NORTH, NORTHEAST

Heavy rain, rising rivers raise flood risk

OUR CORRESPONDENT, Bogura

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) yesterday issued a special weather bulletin warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across northern and northeastern Bangladesh and adjoining upstream Indian states over the next five days.

The bulletin, signed by FFWC Executive Engineer Sardar Uday Raihan, cites data from the Bangladesh and Indian meteorological departments and global weather agencies.

It projects cumulative rainfall of up to 250-300mm in isolated areas of Sylhet and Rangpur divisions between June 8 and June 13.

Intense precipitation is also expected in adjacent upstream Indian regions of Assam, Meghalaya, and West Bengal. As a result, major river basins in Bangladesh’s north and northeast are forecast to rise significantly.

Water levels in the Surma and Kushiyara rivers are expected to rise steadily between June 8 and June 11, possibly reaching warning levels in Sylhet district and posing short-term risks of localised flooding. In Rangpur division, the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers are also projected to swell, with the Teesta likely to touch alert thresholds in Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari.

According to BWDB data, the Jamuna river at Fulchhari station in Gaibandha rose by 28cm in the last 24 hours, though it remains 333cm below danger level. The Ghaghot river at Gaibandha New Bridge station rose by 14cm, flowing 361cm below danger level.