12 districts face flood risk following heavy rain

Ongoing rainfall in the country may cause floods in at least 12 districts in the coming days, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB). The forecast was issued on Thursday (August 21).

BWDB said that in the past 24 hours, heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred in Sylhet and Rangpur divisions. At the same time, heavy rain has also been reported in India’s Arunachal and Meghalaya states. In the next three days, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in Bangladesh’s Sylhet, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Barishal, and Khulna divisions, as well as in India’s Himalayan foothills of West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, and Tripura.

In Rangpur division, water levels of the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers may rise in the next two days and then remain steady. The Teesta’s water may reach the danger level in Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts, which could temporarily flood low-lying areas near the rivers.

According to BWDB, water levels in the Feni, Muhuri, Selonia, Halda, Sangu, Matamuhuri rivers, and in the Noakhali and Rahmatkhali canals in Chattogram division may rise in the next three days and may flow close to danger levels. As a result, low-lying areas in Feni, Chattogram, Bandarban, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur districts may become flooded.

In addition, water levels in the Surma, Kushiyara, Sarigowain, Lubachhara, Jadukata, Jhalukhali, Manu, Dhalai, and Khowai rivers in Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions are also expected to rise over the next two days and then stabilize on the third day. If the water reaches danger levels, low-lying areas of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj may go under water.