United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast moderately heavy to heavy rainfall at places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions in the next 24 hours starting from 9:00am on Friday. Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally winds and lightning flashes are likely at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions, according to a BMD bulletin. It may also occur at a few places over Rajshahi, Dhaka and Chattogram divisions, and at one or two places over Khulna and Barishal divisions. Day temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged, while night temperatures may rise slightly across the country. Meanwhile, a mild heatwave is continuing in Khulna, Jashore, Satkhira and Bagerhat districts and may persist. The highest rainfall in the last 24 hours till 6:00am on Friday was recorded in Rangpur at 130mm, the bulletin said.

Low-lying areas in two unions of Haluaghat upazila have been flooded after a section of embankment along the Ghoraghat River collapsed due to onrush of water from hilly areas and continuous rainfall. Gazirvita and Bhubankura unions were inundated as water from the Garo hills rushed into the area since early morning, raising concern among local residents. Officials said the water level of the Ghoraghat River increased rapidly due water flow from hills, submerging farmlands and low-lying settlements in some villages. Many families have started preparing to move to safer locations as water continues to enter residential areas. Faysal Ahmed, Haluaghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said water is entering the locality through Gazirvita and Bhubankura points along the border area. He added that two earthen roads in the affected unions have already been damaged due to the flooding. “All necessary preparations have been taken to deal with the situation,” he said.

Rising water levels in major rivers in the northern region have sparked fears of early flooding, as heavy rainfall continues to batter several districts. Officials of the Water Development Board (WDB) said the water levels of the Teesta, Dharla and Brahmaputra rivers have been increasing due to persistent rain throughout April. According to the Rangpur Meteorological Office, a total of 438 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in eight northern districts in the last 24 hours, an unusually high amount for this time of the year. Although the Teesta River is still flowing below the danger level at the Dalia point, its water level has risen steadily, increasing by around 40 centimetres over the past three days. Similar trends have also been observed in the Dharla and Brahmaputra rivers. WDB officials warned that continued rainfall could trigger early flooding, posing risks to crops in low-lying char areas. Farmers in Rangpur’s Gangachara and Kaunia upazilas said they cultivated various crops like chilies, onions, garlic, almonds, sweet pumpkins, rice and wheat on the sandbanks of the Teesta every year after the water recedes in winter. But sudden rise in Teesta water in the Bengali month of Baishakh has already begun damaging standing crops, they said. Many have started harvesting unripe paddy to avoid further losses. Meteorologist Mostafizur Rahman said 131 millimetres of rain was recorded in Rangpur between in 24 hours till 9am on Monday, adding that the rainfall may continue for another four days. “Such rainfall is unusual for April,” he said. Ahsan Habib, Superintendent Engineer of the Rangpur region of the WDB, said the continued rainfall throughout the month has led to rising river levels, increasing the risk of early floods across the division. Meanwhile, storms accompanying the rainfall also caused damage to trees and crops in several areas on Monday night.

Vehicular movement on one side of the Oxygen-Bayezid road near Oxygen No-2 Gate in Chattogram port city has remained suspended since early Thursday after a culvert near the Cantonment collapsed amid heavy overnight rainfall. The structure gave way around 4:30am on Thursday under the pressure of strong rainwater currents. Locals said vehicles are now navigating the remaining side of the road with considerable risk. The damaged section has been cordoned off with red tape for safety, creating a severe traffic jam on both sides of the road.   Meanwhile, train services on the Chittagong University and Nazirhat routes are also facing disruption following the incident. Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain visited the site at around 10:30am and assured that steps would be taken soon. “We are prioritising the city’s waterlogging issue. Although we have plans to repair all culverts, we are yet to receive the necessary budget from the government,” he said. Stranded by Neglect: Khagrachhari villagers brave crumbling culvert for over a decade

Bandarban district administration has taken necessary measures to prevent any rain-related incidents, including landslide, as the district has been experiencing downpour intermittently since Thursday night under the influence of the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal.    Meanwhile, 220 shelter centres have been opened to accommodate people, said District Disaster and Relief Officer Asif Raihan.   Heavy rainfall, landslides, waterlogging likely parts of country in 48 hrs: BMD Of them, there are 46 in Bandarban Sadar, 28 in Ruma, 19 in Rowangchhari, 15 in Thanchi, 55 in Lama, 15 in Alikadam and 42 in Naikhongchhari. The district administration has opened a control room to help people with the mobile number 01309744923. Those living in hilly pockets have been advised to take shelter at the centers as the administration made publicity through miking in the morning.   Prolonged rainfall causes severe waterlogging in Kurigram A police team led by an additional superintendent of police has been formed to extend support to the people. District police also formed a control room and the mobile phone number 0 1320-110898 to contact them. Meanwhile, vehicular movement on Lama-Alikadam road remained suspended for a while in the morning as a tree fell on it.  

Under the influence of the impending cyclonic storm Dana, coastal district of Satkhira has been experiencing rainfall intermittently since early Thursday. The weather is currently severe, with heavy cloud cover and darkness increasing with the passage of time. Considering the situation, leaves of all government officials and employees have been cancelled. A total of 887 cyclone shelters having capacity of accommodating 443, 000 people have been opened. There are around 700 kilometers of embankments in the district with 5 kilometers considered at risk. Read: Cyclone Dana: Maritime ports asked to hoist local cautionary signal no 3 Efforts to repair the risky dam are ongoing. Essential supplies, including baby food, dry rations, clean drinking water, emergency relief items, and geo-bags, along with boats, have been prepared. Zulfikar Ali, acting officer of Satkhira Meteorological Department, said that this district will experience heavy rainfall due to the cyclone with rising river waters in coastal areas. The cyclone is moving towards neighbouring India's Odisha and West Bengal states and it may not have a severe impact on the district, strong winds are anticipated. Explaining the preparedness, Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Mostak Ahmed said extensive measures have been taken so that people can take refuge at shelter centres.

Dhaka city dwellers experienced heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and gusty wind on Saturday morning. The low-lying areas in the capital and a number of alleys were inundated due to the rains, making it difficult for people who planned to go out in the morning.Although educational institutions and most of the offices remained closed for Durga Puja holiday the Hindu devotees who went out to visit temples faced trouble due to waterlogged and muddy roads. As some of the private offices remained open, the office goers suffer for lack of transports.The rains triggered by the active monsoon started around 6 am and continued till 7 am.Meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department Monowar Hossain said 20 mm rain was recorded in Dhaka from 6am Friday to 6 am onSaturday.The rainfall may decrease in 72 hours till Monday and then increase again, he said.

The Meteorological Office has issued a fresh weather update indicating that Dhaka and other regions of Bangladesh are expected to experience continued thunderstorms and rainfall over the next few days. Heavy rainfall has been predicted in several parts of the country, while the southwest monsoon is likely to retreat shortly. According to a Met Office statement, the extended part of the monsoon currently stretches across Assam, passing through Bihar, West Bengal, and the central parts of Bangladesh. The monsoon remains active over the country, contributing to unstable weather conditions in many regions. As per the latest forecast, light to moderate rain, accompanied by gusty winds or thunder, is expected to occur in several locations, including the divisions of Mymensingh and Sylhet. Read: Rains likely to drench country: BMD The divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal and Chattogram are also likely to experience rain over the next 24 hours. Besides, some areas might witness moderate to heavy rainfall, which could persist for up to 48 hours. In terms of temperatures, Dhaka and other parts of the country have been experiencing intense daytime heat, with the mercury reaching an average high of 32°C (90°F). On Sunday, Feni recorded the highest temperature in the country at 34.5°C, while the lowest temperature of 23.3°C was observed in Tentulia, Panchagarh on Monday morning. While daytime temperatures are expected to increase slightly across the nation, they are likely to remain stable over the next few days, the Met Office added. As the southwest monsoon is set to withdraw in the coming days, Dhaka is still grappling with heavy rainfall, which has occurred over 18 days this season, accumulating to a total of 328 mm (12.9 inches). Read more: Rain, thundershowers likely over 8 divisions, BMD says The highest rainfall has been recorded in the coastal regions of Chittagong and parts of Sylhet district, whereas western and northern parts of the country have reported lower rainfall figures. Thunderstorms are likely to persist throughout the week, particularly on Tuesday and Wednesday, as per the Met Office’s extended forecast. Cyclonic storms, with wind speeds exceeding 120 km/h, are also common during this period and could pose a threat to coastal areas. Following the departure of the monsoon, weather conditions in Dhaka are expected to stabilise, with a transition to clearer skies and reduced rainfall. However, the weather office has urged residents to remain cautious and updated with the latest weather bulletins due to the unpredictable nature of storms during this season.

Heavy rainfall on Friday afternoon caused severe waterlogging in several parts of capital Dhaka, leading to immense suffering for commuters. Many were seen wading through waterlogged streets in areas such as Mouchak, Malibagh, Shantinagar, Moghbazar, Kakrail, Paltan, Dainik Bangla Intersection, Khilgaon Rail Gate, and Rajarbagh Police Lines as they tried to reach their destinations. Though today is a weekend, those who ventured out for emergency purposes found themselves stuck in severe traffic congestion in various parts of the city. Many were seen waiting for public transport for a long time. Read: DMP to commuters: Be aware of rain-triggered traffic jams The rainwater also seeped into some private vehicles and CNG-run autorickshaws plying the main roads, exacerbating the situation further. Taking advantage of the traffic congestion and waterlogged roads, rickshaw-pullers were reportedly charging higher fares from passengers. Kabir Hossain, a private service holder, shared his experience with UNB, stating that he had been waiting for a vehicle to go to the Dainik Bangla Intersection from Khilgaon Rail Gate for around half an hour, but no public transport was available. "The rickshaw-pullers are charging an extra fare compared to the usual one," he said. Read more: City dwellers suffer amid unusual traffic jams  The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast rain or thundershowers across all divisions, including Dhaka, in the 24 hours beginning  from 9:00 am on Friday.

The major rivers in north-eastern Bangladesh are currently receding, a trend expected to continue over 24 hours starting from 9 am on Wednesday (June 12, 2024), according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC). In addition, the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Ganges-Padma rivers are also experiencing a decline in water levels, which is likely to persist for 48 hours. Flood situation in Sylhet may improve slowly: FFWC Met Office has forecasted medium to heavy rainfall in the northern and adjacent upstream areas of the country over the next 24 to 48 hours. This anticipated rainfall may cause the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers in the northern region to rise during this period. Residents in the affected areas are advised to stay alert and take necessary precautions as the situation develops. Flash floods likely in country’s northeastern districts: FFWC