Three more bodies have been retrieved from several areas of flood-hit Sherpur district, raising the death toll from the natural disaster to eight. The deceased were identified as Muktar Hossain, 50, of Kurekanda village under Urpa union, Abdur Razzak, 60, of Gazaria Kingkarpur village under Ganpaddi union and Ujjal Mia, 35, of Jalalpur village, all hailed from Nakla upazila of the district. Though the flood situation in 15 unions under Nalitabari, Jhenaigati and Sreebardi upazilas was improved, situation in some 12 unions and a municipality of Nakla upazila worsened. Sherpur flood situation worsens as 8 more unions are inundated People who took refuge at shelter centres are returning to their homes where the flood waters drained out. District Water Development’s Executive Engineer Md Nakibuzzaman Khan said water in Chellakhali and Bhogai rivers was flowing below danger level. He said the rivers were flowing 77 and 133 cm below the danger level at Batkuci and Nalitabari Bazar points. Although there is no hydro measuring point, the Maharashi and Someshwari Rivers now have normal water flow. The engineer forecast that the water level of the rivers will decrease further and the flood situation will improve in a day or two if there is no heavy rain. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, Aman paddy on 46,790 hectares of land, vegetable on 1,200 hectares and ginger cultivated in five upazilas of Sherpur were submerged, causing losses to at least 1,72,630 farmers.   District Primary Education Officer Md Obaidullah said 242 government primary schools in the district have been closed due to flooding.  3 die as flood situation deteriorates in Sherpur; army joins rescue operation Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, Red Crescent Youth Volunteers and non-government volunteers are carrying out rescue operations in the flood-hit areas of the district. The district administration is distributing relief materials, dry food and water among the flood victims. Sherpur Deputy Commissioner Torofdar Mahmudur Rahman said relief distribution will continue.   Work is underway to prepare a list of the affected people, he said, adding that all kinds of assistance will be provided to the flood victims. Assistance for rehabilitation will also be provided to the victims after the water recedes completely and the higher authorities were informed, he added. Alongside the government, several political parties have come forward to stand by the flood-hit people with dry foods and other materials.

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.

The overall flood situation has improved in Sylhet as water started receding in different areas after eight days.  However, local people have to wait five more days to get back to the previous condition and have to remain  marooned during this period.  Meanwhile, Bangladesh Water Development Board said it has already taken an initiative to stop such flood in the future in the divisional city.    SM Shahidul Islam, additional chief engineer of Water Development Board, Sylhet, said, “The flood water is decreasing. There is no possibility of worsening the situation in Sylhet. But the flood-hit people will have to remain marooned for five more days. We are repairing the damaged dams.”  “A new project has been taken for dredging the Surma River. After completion of the dredging of the Surma River, flood situation will improve in Sylhet,” he said.  According to the Water Development Board, the Surma River was flowing 85 cenetemetres above the danger level at Kanaighat point Saturday morning while it was flowing 25 centemetres above the danger mark in Sylhet point. However, the water level at both points decreased than Friday.   Water-borne diseases including diarrhoea have broken out in Sylhet. Many families of the city left for the village home on Friday and Saturday.  Md. Mostafizur Rahman, the executive engineer of Roads and Highways Department, Sylhet, said, about 65 kilometres of 10 main inter-districts roads have been inundated. Vehicular movement on five roads remained suspended.  Also Read: Flooding affects millions in Sylhet    Deputy Commissioner Md. Mojibur Rahman said the administration is providing all kinds of assistance to the flood victims. Relief materials have been distributed among the flood victims, he added.  Meanwhile, around 70,000 people of five unions under Beanibazar upazila of the district remained marooned as the water level marked a rise in the Kushiara River.  Around 50 educational institutions remained closed in the upazila due to flood. Small vehicles plying on the Sylhet-Beanibazar highway remained suspended as 18 points of the highway have been inundated. However, buses are plying on the road  amid  risk of  accident.      Ashik Noor, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Beanibazar, said 88 flood-affected families have taken shelter at 13 shelters out of 24 temporary flood shelters and this number is increasing . According to the Beanibazar upazila administration, around 14,000 families of various unions of the upazila are flood affected.   In Sunamganj,  the water levels in major rivers of the district was flowing 2 centemetres above the danger mark Saturday morning, said the Water Development Board.    Many flood victims of the district have alleged that they have not got relief from the administration.  Md. Jahangir Hossain, deputy commissioner,  said they have already distributed 165 metric tonnes of rice, Tk 12 lakh, and dry food among the flood victims.     

People are returning to their homes as the flood situation gradually improves in Kurigram with major rivers flowing through the districts all flowing below the danger level.