The flood situation in some low-lying areas of Netrakona district and Sylhet, Sunamganj districts in the northeastern part of the country may remain unchanged in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Thursday (June 20, 2024). The flood situation in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts along the low-lying areas of Manu-Khwai river may improve, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC). Except Surma, major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country are in rising trendwhich may continue in the next 24 hours. Flood leaves over 8 lakh people inundated in Sylhet The Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers are in rising trend and may continuously rise for the next72 hours with a chance of reaching the Warning Level at some points. Besides, the Padma river is in rising trend, which may continue in next 48 hours, it said.The water level of Dudhkumar, Teesta and Dharla rivers in the northern part of the country may rise and flashflood may hit some low-lying areas of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur districts. River Teesta may cross danger level at Dalia Point in next 24 hours for a short period of time. According to the information from meteorological organizations, medium to heavy rainfall is expected over the northern and adjoining upstream region and heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over the north-eastern, northern and adjoining upstream parts of the country in 24 to 48 hours, it added. Flood situation worsens in Sunamganj; several thousand marooned

The government has started the connection work of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 to keep telecommunication and internet services active in the flood affected areas on Sunday. Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) has set up a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Hub in Sylhet Hi-Tech Park following the directives of Post and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar. To ensure telecommunication services in the flood-affected areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, 12 VSAT equipment were handed over to the Bangladesh Army on Saturday. VSAT hubs will be set up in Netrokona and North Bengal today. Read: Floods: India extends "support, solidarity" to Bangladesh Besides, preparations are underway to hand over 23 more sets of VSAT equipment to the Sylhet Divisional Commissioner office. Bangabandhu Satellite-1 will also be able to activate the mobile phone network as per the requirement of mobile phone operators. The Post and Telecommunications Division has also launched 12 toll-free helpline numbers for the flood-affected people. The toll free numbers are- Grameenphone -01769177266, 01769177267, 01769177268, Robi- 01852788000, 01852798800, 01852804477, Banglalink- 01987781144, 01993781144, 01995781144, and Teletalk- 01513918096, 01513918097, 01513918098.

A total of 552 kilometres of road and eight bridges and culverts have been damaged during the recent flash flood in parts of Sunamganj district, said officials at Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) on Monday. According to the LGED office, of the damaged roads 500 km is under LGED while the rest 52 km is under Roads and Highways Department. Read: Diarrhoea breaks out in flood-hit Sylhet The worst affected were Noarabai-Banglabazar road, Chhatak-jauabazar road, Chhatak-Gobindaganj road, Koitak-Haidarpur road, Lama-Rasulganj road in Chhatak upazila, Tahirpur-Badaghat road, Garh-Kalagaon road in Tahirpur upaizla, Niamatpur-Fatehpur-Anwarpur road in Salukabad of Bishambharpur upazila and Doarabazar-Banglabazar road, Doarabazar-Sunamganj road, Doarabazar-Bogla road in Doarabazar upazila of the district. A rubber dam and a number of embankments were also damaged during the flood.

The overall flood situation in Sunamganj district has improved as floodwater is receding in different areas gradually after 10 days of havoc. Around six lakh people of three upazilas under the district have suffered a lot due to the flood water setting a new record of miserable life. Although flood water has receded from the houses, it remains on the roads. Shahid Mia, a sexagenarian of Kalipur under the Sunamganj suburb, said, "All our houses were inundated by the flood water in 2017. The water at that time receded hurriedly. But, this year, floodwater receded very slowly which barred our and cattle movement.” Also read: Diarrhoea breaks out in flood-hit Sylhet Freedom Fighter Nurul Momen, a senior resident of the same area, said, “I have made my house in Kalipur 40 years ago. Floods hit my house several times. However, floods in 1988 and 2022 have lasted ever long.” The problem can be solved only by dredging the river from Sunamganj to Bhairab, Nurul added. Haorer Krishi and Krishak Raksha Sangram Parishad member secretary Chittaranjan Talukder said waters at many haors in the district are also receding although onrush from the hilly areas continues. It takes a few more days to recede water from all the stagnant areas. Also read: Ways to Purify Water during Flood, Disaster, Emergency Situations Shamsudduha, executive engineer of Water Development Board, Sunamganj said, “Three waterways (Surma-Dhanu-Meghna, Surma-Kalni-Meghna, and Surma-Meghna) of the district were flooded due to flash floods. A survey will be conducted soon for dredging in these three waterways. After implementation of the dredging project, flood water will recede in a hurry.” All rivers of the district were flowing above the danger mark due to the onrush of hilly water and torrential rains since May 10. Upstream waters have worsened the flood situation in Sunamganj leaving thousands of villagers marooned in their inundated homes.

Hundreds of flood-affected people in Chhatak upazila of Sunamganj district have been waiting for relief materials from the administration. Many victim families have taken shelter at the three temporary flood shelters in the upazila as onrush of water from the upstream and heavy rains inundated their houses and marooned tens of thousands of people. Chhatak upazila administration has distributed dry food among the flood victims. However, these are not sufficient and many people did not get food, alleged some flood-affected people.  Farmers are also facing a shortage of fodder at the shelters and there is also an acute crisis of pure drinking water  at the shelters, they said.  Read: Sylhet schools shut due to flooding  Only flood victims, who have taken shelter at the educational institutions are getting relief, they alleged. People who have taken shelter in other places and marooned people are not getting food and cash assistance from the administration, they said. Setara Begum, wife of fisherman Abdul Matin, who has taken shelter at Takipur Govt Primary School, said, she didn’t have food for the last three days. She didn’t received any kind of relief from anyone. Meanwhile, classes at around 180 government primary schools in Berajpur, Tajpur, Gobindganj, Noapara, Alampur, Krishnanagar, Anandanagar, Banglabazar, Lakseshwar, Bagin, Khidura, Dashgarh, Khagamura, Kathalpur, Goaspur, Raoli, Jahirpur, Mondolpur, Bhatgaon, Jhamak, Lakhansum, Kaleswari, Khidrakapan, Kaitkona, Shibnagar, Bilpar, Mollaata, Gobindanagar, Abdul Jabbar, Tajpur, Ujirpur, Rampur, Sikandarpur, and Madhabpur of the upazila have been suspended as the school premises went under floodwater. Read: No improvement in Sylhet's flood situation Mamunur Rahman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Chhatak upazila, said they have already completed all necessary preparations to face the natural disaster. A control room has been opened to monitor the overall flood situation, he said. “I have visited flood-affected areas in Islampur and Nuarai in the morning,” he added.    

Fish farmers in Sunmganj are in troubled waters as the recent floods have reportedly caused a Tk 21.45 crore loss to the potential sector.