Latest update: Bangladesh flood situation

Bangladesh has been suffering from one of the most catastrophic floods in the country’s history.

Just as the country recovers from Cyclone Remal, which impacted 4.6 million people and destroyed 35,000 houses, the northeastern region has been hit by flash flooding.

Massive floods have recently impacted millions in Bangladesh where torrential rains have caused flash floods and landslides with several rivers overflowing and major dams at risk.

The flood appeared suddenly at midnight on Wednesday. The situation has worsened in Cumilla and khulna. On the other hand, flood water has started receding in Noakhali and Feni districts. The Views Bangladesh is set to provide the visitors a glance into the events centering the flood situation.

New areas flooded in Cumilla
Flood situation in Cumilla deteriorated further with the flooding of fresh areas in the past 24 hours till Saturday (August 24) morning, leaving seven lakh people stranded.

The water level of Gumti River is flowing 80cm above its danger mark during this period.

According to the local administration, a total of 726 shelter centres were opened in the district and some 50,000 people took shelter in those centres.

A total of 340 metric tonnes of rice and Tk 15 lakh cash have been allocated for the flood-affected people in the district while a total of 225 medical teams were kept ready to provide medical treatments.

Flood water starts receding in Noakhali
The flood water has started receding from Noakhali as the district has not received heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Noakhali Water Development Board confirmed this information on Saturday (August 24) morning.

According to the information of the Water Development Board, the water level has decreased by three to four inches in the district town and surrounding upazilas. Also, the water is coming down at high speed through the regulator connected to the river.

Flood water starts receding in 2 Feni upazilas
Flood water has started receding at Parashuram and Chhagalnaiya upazilas in Feni as there was no rainfall for the last two days.

However, the district town and Sonagazi upazila are still submerged under water.

The district administration confirmed this information to the media on Saturday (August 24).

Sources from the relief and rehabilitation branch of the district administration said that more than three lakh people have been affected by the flood in the district. So far, 20,000 people have been rescued and kept in various shelters.

Feni Deputy Commissioner Mushammat Shahina Akhtar said, “Rescue work is going on in the flood-hit area with the combination of army, coast guard, fire service, students and volunteers. So far, 500 tonnes of rice and Tk 10 lakh have been allocated from the disaster ministry for the flood victims.”

Embankment breach floods 19 villages in Khulna, thousands stranded
The embankment breach in Paikgachha and Dacope upazilas of Khulna has flooded 19 villages, leaving thousands of residents stranded.

The Kalinagar Rekhamari dam in Paikgachha and the Khalisa dam in Dacope collapsed, flooding 13 and 6 villages respectively. The flood has damaged shrimp farms, seedlings, paddy, and seedbeds.

Ashraful Alam, the executive engineer of the Water Development Board (Khulna-2), confirmed the breach of those embankments.

Despite local repair efforts, high tidal water pressure and structural damage have hindered containment efforts. The villages affected are Kalinagar, Darul Mallik, Gopi Pagla, Telikhali, Syedkhali, Khajurtala, Sener Ber, Hatbari, Fulbari, Bagirdana, Durgapur, Horinkhola, and Nowai Paikgacha, and Khulisa, Pankhali, Anandnagar, in Dacope.

Bangladesh flood claims 18 lives, over 49 lakh affected
Eighteen people died and over 49 lakh people have been affected as the ongoing flood hit 77 upazilas in 11 districts of the country.

Among the deaths, four were in Cumilla, one in Feni, five in Chattogram, three in Noakhali, one in Brahmanbaria, one in Lakshmipur and three were in Cox's Bazar districts, according to latest updates on the ongoing flood issued by the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry.

Feni, Cumilla, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Chattogram, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Lakshmipur and Cox's Bazar districts have been affected in the ongoing flood since August 20.

A total of 9,44,548 families have been stranded in the flood while 2,84,888 people and 21,695 cattle were given shelter to 3,527 shelter centers.

The flood hit 587 unions and municipalities under 77 upazilas of 11 districts.

Taka 3,52,00,000 (cash), 20,150 metric tons of rice and 15,000 packets of dry foods have been allocated for the 11 flood-hit districts. A total of 770 medical teams are working to provide treatment to the affected people in the flood-hit districts.

Army, navy, coast guard, Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB), fire service and civil defence and students' community in coordination with district administration are making rescue efforts in the flood-hit areas.

1235 mobile towers damaged in 10 flood affected districts: BTRC
Out of 13,491 mobile towers in 10 flood-affected districts, 1,235 have been damaged, according to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

The districts are Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, Chattogram, Khagrachari, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sylhet.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Army is providing all necessary assistance to mobile operators and tower operators, including ships and speedboats to carry equipment, generators and fuel to resume services.

However, the submerged towers will not be operational until the flood situation improves.

Authorities are also providing charging facilities to flood-affected areas as mobile networks are restored through generators.

Meanwhile, worsening flood situation in Moulvibazar and Sylhet has created the risk of disruption of telecommunications.

However, mobile operators, tower co-operators and authorities are trying to reactivate the mobile network.

Train services resume on Dhaka-Sylhet route
Bangladesh Railway has announced the resumption of train services on the Dhaka-Sylhet-Dhaka route following an improvement in the flood situation in the Sylhet region.

“Starting today (Saturday), passengers will once again be able to travel by train between Dhaka and Sylhet,” said Director of Public Relations at Bangladesh Railway Md Nahid Hasan Khan.

"The first train, Jayantika Express, departed from Dhaka for Sylhet at 11:15am on Saturday," he stated. In addition to Jayantika Express, the Kalni Express (773), Upaban Express (739/740), and the Surma Mail (Train No. 10) will also resume operations on this route. Tickets for these trains are now available online.

Train services were previously suspended on 21 August due to heavy rainfall and rising water levels in the Khoai River. The water had reached the level of the girder on Rail Bridge No. 98, spanning from 260/9 to 261/1 kilometers in the Shayestaganj-Laskarpur section, making train travel hazardous.

People urged to send money to CA's relief fund for flood victims
The people, who are interested to stand by the flood victims, have been urged to send money to 'Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund'.

Interested people have been requested to deposit or send money to the account named 'Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund'. Account No: 0107333004093, Bank Name: Sonali Bank Corporate Branch, Chief Adviser's Office.

"Many people have been showing interest in providing assistance to those affected by the recent devastating floods. The government welcomes this great interest to stand by those in trouble," said Deputy Press Secretary of Chief Adviser Apurba Jahangir.

He said the fund is spent in relief and welfare works and the government will gratefully accept the money that people will send and will maintain the account of the fund accurately.

Kaptai dam to release water at 10:00pm on Saturday
Authorities are set to release surging water in the Kaptai Lake by opening 16 spillway gates of the Karnaphuli Hydropower Station by six inches at 10:00pm on Saturday.

The authorities, meanwhile, have urged people not to panic over the release of the water as this is not expected to affect the water levels of the Karnaphuli River or the low-lying areas.

However, the water level in Halda River might see minimal impact, said a press release.

According to the press release, the 16 spillway gates can be opened up to a maximum of 26 feet. If the gates are open six inches, 9,000 cubic feet of water will be released per second.