United News of Bangladesh

Large parts of Khulna city remained submerged after 184 millimetres of rainfall over the past 51 hours, causing severe waterlogging and widespread disruption to daily life, while residents questioned the effectiveness of a Tk 823-crore drainage improvement project. According to the Khulna Meteorological Office, the city received 184 millimetres of rainfall over the past 51 hours. The persistent rain inundated roads, lanes and low-lying areas, leaving many areas under knee-deep water and causing widespread suffering for commuters, students, transport workers and residents. The worst-affected areas include Mujgunni, Royal Mor, Tutpara, Jinnah Nagar, Daulatpur, Atra, Giltala, Dilkhola, Banargati and Sheikhpara. Water also entered many homes in these localities. Residents and environmental activists said waterlogging has become a recurring problem during the monsoon due to inadequate drainage planning, despite years of infrastructure development under the city's drainage improvement project. They alleged that although seven canals have been excavated and more than 200 drains constructed or renovated over the past five and a half years, the measures have failed to provide a lasting solution. Mustafa, a businessman in Mujgunni, said even light rainfall leaves the intersection under knee-deep water. "We urge the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) to take effective measures to resolve this problem permanently," he said. Hamim, a resident of Karigorpara in Pabla, said rainwater regularly floods the ground floor of his house because newly constructed roads and drains were raised without ensuring proper connections for water to flow from nearby homes. Anup Kumar, resident of Pabla Sahapara, blamed the crisis on poor urban planning rather than only inadequate drains. He said many natural canals have been narrowed and converted into concrete drains in recent years, reducing their water-carrying capacity and disrupting the city's natural drainage system. "Simply building new drains will not solve the problem unless natural canals are restored, drains are cleaned regularly and proper links with rivers and canals are established," he added. Easy-bike driver Hafiz said he had no choice but to continue working despite flooded roads. "Even after spending hundreds of crores of taka on roads and drains, our suffering has not decreased," he said. According to KCC, the city has around 1,165 kilometres of drainage channels. Under the "Khulna City Waterlogging Mitigation through Drainage System Improvement (Phase-1)" project worth Tk 823 crore, canal excavation, drain construction and other infrastructure works have been carried out over the past several years. Sheikh Mohammad Masud Karim, Project Director and KCC Executive Engineer said 169 covered drains with a combined length of 147 kilometres have been constructed under the project. Md Anisur Rahman, KCC Chief Conservancy Officer said drain-cleaning activities are carried out regularly but have been temporarily suspended due to the ongoing rainfall, as mud removed from drains is being washed back by rainwater. He also noted that the city corporation lacks modern equipment to clean newly built covered drains efficiently, forcing workers to remove heavy concrete slabs manually. Equipment for mechanised drain cleaning has been included in the ongoing project and is expected to improve maintenance once procured. Nazrul Islam Manju, KCC Administrator attributed the persistent waterlogging to multiple factors, including poor drainage planning in previous years, incomplete drainage works, an inoperative pump house on the Rupsha River and dysfunctional sluice gates. He said the city's drainage system has also been affected by raised drain beds, leaving many residential areas at lower elevations than surrounding roads. "We assumed responsibility only three months ago and are working day and night to remove obstacles to water drainage and clean the city's drains," he said. He also urged residents not to dispose of waste into drains, asking them to use designated dustbins to help keep the drainage system functional.  

Three major rivers in Bandarban continued to flow above the danger level on Tuesday following heavy rainfall and flash floods from upstream hills, leaving over 100 tourists stranded in remote parts of Thanchi upazila. The water levels of the Sangu, Matamuhuri and Bakkhali rivers have risen above the danger mark, inundating low-lying areas in Bandarban town and disrupting transport. River communication with Thanchi and Ruma upazilas has remained suspended due to the swollen rivers, while road transport has also been disrupted after landslides blocked several stretches of roads connecting Bandarban with the two upazilas. More than 100 tourists are still stranded at three tourist destinations in the remote areas of Thanchi as adverse weather conditions continue to hamper rescue and transportation. In view of the worsening weather and the risk of landslides, the district administration has imposed a ban on tourist travel to all tourist destinations in Bandarban until Friday. The restriction was announced through a public notice signed by Deputy Commissioner Md Saniul Ferdous on Monday night. The deputy commissioner said authorities are conducting awareness campaigns through loudspeakers in landslide-prone areas to prevent casualties. He also said that 220 cyclone and flood shelters have been kept ready to accommodate people if needed. The Health Department has prepared eight medical teams to provide emergency healthcare services in the affected areas. The district administration has urged residents and visitors to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel until the weather improves.

Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally winds and lightning flashes are likely in different parts of the country in 24 hours commencing 9am on Saturday, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) . The Met Office said many places in Mymensingh, Dhaka, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions are expected to experience rainfall and a few places in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions may also see similar weather condition, it said. Moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at places over Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, the forecast added. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged across the country.

Deadly flooding triggered by weeks of torrential rain has claimed more than 100 lives across southern Africa, prompting helicopter rescues, mass evacuations, and warnings of further destruction as more rain is forecast, officials said Friday. The fatalities span South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, where prolonged downpours have overwhelmed rivers, damaged infrastructure, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Meteorological agencies cautioned that continued rainfall could worsen the situation. Mozambique hardest hitMozambique has suffered the greatest impact, with flooding across large areas of its central and southern regions. The country’s disaster management agency reported 103 deaths during an unusually intense rainy season that began late last year. The fatalities include people killed by flooding, lightning strikes, collapsing buildings, and cholera outbreaks linked to the severe weather. According to the World Food Program, more than 200,000 people have been affected nationwide, thousands of homes have been damaged, and tens of thousands may need to be relocated. The crisis has stretched the capacity of one of the region’s poorest nations, already battered by multiple cyclones in recent years. Rising toll in neighboring countriesIn South Africa, authorities said at least 30 people have died in floods affecting two northern provinces, with search-and-rescue operations still underway. Zimbabwe’s disaster agency reported 70 deaths and the destruction of more than 1,000 homes since the start of the year, along with widespread damage to schools, roads, and bridges. Flooding has also been reported in Madagascar, Malawi, and Zambia. The U.S. Famine Early Warning System said flood conditions were occurring or anticipated in at least seven countries in southern Africa, potentially linked to the La Niña weather pattern, which often brings heavier rainfall to the region. Military rescue operations in South AfricaSouth Africa deployed its military to assist in rescue efforts, using helicopters to reach people trapped on rooftops and in trees in Limpopo province. The army also evacuated police and border officials stranded at a checkpoint along the Zimbabwe border. President Cyril Ramaphosa visited flood-hit areas on Thursday, saying some districts received nearly 400 millimeters (over 15 inches) of rain in less than a week. In one community, he said, dozens of homes were completely swept away. Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba reported that more than 1,000 houses were damaged across the province, many of them destroyed entirely. Significant destruction was also reported in neighboring Mpumalanga province, where roads and bridges collapsed. In Nkomazi Municipality near the Mozambican border, residents worked to salvage their homes while preparing for additional storms. The South African Weather Service issued its highest red-level warning for further severe rainfall and flooding in the area. “These were the worst rains I’ve ever seen here,” said resident Josephina Mashaba. “I’m still afraid they could come back.” Evacuations at Kruger National ParkSevere flooding also affected South Africa’s Kruger National Park, one of the world’s largest wildlife reserves. About 600 tourists and park staff were relocated from flooded camps to higher ground after rivers burst their banks. Park authorities closed the reserve to new visitors and said several areas were completely cut off. No injuries or deaths were reported, according to park officials. Growing climate pressuresSouthern Africa has endured a string of extreme weather events in recent years, including powerful cyclones and severe droughts that have intensified food insecurity across the region. The World Food Program said current flooding in Mozambique has submerged more than 70,000 hectares of farmland, including rice and maize crops, further threatening the livelihoods and food supplies of thousands of small-scale farmers.

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.

Chuadanga district experienced a significant disruption in daily life today (January 18, 2024), as heavy rainfall amidst an ongoing cold wave affected the area. The unexpected weather conditions intensified the hardships already faced by residents due to the cold. The district witnessed heavy rains this morning, which lasted for approximately two and a half hours, exacerbating the impact of the cold wave and paralyzing normal activities. Weather Update: Will it rain in Dhaka? Tahmina Nasrin Anny, a first-class officer at the Chuadanga Observatory Center, reported that the temperature dropped to 11.5 degrees Celsius between 6 am and 9 am, with humidity levels reaching 92 percent.

“I am forced to live with the risk of death from a landslide in the foothill. where else a day laborer like me would lie down after work?” said Ariful Islam, a resident of Lighthouse area in Cox’s Bazar. Like Ariful there are at least 12,000 families who are living on the sloping foothills, with an elevated risk of landslide, according to Cox’s Bazar Forest and Environment Conservation Council. Given the average family size in Bangladesh, that could mean around 50,000 people at risk. Cox’s Bazar, a highly landslide-prone zone of the country where every year casualties are reported from this disaster during the monsoon season (June–September) triggered by heavy rains. Also read: Ctg landslides: 185 families evicted for their own good from foothills

Low-lying areas in Sylhet city have been inundated as flood situation worsened in the district due to heavy rains and onrush of water from the upstream. Floodwater started to enter dwelling houses, shops and other establishments as Surma River is flowing above its danger level, inundating the suburbs of Sylhet city, Sobhanighat, Kalighat, Chandnighat, Chararapar, Sheikhghat, Taltala, Kalapara, Majumdarpara, Machimpur. People spent sleepless nights in different parts of the city on Monday as they had to shift their important belongings to safer places. Also read: Flood situation worsens in Sunamganj, Sylhet; thousands marooned Shelter centers have been opened at Kishori Mohan and Machimpur schools in the city for the flood victims, said Nur Azizur Rahman, chief executive officer of Sylhet City Corporation. Joynal Abedin, a resident of Charapar in the city, said, "It is true that rain and onrush water are responsible for this flood situation. But the poor navigability of the Surma River, the city's clogged drains, sewerage line clogged with garbage and the lack of proper supervision of the authorities concerned are all responsible for this misery.” Senior Lawyer and Journalist of Sylhet Taj Uddin said the rainwater in the city used to drain out through various canals through Shahparan area. But the path of drainage got clogged due to different developmental works. “Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) did not take any measure in this regard.” In order to solve water logging problem,, Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) started the work of repairing about 1100 kms of drains in the metropolitan area in 2012. According to SCC, 75 per cent of the work of this project involving Tk 300 crore has been completed.

Rivers in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts swelled to the danger level due to heavy rains and onrush of water from bordering India, said the Sylhet Water Development Board. Besides, heavy rains are expected in the next 24 hours in the northeastern part of the country and adjoining Tripura in India. And so, the water of bordering rivers including several rivers of Sylhet and Sunamganj may flow over the danger level, AKM Niloy Pasha, sub-divisional engineer of Sylhet Water Development Board. The water level of almost all the rivers in Sylhet is increasing due to the onrush of water and ongoing rains. The water level of Surma River in Kanaighat upazila has already crossed the danger level. Read: Heavy rainfall warning for Khulna, Ctg & Barishal According to the Sylhet Water Development Board, the water level of Surma River is flowing at 12.75 cm above the danger level in Kanaighat area which was at 0.59 cm above the danger level at 6 am on Friday while, in Sylhet, it is flowing at 10.80 cm above danger level and 7.8cm over the danger level in Sunamganj. Kushiyara River in Sheola is flowing at 13.5cm above the danger level while Sari river in Goaighat area is 12.35 cm above the danger level.  Read: Cyclone ‘Asani’ over Bay: Heavy rainfall likely in 3 divisions Meanwhile, 126 mm rainfall was recorded in Sylhet district on Friday, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Saeed Ahmad Chowdhury, a senior meteorologist at the Sylhet Meteorological Office, said there is a possibility of rains to continue in Sylhet till May 18. There will be more rains at night than during the day.

At least eight people were killed and another 13 went missing in heavy rains that hit the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, local authorities said on Saturday. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Twitter that the federal government was deploying military aircraft to help with the rescue efforts in the state. Local authorities said on Friday that the region had received 655 milliliters of rain, the highest amount ever recorded in the municipality. READ: Heavy rains in southern India kill 14 people, flood Chennai According to estimates by Brazilian media, more rain is likely in the Rio de Janeiro area in the coming days.