Water levels in the Teesta River continued to rise on Tuesday due to heavy rainfall and upstream inflows, bringing the river close to the danger mark and inundating low-lying areas in several northern districts.
At least 6,000 families living in char areas of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts have become stranded by floodwaters, said Ahsan Habib, Superintendent Engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
With water pressure increasing, authorities have opened all 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage at Dalia in Lalmonirhat's Hatibandha upazila to regulate the flow.
BWDB officials said the river was flowing 15 centimetres below the danger level at the Dalia point at 12pm on Tuesday, with a recorded water level of 52.00 metres.
Earlier, the water level was recorded at 52.05 metres at 9am, 10 centimetres below the danger mark, and just 5 centimetres below the danger level at 6am.
Residents along the Teesta river fear further flooding if water levels continue to rise.
Several low-lying areas in Hatibandha upazila in Rangpur, including Goddimari, Doani, Saniyajan, Nij Sheikh Sundar, Bagher Char, Singimari, Dhubni, Sindurna, Patikapara and Dauabari, as well as Shailmari, Char Bairati and Rudreshwar in Kaliganj upazila and Mahishkhocha, Gobardhan and Sparbandh areas of Aditmari upazila, have already been inundated.
Agricultural lands in Teesta char areas of Rangpur's Gangachara, Kaunia and Pirgachha upazilas, along with parts of Kurigram and Gaibandha districts, have also gone under water.
Peanut fields, Aman seedbeds, sweet pumpkin plantations and other crops have been damaged, causing concern among farmers.
Farmers said fluctuating river levels have added to their worries, as many seedbeds prepared for the upcoming Aman cultivation season are being damaged by floodwater, forcing them to consider replanting.
Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Shahidul Islam said some families living on riverine chars have become stranded and local union parishad chairmen have been instructed to prepare lists of affected households.
"Dry food assistance will be distributed as soon as we receive the lists," he said.
Amitav Chowdhury, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board in Dalia, said the Teesta's water level remained below the danger mark but could rise further during the day due to continued rainfall and upstream flows.
"The river was flowing 10 centimetres below the danger level at 9am and is now 15 centimetres below the danger mark. Water levels may increase further as rainfall continues," he said.