Underground water level of Dhaka is receding by two to three meters every year, while the rate is three meters a year in Chattogram city. LGRD Minister Tajul Islam on Monday said this in parliament while replying to a tabled question from ruling Awami League MP elected from Noakhali Morshed Alam. He also said at present the average underground water level in Dhaka city is 38 meters to 82 meters, depending on the areas. For Chattogram city, the average underground water level is 100 meters at present. Also Read: JS passes ‘Nursing and Midwifery Council (amendment) Bill 2023 The LGRD minister said that currently Dhaka WASA is supplying 66 percent of its supplied water from underground while 34 percent from surface. He also mentioned that the government has undertaken to construct three big water treatment plants for reducing the dependency on underground water in Dhaka city by 2025. “It is hoped that by 2025, it (Dhaka WASA) will be able to ensure water for Dhaka dwellers--70 percent from surface and 30 percent from underground.” For the Chattogram city, the minister said at present the rate of water harnessing from underground is 8 percent while the remaining 92 percent water comes from the surface. Read more: How to Build Dhaka as a Water Wise City

The overall flood situation in Sylhet district worsened further Thursday morning, with some rivers still flowing above the danger level due to the onrush of hilly waters from India. Although the showers have subsided in the district in the last two days, the water levels in rivers and haors of Sylhet rose two more inches due to the onrush this morning. According to the administration, at least 30 areas of Sylhet city have been flooded. Also read: No improvement in Sylhet's flood situation The flood situation has also worsened in 13 upazilas of the district -- Companiganj, Gowainghat, Kanaighat, Zakiganj, Jaintapur and Sylhet Sadar upazilas to name a few. The floods have affected 20 lakh people in Sylhet district and city. Meanwhile, the floods have triggered power cuts in different upazilas and Sylhet city, hitting hard some 11.5 lakh consumers of Bangladesh Power Development Board and Palli Bidyut Samiti. Two sub-stations of the Development Board and two sub-stations of Palli Bidyut Samiti have been shut down due to the rise in flood waters, according to officials. According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the Surma river has been flowing 127 cm above the danger level at Kanaighat Point. At Sylhet point, it has increased by 13 cm and is flowing 42 cm above the danger level. Besides, the water of Kushiara has increased by 20 cm at Amalsid (Sylhet) point and is now flowing 158 cm above the danger level. On the other hand, at Sheola (Sylhet) point, the water level of the river has risen by 8 cm.