Floodwater started receding significantly in the north and north-eastern parts of the country, but sufferings of people are compounded with thousands getting infected with waterborne diseases and farmers facing challenges in future production.

The rivers in the central parts of the country including those around the capital continued to swell, forcing the affected to pass days with shortages of drinking water and food.

As of yesterday, crops on nearly 15 lakh acres of land were completely or partially damaged by floods, according to the flood control room of the information ministry.

Flooding of low-lying areas of the eastern part of Dhaka could continue at a lower rate, the situation could even remain unchanged. There could be a slight delay in flood-situation improvement in the central part of the country, Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) yesterday reported.

Small rivers surrounding Dhaka

and Narayanganj continued to swell but at a lower rate. The Balu at Demra, the Lakhya at Narayanganj, the Turag at Mirpur and the Tongi canal at Tongi were flowing 50cm, 55cm, 60cm and 74cm above danger levels. The Buriganga at Dhaka was flowing 2cm above danger level yesterday.

The flood situations in Manikganj, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur and Shariatpur, and Dohar and Nawabganj upazilas of Dhaka are likely to start improving and the improvement will continue for at least next three days.

The water level of the Meghna at Bhairab Bazar is likely to fall further and the flood situation in Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj and Gazipur is also likely to start improving for at least the next three days.

At least three children drowned in Keraniganj and Nawabganj, while two others died of snakebites in Dhaka district.

Meanwhile, even though 21 flood shelters have been set up at Nawabganj, Keraniganj, Dohar, Dhamrai and Tejgaon for the flood-affected people of Khilgaon, Badda, Merul Badda, Nondipara and Trimohini, the government has not started operating those shelters yet.

Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) in a press release yesterday said it started supplying drinking water in the affected areas of the city in plastic tanks, liquid containers and vehicles. It also opened a round the clock complaint centre (phone: 9358192).

Our correspondent in Kishoreganj reports: Ten people drowned and two were missing after a boat capsized in a haor of Bajitpur upazila Monday evening.

Eight of the dead were identified as Shanjida, 6, Sraban Das, 7, Shankor Das, 6, Paruli, 70, Roshmoni, 55, Jatindra Das, 55, Jhontu Das, 30, and Nayan Das, 8. They were all residents of Nayakandi of Bajitpur.

Sub-inspector Salahuddin of Bajitpur Police Station said the boat carrying 16 people to Nayakandi from Hilochia Bazar capsized near Hilochia Bazar due to stormy weather.

Two children died in another boatcapsize incident at Katiadi upazila Monday evening. They were identified Sumaiya, 3, and Rocky, 1.

However, the flood control room reported that eight people died in 24 hours ending at 11:00am yesterday, raising the death toll to 164. A total of 91 lakh people were affected in 38 districts. The government opened 1,515 flood shelters, which are now home to 3.6 lakh people.

Our correspondent in Gaibandha reports: About 400 people were diagnosed with diarrhoea in the district yesterday, raising the total number to 1,270, according to district civil surgeon office sources.

"We have adequate drugs to combat the spread of diarrhoea and we formed 29 additional medical teams for the flood-affected upazilas," said Dr Shamsul Huq, Civil Surgeon of Gaibandha.

According to district Agriculture Extension Department, flood damaged seedbeds of aman on 6,280 hectares, transplanted seedlings on 16,925 hectares, vegetables on 2,250 hectares, jute planted on 7,760 hectares. The flood-damage to agriculture is worth over Tk 15 crores.

Our correspondent in Netrakona reports: Diarrhoea is becoming an epidemic in the flood-affected areas. Only 159 diarrhoea patients were admitted to hospitals out of at least 800 people infected with diarrhoea, district administration sources said.

A seven-month-old child died of diarrhoea Monday night at Udaypur under Khaliajuri upazila, Khaliajuri Upazila Health Complex sources said. Scarcity of diarrhoea saline is also hampering the treatment of diarrhoea patients, the sources said.

Our correspondent in Sirajganj reports: District administration officials said the damage to property, infrastructure and crops could beworth over Tk 100 crore.

A correspondent in Faridpur reports: Two children drowned in floodwater at Nagarkanda upazila in two days, raising the death toll in the district to nine.

Water-borne diseases are spreading fast. Around 62 government medical teams and a six-member army medical team are working to stop the spreading.

Law and Information Adviser Mainul Hosein yesterday visited the flood-affected areas of Faridpur and inquired about relief operations. He distributed relief at a reliefdistribution programme organised by Faridpur Development Agency at C&B Ghat near the town.

Our correspondent in Tangail reports: According to Agriculture Extension Department (AED) officials, crops and vegetables on 95,423 hectares of land in 12 upazilas, worth Tk 100 crore, were completely destroyed in the floods.

Our correspondent in Magura reports: Acute crisis of drinking water is prevailing in 65 flood-affected villages of Magura Sadar and Shalikha upazilas, while inundation of grazing fields is causing a crisis of fodder.

Our staff correspondent in Bogra reports: The government-allocated relief materials remain undistributed at Sariakandi, Sonatala, Dhunat and Sherpur upazilas of Bogra, said an official of District Relief and Rehabilitation Department.

A total of 350 tonnes of rice was allocated for these four upazilas; only 206 tonnes have been distributed so far. A total of Tk 5 lakh was allocated but only Tk 1.9 lakh was distributed.

Bogra Deputy Commissioner Humayun Kabir said the government is distributing relief slowly as many NGOs have started distributing relief goods. "The relief distribution activities will continue for one more month in the affected areas," he added.

A correspondent in Comilla reports: At least three boys drowned in floodwaters at Daudkandi and Titas upazila Monday evening. The victims were identified as Nazrul, 3, Zakaria, 7, and Rahman, 3.

A correspondent in Munshiganj reports: Three children--Ilma Akhter, seven-month-old, of Tongibari, Manjida, 12, and Rian, 2, of Sirajdikhan upazilas--died in floodwaters yesterday.

Our correspondent in Chandpur reports: Two children drowned in floodwaters at Haziganj upazila. Flooding in the district affected over 2.3 lakh people.