Bangladesh Faces Floods Following Intense Heatwave and Heavy Rainfall. After enduring the scorching heat of April and May, Bangladesh has been hit by significant rainfall starting in the second week of June. The continuous downpour has led to flooding in several districts, with the number of affected areas increasing.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Center has indicated that the ongoing flood situation in Sylhet, Sunamganj, and Netrokona could worsen slightly. In contrast, the flood conditions in Moulvibazar are expected to remain stable. Additionally, two more districts have recently experienced new flooding.
The Water Development Board has reported that due to relentless heavy rains and runoff from upstream, water levels in Sylhet’s internal rivers are flowing above the danger mark at six locations.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall for the next 48 hours in the country’s northern, northeastern, and southeastern regions, and adjacent upstream areas.
Current Flood Situation
The flood situation continues to escalate across five districts in northeastern Bangladesh. Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrakona, Moulvibazar, and Sherpur are inundated, with rising river levels contributing to the crisis.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) reported that river waters have breached the danger levels in two additional districts, Habiganj and Feni. According to the center, the Khoyai River in Habiganj and the Muhuri River in Feni crossed the danger mark earlier in the day, leading to fresh floods in these areas. However, officials anticipate that the flooding in these locations will be short-lived.
In the next 24 hours, water levels in the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers in the northern regions are expected to rise, potentially exceeding danger levels at several points. Additionally, the Feni, Halda, Sangu, and Matamuhuri rivers in the southeastern regions are forecasted to approach danger levels.
The Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers are also experiencing increased water levels, which are likely to continue rising over the next 72 hours. The FFWC has also issued warnings that the water levels of the Ganges and Padma rivers may increase within the next 24 hours.
Overall, the northeastern region’s major rivers are seeing an upward trend in water levels, which is expected to persist for at least the next 24 hours. Furthermore, the Brahmaputra’s water levels could surpass danger points at several locations within the next 48 hours.
Local reports from Sylhet indicate that while floodwaters have not significantly entered the city’s 42 wards, the border areas of Gowainghat, Companiganj, Kanaighat, and Jaintiapur are severely affected.
The Sylhet District Administration has reported that 97 unions and municipalities in the district are now flood-affected, with over 700,000 people impacted by the deluge. In response, the administration has established over 650 shelters for the flood victims, accommodating more than 8,400 people thus far.
Officials from the Sylhet Water Development Board attribute the flooding to heavy rainfall in Meghalaya, India, which has a direct impact on Sylhet. In the past 24 hours, Cherapunji in Meghalaya recorded 141 millimeters of rainfall. Authorities hope that if the rainfall decreases below 100 millimeters, water levels will gradually recede. However, if the region experiences an average of over 200 millimeters of rainfall daily, the water levels are expected to rise again, potentially worsening the flood situation.
