Even before getting the chance of recovering from the effects of an earlier flood, thousands of people were marooned again across the country while crops and vegetables on over a million hectares of land went under water due to the incessant downpour over the last few days.

Environment and flood experts expressed grave concerns over the intensity of the second spell of the flood while our correspondents from different districts sent reports of damages done to flood protection embankments and inundations of new areas. Road communication between Rangamati and

Chittagong and some places of Khagrachhari and Sirajganj were snapped.

Dr Ainun Nishat, an eminent water and flood expert in the country, told The Daily Star that the July flood was a moderate one, but big floods usually occur in mid and late September.

"It was possible to recover from the crop damage we had to endure in July...but I am afraid, this time around it will be really difficult..."

Talking to The Daily Star, Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) chief Saiful Hossain said, "Actually ...we are in trouble the situation is grim. Records show that floods of late August and September usually last longer."

He added, "There was some improvement in the flood situation for about 10 days but again we find the rivers rising alarmingly threatening to destroy the banks. The recent flood witnessed by us only in last month was a premature one, when the Ganges was not so vigorous, but now all the major rivers are likely to rise."

An FFWC bulletin warned that the north, north-central and the south-central parts of the country are under threat of a second spell of flooding in the next 48 to 72 hours.

As monsoon remains vigorously active in the Ganges, Meghna, and Brahmaputra basins, both in and outside the country, and also in the south-eastern hill basin, the misery of the flood-hit people is likely to be aggravated.

Indian meteorological department forecast widespread rainfall with scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall in Bihar, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Gangetic West Bengal, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh in the next 3 to 4 days.

As Sub-Himalayan West Bengal is discharging a huge runoff through the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar, the northern districts of Bangladesh including Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, and Gaibandha are experiencing flash floods.

A fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura in the next 2 to 3 days.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in different places of the country in the next 24 hours.

The prevailing flood situation in Sylhet is likely to deteriorate further with the likelihood of spreading over to Sunamganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, and Netrakona districts in the next 24 to 48 hours.

The south-eastern districts including Feni, Chittagong, Rangamati, Bandarban, and Cox's Bazar are experiencing flash floods and the situation might deteriorate in the next 24 hours.

Our Nilphamari correspondent reported that the Teesta River is now flowing at a record highest point above the danger level. The Dalia division of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said heavy rainfall in the upstream made the river swell. Besides, India opened up all the gates of a dam at Goral Doba point to release excess water.

A 500 feet stretch of the flood bypass road on Teesta barrage was damaged. The BWDB authorities issued red alert there. BWDB men are trying hard to protect the embankment by placing sand bags and CC blocks into the breaches.

Over 2,000 families were marooned and many took shelter on the embankment. Shoals were also submerged.

Our Sirajganj correspondent reported that the flood situation in the district deteriorated further yesterday, as the Jamuna continued to rise in the upstream. The Jamuna was flowing 45cm above the danger level last afternoon at Sirajganj point.

About 800 metres of the flood control embankment at Shuvogachha in Kazipur upazila collapsed last morning letting the water of Jamuna gush into the town. Due to strong currents of the Jamuna many huts and trees were washed away.

District Relief Office and the Civil Surgeon's Office sources said at least 69 unions out of 81 under 9 upazilas were flooded afresh affecting about 5 lakh people.

District Agriculture Extension Department said ropa amon and vegetables on 8,000 hectares of cropland went under water. Khandaker Hasibur Rahman, deputy director of the Agricultural Extension Department (AED) said if the water level continues to rise, newly planted aman paddies and vegetables will be damaged.

Our Rangpur correspondent reported that most of the major rivers and their tributaries crossed their respective danger levels at many points and others were just touching the marks yesterday morning.

BWDB sources said the 400m long cross dam on the Teesta at Mohipur under Gangachara upazila went under water on Friday leaving the barrage in a very vulnerable state affecting 35,000 families of 38 villages, the upazila administration sources said.

In Lalmonirhat 75 villages were inundated as the 350m long flood by-pass road adjoining the Teesta barrage at Dowani point under Hatibandha upazila was heavily damaged inundating the homes of 15,000 families. About 30,000 families of 16 unions under 3 upazilas including the district headquarters were affected.

Our Gaibandha correspondent reported that floodwater rolled into more areas and submerged 4 upazilas there as the Brahmaputra was flowing 35cm above the danger mark while the Ghagot already crossed the mark yesterday.

Through the cracks formed on the Brahmaputra flood control embankment and on Sonail embankment, water gushed in inundating aman seedbeds on 200 hectares of land, and transplanted aman and vegetables on 12,000 hectares of land in 4 upazilas.

Our Pabna correspondent reported that ropa amon paddies on several thousand acres of land went under water there while the Jamuna and the Padma have been flowing there above the danger level for the last few days.

Official sources said the Jamuna is rising sharply with a 30cm rise yesterday. It is now flowing 34cm below the danger level.

Newly transplanted ropa aman paddies on several thousand acres of land went under water in Sujanager, Pabna, and Bera upazilas. Farmers of the district fear a huge loss of crops.

Our Chandpur correspondent reported that standing crops on over 25,000 hectares of land inside the Chandpur irrigation project went under water.

Our Rangamati correspondent reported that two-thirds of the low lying areas there were inundated as the water level in Kaptai Lake rose sharply.

People of 8 upazilas including the district headquarters left their homes after the office of the deputy commissioner urged them to leave their homes and take shelter in different educational institutions.

Our Khagrachhari correspondent reported that due to surges in the Chenghi, Mainee, and Feni rivers at least 85 villages were inundated. At least 50,000 people took shelter on high lands and in 28 flood shelters in 8 upazilas, while another 50,000 are spending their days under the open sky.

Our Bandarban correspondent reported that the Shankhya and Matamuhuri rivers are still flowing below the danger levels, but due to heavy downpour mudslides occurred at some places of Ruowangchhari, Ruma, and Thanchhi.

The deputy director of the Agricultural Extension Department said harvesting of paddies was interrupted and the jum farmers are fearing heavy damage to their crops.

Our Sylhet correspondent reported that with heavy rainfall the flood situation worsened in Sylhet and Sunamganj regions. All the rivers in the regions were flowing above the danger levels at all points, Water Development Board officials said. The water is rushing in from the hilly regions of India.

Newly transplanted aman paddies in 8 upazilas of Sylhet went under water. The affected areas are the district headquarters, and Gowainghat, Kanaighat, Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Balaganj, Osmaninagar and Golapganj upazilas.

Water was gushing through the breaches at different points along Kushiyara Dyke in Zakiganj and Beanibazar upazilas. Local residents started repairing the breaches, sources said.

Meanwhile, Director General of the Disaster Management Bureau KH Masud Siddiqui said the government took all out preparations to face the fresh bout of flood.

When asked if the army will be deployed to tackle the situation, he said, "The armed forces are still in the flood affected areas. The civil administration and the armed forces will work jointly to help the flood affected people."

He added, "We didn't withdraw the flood shelters from the flood hit districts and we've put all our officials and workers on high alert."