Staff Correspondent

Heavy rainfall and the onrush of river water from the bordering districts of India have inundated eight districts in the eastern and south-eastern regions of Bangladesh, putting hundreds of thousands of people in the country in immense misery.

Seven rivers in the country was flowing above the danger level on Wednesday, flooding vast tracts of land in Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Khagrachhari and Chattogram districts, said KM Ali Reza, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

He said the flood may spread further.

“A relief distribution programme is going on in the flood-affected districts. The local administration is working in coordination with the deputy commissioners of the flood-hit districts, coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, the Army, and other volunteers,” he said.

Mohammad Nazmul Abedin, joint secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, said, “Cash, rice and dry food have been allocated for the flood-affected areas. There is sufficient stock of relief materials in the district warehouses. As of Wednesday afternoon, 1,600 people have taken refuge in 78 shelters in Feni.”

The major rivers in the Northeastern and Eastern regions of the country are also on a rising trend, he said.

Heavy rainfall, huge onrush from India flood 8 districtsAccording to the meteorological organisations, medium to heavy rainfall is expected in the north-eastern region and adjacent upstream parts of the country in the upcoming days, he said.

As a result, the water level of major rivers in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts in these regions may rise at some points during that period, said the official.

The water level of Manu, Khowai, and Dhalai rivers in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts may flow above the danger level and flood situation in the low-lying areas may remain unchanged, according to FFWC.

According to the meteorological organisations’ forecast on Wednesday, medium to heavy rainfall is expected over the south-eastern, and eastern regions and adjacent upstream parts of the country in the next 24 hours. As a result, the water level of the Muhuri, Feni, Halda, Sangu, Matamuhuri and Gumti rivers may remain steady overall.

One dead, another missing in Feni

In Feni, severe flooding has caused widespread destruction to crops and fisheries, and forced many people to abandon their homes in search of shelter.

The flooding has claimed the life of a young man in Fulgazi upazila of the district, who was swept away by the strong currents, while another person remains missing, according to UNB.

Entire communities in the district are now in desperate need of shelter, as their homes and roads were inundated and destroyed by the devastating flood.

The local people were stunned by the scale of the disaster that appears to be the worst in a decade.

In Fulgazi, more than 40 villages under Sadar, Anondapur, Munshihat, and Amjadhat unions were submerged.

On Monday night, Raju, the son of Mizanur Rahman from the Dakshin Sreepur Paschimmatha area of Fulgazi Sadar union, went fishing with friends at a breached embankment. Later, he was swept away by strong currents there. Local people managed to rescue him, but he was declared dead upon arrival at Fulgazi Upazila Health Complex, reported UNB.

In Parshuram upazila, over 45 villages under Mirzanghar, Chithalia, Boxmahmud, and the municipal town, are under water. Meanwhile, several villages in Chhagalnaiya’s Pathan Nagar, Radhanagar, and Shubhapur unions have also been affected.

The flooding follows recent embankment breaches at 15 spots along the Muhuri, Kohua, and Silonia rivers. Despite repairs, an additional 12 breaches have occurred, marking the third flood in just six weeks. Over 100 villages have been impacted, with damage to infrastructure, crops, and fisheries estimated at over Tk30 crore.

Parshuram Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Afroza Habib Shapla described the current flood as the worst in living memory, affecting most villages in the municipality and three unions.

Fulgazi UNO Tania Bhuiyan reported that nearly all villages under the upazila’s six unions are flooded.

In Moulvibazar, a severe flood crisis left around 1.5 lakh people stranded as heavy rains and water from upstream caused rivers to overflow.

At least 50 villages in the district have already been flooded, with the water levels of the Kushiyara, Manu, Dhalai, and Juri rivers rising above the danger level on Wednesday, reports our local correspondent.

The rapidly rising floodwaters have plunged residents into an acute crisis. Homes, croplands and farm fields have been submerged due to torrential rains over the past three days.

In Cumilla, heavy rainfall and rising water levels in the Gomti River have intensified concerns over potential flooding in the district, with nearly 4,000 hectares of farmland already submerged.

Since the early hours of Wednesday, persistent rain and water inflows have significantly raised the river’s level.

Residents living along the Gomti River said this is the highest water level seen in a decade. Thousands of families in flood-prone areas have taken refuge on embankments as the water continues to rise.

In several areas, including Banashua, Palpara, Ratnabati, and Tikkarchar, waves from the Gomti River have inundated thousands of acres of vegetable fields. Many residents have left their homes to seek temporary shelter on embankments.

In Tikkarchar, over a hundred families have taken shelter on the embankments protecting the city. Meanwhile, some riverbank areas have already gone under water.

The incessant rainfall over the last three days, combined with water inflow through the Kakri, Paguli, and Salda rivers from India, has increased fears of widespread flooding in Cumilla.

In Brahmanbaria, heavy rainfall and onrush of water from upstream inundated the Akhaura land port and International Immigration Police check post, suspending all works of immigration operations.

Traffic movement on the Akhaura-Agartala road stopped after a bridge broke down in Gazi’s Bazar area due to flooding. At least 50 villages of the upazila were flooded that affected 300 families at Landport, Bautola, Birchandrapur, Kalikapur, Bongerchar, Sahebnago and some other areas.

Power outage hit 6 lakh people

Around six lakh people were left without electricity till Wednesday evening in various flood-affected areas. Noakhali and Feni were two of the areas most affected by the power outage. About four lakh consumers are without electricity in Noakhali.

If the flood situation worsens, more areas may be left without power, said officials of the Palli Bidyut Samity.