The overall flood situation remained mostly stable as water levels of the major rivers marked little rises at places during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am Monday in the Brahmaputra basin.
Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of the major rivers may mark little rises during the next 48 hours as the Brahmaputra is currently in a slightly rising trend while the Jamuna is in a steady state.
As the rate of onrushing water continues to decrease following less monsoon rains in the upstream in recent days, the flood situation may remain mostly stable in the Brahmaputra basin during the next couple of days.
According to a flood situation bulletin of BWDB’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), water levels of the Brahmaputra and Jamuna may rise in the next 48 hours.
“In the next 24 hours, the flood situation at low lying areas of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj districts in the upper Brahmaputra basin may deteriorate,” the bulletin said.
According to the bulletin and local BWDB officials, major rivers were flowing above the danger levels (DL) at seven points in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj districts today.
Water level of the Dharla further rose by 10cm at Kurigram point during the last 24 hours and was flowing above the DL by 34cm there at 9 am today.
Water level of the Brahmaputra marked a further rise by 8cm at Chilmari point and was flowing above the DL by 26m there at 9 am today.
However, water levels of the Jamuna marked little rises by 5cm at Fulchhari, 2cm at Bahadurabad, 2cm at Sariakandi, 5cm at Kazipur and remained unchanged at Sirajganj points during the last 24 hours.
At 9 am today, the Jamuna was flowing above the DL by 0cm at Fulchhari, 14cm at Bahadurabad, 32cm at Sariakandi, 31 at Kazipur and 34cm at Sirajganj points in the Brahmaputra basin.
However, water levels of the Teesta marked falls by 32cm at Dalia and 9cm at Kawnia during the period and were flowing below the DL by 32cm and 18cm at these points respectively at 9 am today.
Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh told BSS that the flood situation currently remains mostly steady at low-lying areas of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts.
He hoped that the short-term flooding is likely to start improving in the next 48 to 72 hours in the Brahmaputra basin as the rate of onrushing water continues reducing with weakening of seasonal rains both in the upstream and downstream.
“There is no report of breaching of flood control embankments and other devices anywhere in Rangpur division under the zone. We are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring safety of flood control structures,” Ghosh added.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Zakir Hossain said the district and upazila administrations are closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary steps where needed in Rangpur division.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) of Rangpur ATM Akhteruzzaman said the district administration has allocated Taka 3.50 lakh and 20 tonnes of rice for distribution among flood-affected people of Gangachara upazila.
Gaibandha DRRO Idris Ali said the district administration has allocated 40 tonnes of rice and taka two lakh for distribution among flood-hit people of the district.
Kurigram DRRO Abdul Hye Sarker said the district administration has already allocated 280 tonnes of rice and taka 12 lakh for distribution among flood-hit people of the district.
