State Minister: Flood situation may start improving in a few days

The overall flood situation of the country will improve in a few days, said the state minister for Disaster Management and Relief.

At a press briefing, on the overall flood situation at his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday, Dr Enamur Rahman said the flood may not last for long.

He said : “We feared a lengthy flood this year but the water level of Brahmaputra, Surma, and Dharla started receding.

“Flood started as the water level of some rivers had started rising from June 26-27 and started falling around July 6-7. But the water level started to rise again from July 11. It would take a few days for the water to recede.”

“If the flood lasts longer, we have made preparations to tackle it. We have enough relief including rice, cash, dry food, food for children, and cattle fodder in our stock. Government’s ability has also increased to tackle this kind of natural calamity,” he said.

This year's flood has so far claimed eight lives in five districts, said Rahman. Of them, four died in Jamalpur and one each in Lalmonirhat, Sunamganj, Sylhet and Tangail.

However, our correspondents reported at least 14 deaths by drowning in Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Moulvibazar, and Narsingdi on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) noted that the country's overall flood situation may start improving in a few days as the water level of most of the rivers will start falling from Saturday morning.

The FFWC at 9am on Thursday said the water level of Brahmaputra remains unchanged and it will start falling in the next 48 hours. The rising trend of Jamuna river water will stop in the next 48 hours though the water level of the river is still rising.

Moreover, the water level of all the rivers except Kushiyara of upper Meghna basin of north-eastern region of the country is falling continuously and this falling trend will continue for the next 48 hours.

FFWC said, flood situation may improve in Sylhet, Sunamganj, and Kurigram in the next 24 hours while deterioration may halt in Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Natore, Bogra, and Natore over the same period.

On the other hand, Padma and Ganges will continue to rise in the next 48 hours. Moreover, data shows that the water level of  Dhaleshwari, Atrai, Gur rivers of the central region is on a rising trend and still flowing above the danger line.

Rise of water level of these rivers is responsible for deterioration of flood situation in central districts.

Analyzing the data, FFWC  said that the flood situation of some central districts may deteriorate further in the next 24 hours. The districts are Sirajganj, Tangail, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Rajbari, and Dhaka.

Earlier in this week FFWC official said water level may further increase as there is a possibility of some rain again in the upstream which may cause another wave (third wave) of flood.

Enamur Rahman said: “If there is no rainfall upstream [in different states of India], the flood will not last as long as we feared.

The state minister said: “So far, more than 30,000 people took shelter in 1,544 shelter centres in 12 districts. More than 56,000 cattle were also taken to the shelter centres. We distributed 4,850 tons of rice and Tk1.9 crore to the affected community, Cattle fodder worth Tk21 lakh has been distributed along with the same amount for food for children.”

“We have 2,461 metric ton rice, and 16,800 packets of dry food in stock,” he added.

He said: “About 535 unions of 92 upazilas in 18 districts have been affected so far in this year’s flood.”

Water levels

Of the 101 water level monitoring stations of the Bangladesh Water Development Board across Bangladesh, 55 stations observed an increase in water levels, while 45 saw a decrease. The water level remained unchanged at one station.

Water levels at 22 points in rivers across the country are currently flowing above the danger mark including the Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Surma, Gur, Ghagot, Atrai, Padma, Kushiyara, and Dhaleshwari rivers.