A woman stands near the broken part of a Padma embankment in Bhagyakul union of Srinagar upazila in Munshiganj yesterday. The swelling river has washed away a portion of the embankment.Photo: Anisur Rahman

Flood situation in the country's central part is likely to deteriorate further while thousands of marooned people in the flood-affected areas are suffering from a shortage of food and drinking water.
Crops on vast tracts of land were damaged and hundreds of educational institutions remain closed in the flood-hit districts. Besides, supply of relief materials at temporary shelters for flood-affected people is inadequate.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) forecast that water levels of big rivers are expected to fall in a day or two, which will help improve the present flood situation.
The water level of the Ganges has started falling and is likely to continue to drop for the next two or three days.
The flood situation in Bogra, Jamalpur, Sirajganj, Tangail, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Chandpur, Dohar, Nawabganj, Shibganj and Chapainawabganj is likely to deteriorate slightly by a day or two. Then the situation might start improving.
Besides, the flood situation in low-lying areas in the capital's eastern part is likely to deteriorate slightly by the next 24-48 hours.
Our Sirajganj correspondent reports: About 20 more unions in the district have been affected by floods. Besides, vegetables and crops including transplanted (T) Aman on 1,350 hectares of land went under water in the last 24 hours.
Our Kurigram correspondent reports: A total of 500 villages in nine upazilas have been inundated and about four lakh people have been marooned, the district flood control cell sources said.
T Aman and vegetables on 44,143 hectares of land have been damaged, local agriculture office said.
About 119 educational institutions remain closed in the district due to the flood, district primary education office sources said.
Our staff correspondent from Bogra adds: About 12,000 people were marooned at Chandanaish union of Shariakandi upazila as an embankment on the Jamuna river was breached by floodwater.
The Chandaish UP chairman said although about 335 families were given shelter in seven shelter centres, 400 families are living under the open sky on roads and embankments.
Our Tangail correspondent reports: Over a lakh people in Bhuapur, Kalihati, Nagarpur, Basail and Delduar were marooned following an increase in the water level of the Jamuna and Dhaleswari rivers.
Vehicular movement on Tangail-Aricha road through Elasin Ferry Ghat remained stalled as the ferry service has been suspended for the last three days due to floods.
Our Moulvibazar correspondent reports: Water levels of rivers and haors are increasing in the district due to continuous downpour. Water levels of the Monu, Dholai, Gopla, Fanai, and Juri rivers are rising sharply.
About 15,000 people in Bhukshimul, Joychandi, Jayfarnagar, West Juri, Dakshinbhag, Sujanagar, Bhatera, and Baramchal unions have been marooned.
CORRECTION:
In the news item headlined "Thousands marooned as flood grips north" published in The Daily Star on August 31, it was mentioned that Teesta Barrage was damaged. Actually, a portion of the flood dyke of the barrage was damaged.