At least four people have been killed as the overall flood situation in Sylhet showed no signs of improvement on Wednesday, with some rivers still flowing above the danger level.
Three people were killed when their boats sank in Sylhet sadar and Jaintapur upazilas while one other died in a landslide caused by the ongoing floods in Golapganj upazila.
According to the Sylhet Water Development Board, the Surma River was flowing 143cm above the danger mark at Kanaighat, 103cm above at Kushiara, and around 35cm above at Sheola point.
Of the 105 unions in Sylhet district, 55 unions have been completely and four unions have been partially inundated. About 1.2 million people have been affected by the floods.
According to the Sylhet district administration, 275 flood shelters have been opened in Sylhet district so far for the flood-hit people. Of them, 22 shelters have been opened in Sylhet city.
Till now, at least 6,475 people have taken shelter in safe houses across the district.
Meanwhile, various roads in the city have become impassable due to flooding, with some rivers still flowing above the danger level.
As a result, there were severe traffic congestions in the city all day on Tuesday and Wednesday. People going to schools, colleges, and offices have been suffering the most.
Sunil Singh, a resident, claimed that there was an acute shortage of drinking water and dry food in the flood-hit areas.
Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Mozibor Rahman told reporters in the morning that even though the water level in some government buildings had risen, services had not been disrupted.
Meanwhile, a vast tract of the border areas of Gowainghat, Companiganj, Kanaighat, Jaintiapur and Zakiganj upazilas have also been inundated.
AKM Niloy Saha, deputy divisional engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board’s Sylhet office, said: "We are receiving reports of the collapse of flood protection dykes from different parts of the district."
Situation likely to deteriorate
At a meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee in Sylhet on Wednesday, it was hinted that the water level might rise further.
According to weather experts, if incessant rains in Meghalaya and Assam districts in India continued, the flood situation might worsen further in the district.
Syed Ahmed Chowdhury, a senior meteorologist, said the flood situation could worsen further as rain was likely to occur in Sylhet on Friday and Saturday.
Chief Executive Officer of Sylhet City Corporation Bidhayok Roy Chowdhury said the banks of the Surma River had overflowed and flooded the coastal areas.
Relief distribution ongoing
At least 129 tons of rice and 1,000 packets of dried food were allotted for people affected by the floods.
While distributing relief to flood victims at a shelter in Chalibandar, Sylhet, on Wednesday afternoon, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abul Momen said: “The bed of the two main rivers of Sylhet–Surma and Kushiyara– has been filled. We have plans to dredge the river. The rivers have to be dredged before the next monsoon.”
Expressing sympathy with the flood victims, he said: “The water will not last long. It will go down quickly. The government is beside the people at this time.”
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamul Haque was also present on the occasion.
He said: “Tk25 lakh and 200 metric tons of rice have been allocated for the flood-hit areas of Sylhet. More allocations will be made if required.”
Chief Executive Officer of Sylhet City Corporation Bidhayok Roy Chowdhury said: “Dry food is being distributed among the families taking shelter at safe houses. They will get the necessary services. The situation is under constant observation.”
According to the district administration, in the second phase, 100 metric tons of rice and 3,000 packets of dry food were allocated for the flood victims.