Some districts in the country have been flooded due to heavy rainfall and onrush of water from the upstream. The flood situation may deteriorate.
The water level of the Teesta River and some other rivers flowing over some northern districts, including Lalmonirhat, has risen close to danger levels due to upstream flooding and continuous rain over the past three days, inundating low-lying areas along the banks and disrupting daily life.
In Lalmonirhat, the Teesta River was flowing close to danger levels. The water flow at Dalia point of the river was recorded at 5.2 metres, just 15 centimetres below the danger level, on Saturday morning.
Mohammad Rashidin, sub-engineer of the Water Development Board's Dalia branch, said that the rainfall has led to the increase in water levels. To alleviate the pressure, 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage have already been opened.
As the water level rises, locals are worried that several Chars in six unions of the Hatibandha Upazila and adjacent areas in Kaliganj and Aditmari Upazilas may soon be submerged.
Water has started to enter homes and agricultural lands in these areas, causing significant distress for the residents.
The WDB has warned that heavy rainfall and upstream flooding could lead to further increases in the Teesta River's water level, potentially inundating low-lying areas.
Sunil Kumar, executive engineer of Lalmonirhat WDB, said that the water levels of all major rivers in the country are flowing below danger levels. However, in the past two days, the water levels of the Teesta and Dharla rivers in the Rangpur Division have shown an increase, he added.
In Khulna, heavy rains over the last couple of days led to severe water logging in the vast areas of Beel Dakatia under Fultala and Dumuria upazilas in the district. At least 8,250 shrimp and white fish enclosures and 3,751 hectares of croplands were completely washed away, causing an estimated loss of Tk 100 crore.
Agricultural officer of Dumuria Upazila Md. Insad Ibn Amin said that due to continuous rainfall for several days, vast areas of Dakatia Beel have been inundated.
In the agriculture sector, huge losses were occurred in paddy and vegetable farming -- in Rangpur, Gutudia, Roghunathpur, and Thamalia Unions of Dumuria upazila -- due to overflow of rainwater, he said adding that summer tomatoes have been damaged mostly, he added.
Insad Ibn Amin also said that the estimated loss in the agriculture sector of these five Unions of Dumuria Upazila is around Tk 35 crore. The marginal farmers have advised to make canals to divert water from the croplands in the rainy season.
Besides, the supply of irrigation equipment should be available for increasing production in the agriculture sector. Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) deals with irrigation systems for farmers. Farmers expect the government to establish BADC offices at the upazila level, he added.
Senior Fisheries Officer of Fultala Upazila Fisheries Extension Office Md Salim Sultan, said that a total of 750 fish enclosures on 715 hectares of land have been overflowed in the Beel Dakatia part of Phultala Upazila due to heavy rain for several days. The shrimps and white fishes of these enclosures have been washed away. The total estimated loss to the fisheries sector is over Tk 5.5 crore.
A owner of fish enclosures of Beel Dakatiya under Teligati Mauza said that the fish farmers of Beel Dakatia faced huge losses due to overflow of the rainwater.
He said two fish enclosures out of my three fish enclosures covering an area of 75 acres, have been submerged. Fishes worth about Tk 4 crore have been washed away due to heavy rainfall caused by overflowing water. “We will be able to overcome the losses if the government provides us incentives,” he said.
In Jashore, the flash flood halt academic activities at 50 educational institutions at Manirampur upazila in Jashore. Most schools in low-lying areas of the upazila were inundated, with classrooms and playgrounds submerged, reports our Jashore Correspondent.
According to the District Education Office, floodwater has entered the educational institutions across Nehalpur, Kultia, Manoharpur and Durbadanga unions of Manirampur upazila. Some of the schools have suspended classes due to the flooding.
Akram Hossain, upazila secondary education officer of Jashore said, “We have received written letter from five schools on the verge of halting operations due to flooded classrooms. Teachers have been instructed to adopt alternative teaching methods to ensure the continuity of education.”
The rural roads leading to many schools have also deteriorated, further hampering transportation. Students in flood-affected areas are facing significant challenges, with many being forced to wade through water to attend school. Many primary school students have lost interest in attending classes under such conditions.
Mamata Rani, head teacher of Alipur Government Primary School, said that the continuous rains have led to waterlogging on the school grounds, significantly reducing student attendance.
