in Badda area have already been flooded.
The water level in Balu River may cross the danger mark in the next 24 hours at Demra point. It was flowing only 3cm below the mark at 9am Wednesday, according to FFWC.
Lakhya River, or Shitalakshya, was flowing 10cm above the danger level at Narayanganj point at the same time.
The water level in Turag River, which rose 13cm in the last 24 hours, was flowing 17cm below the danger mark at Mirpur point at 9am. Also, Tongi Khal (canal) was flowing 23cm below the mark at Tongi point.
However, the water level in the Buriganga River is still stable and on a safe/normal level.
