Flood in the North: Water receding, sufferings linger

Thousands of people living in low-lying areas of several northern districts have been affected by flooding after adjoining rivers overflowed their banks.

The onrush of water from upstream contributed to the swelling of the Jamuna, Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers, said officials of the Water Development Board (WDB).

Although the floodwater has already started receding in these areas, vast areas of croplands and grazing fields remain submerged.

However, experts say the flood situation won't last long due to the less-than-usual rainfall in the greater Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin.

Contacted, Dr Rashed Chowdhury, applications scientist at Water, Climate, and Society, said, "Based on the current weather data, it is expected that the basin-wide rainfall will be less than normal this year, and as a result, there may be less-than-normal flooding in the country.

"At this stage, any possibility of higher-than-normal flooding is very unlikely," said Dr Chowdhury, also adjunct faculty at the Arizona State University (School of Sustainable Engineering).

A bulletin of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) predicted short-term flooding in the country's northern, north-eastern, and south-eastern regions in August due to heavy monsoon rainfall.

In Sirajganj, around 50 char and vast low-lying areas in Sadar, Chowhali, Kazipur, Shahjadpur, and Belkuchi upazilas have been inundated.

The Jamuna has been swelling for the past week, however, it is still flowing below the danger level, said Ranajit Kumar, sub-divisional engineer of the WDB in Sirajganj.

Torrential downpours in the upper catchment Indian state of Assam contributed to the rise in the water level of Jamuna, he added.

However, the WDB official said the water level in the Jamuna was already falling and there was no chance of a long-term flood this time.

The water level in the Jamuna has been fluctuating for one and a half months. "Our croplands have been underwater for around one month. We don't have any work. It has become difficult for us to survive," said Sharif Hossain, a resident of Choto-Koyra village in Sadar upazila.

"My house was devoured by Jamuna a month ago. I then built a makeshift hut on my char land. But that too was inundated a week ago. We are passing tough days with little access to food and drinking water," said Mosharaf Hossain, a resident of Chowhali upazila.

In Bogura, with low-lying areas of Sariakandi and Sonatala being inundated, people there are facing a severe crisis of cattle feed and grazing lands.

Rafikul Islam, 50, of Biotana char under Sariakandi upazila, said, "Our village has remained flooded for a month. Although water has yet to enter our house, we are struggling to keep our farm animals alive as grazing lands and crop fields remain underwater."

Nazmul Haque, the executive engineer of Bogura WDB, said, "The Jamuna is still below the danger level, and the floodwater is receding. But the water level may rise again next week."

In Nilphamari, the Teesta crossed the danger mark on August 14, leaving vast tracts of lowland inundated and over 20,000 people marooned.

But the water level has declined, and it was flowing 49cm below the danger mark at the Dalia point yesterday, said Rashedin Mawla, sub-divisional engineer of Nilphamari WDB.

Abdus Sadek, 65, of Uttar Kharibari village under Dimla upazila, said, "I, along with my family members, was forced to leave our home on the night of August 14 and take shelter on an embankment as our village was quickly submerged."

In Kurigram and Lalmonirhat, the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar started swelling last week, but the floodwater started receding after three days, said Abdullah Al Mamun, executive engineer of Kurigram WDB.

Nagen Chandra Barman, 65, a farmer from Rajpur village under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, said, "My home and croplands were inundated as the river swelled and overflowed its banks. Many people left their homes to take shelter on roads and other elevated grounds."

Nazar Ali Mandal, 60, of Begumganj village under Kurigram's Ulipur upazila, said, "Floodwater has receded, but our croplands have been damaged. We can't feed our farm animals."

 [Our Correspondents from Pabna, Bogura, Nilphamari, and Lalmonirhat contributed to this report.]