Floods worsen in north, north-central

Many areas of the country's northern and north-central districts have been facing inundation as adjoining rivers continue to swell.

People in the areas have been suffering as their homesteads and croplands have been submerged.

Many of them have left home and taken shelter on dykes, roads and other highlands for survival while river erosion is taking place in different districts.

At least 14 rivers of the country were flowing above danger level yesterday morning, said a bulletin of the government's Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

The bulletin was released at 9:00am.

"In next 24 hours, the flood situation in low-lying areas of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura, Tangail, Sirajganj, Pabna, Manikganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Shariatpur and Chandpur districts may deteriorate," it said.

Water levers of rivers in nine districts could rise further and exceed the danger level during the next couple of days, worsening the flood situation, a FFWC official told The Daily Star yesterday.

In Kurigram, fresh areas are being flooded as two major rivers -- the Brahmaputra and Dharla -- were swelling.

The Brahmaputra was flowing 20cm above the danger level at Chilmari point yesterday morning, while the Dharla was flowing 32cm above the danger level at the Dharla bridge point.

Some 40,000 people of nine upazilas have been suffering due to inundation, according to district administration and WDB officials.

"My family and I, along with my cattle, have taken shelter on the roads. It is very difficult for us," said Azgar Ali Sheikh, 60, a resident of Kurigram Sadar upazila's Char Jatrapur area.

In Lalmonirhat, floodwater has started receding in many areas.

"We are working to prevent river erosion," said Mizanur Rahman, executive engineer of WDB.

In Sirajganj, low-lying areas of Sadar, Kazipur, Chowhali, Shahzadpur and Belkuchi upazilas have been flooded.

The Jamuna is flowing 25cm above the danger level in Sirajganj, said Md Nasir Uddin, sub-divisional engineer of the WDB.

In Pabna, areas of Bera upazila have been flooded as the Jamuna has been swelling, while many areas of Pabna Sadar and Ishwardi upazilas are also waterlogged.

"We have been waterlogged for around two weeks and our homes have been submerged. We are going through immense sufferings," said Josna Begum, oh Pabna Sadar upazila's Char Ghoshpur area.

In Tangail, more low-lying areas of Sadar, Kalihati, Bhuanpur, Basail, Nagarpur, Delduar and Mirzapur upazilas have been flooded as the Jamuna and its' branch rivers continue to swell.

The Jamuna was flowing over 26cm above the danger level in Tangail, said Sirajul Islam, WDB's executive engineer.

Sirajul claimed that necessary measures would be taken to prevent river erosion.

Road communications in these areas have also snapped due to waterlogging.

[Our correspondents from different districts contributed to the report.]