Heavy rainfall, river erosion and nonstop rise in water level have submerged many villages, left thousands of people marooned and destroyed arable lands in a number of districts across the country.
The flood situation remained unchanged in some areas while getting worse in other places. Relief goods were distributed in a number of areas while local authorities elsewhere said there would be more allocation and distribution soon.
Bogra
A rise in the water level in Jamuna river has aggravated flood situations in 94 villages of Bogra, including Sonatala, Sariakandi and Dhunot.
Nearly one lakh people in the flood-affected areas are facing an acute crisis of safe water, baby food and fodder.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Md Arifuzzaman said Tk3 lakh in cash and 160 tonnes of rice are to be distributed among the flood victims.
We will begin the distribution once the upazila officials inform us of the demand in their respective areas, he said, adding: “We earlier distributed Tk1.75 lakh and 90 tonnes of rice.”
Meanwhile, another 17m of the flood prevention embankment in Rauhadaha Bazar area eroded away on Wednesday night.
Local Water Development Board officials said water in Jamuna flowed 74cm above the danger level yesterday afternoon.
Munshiganj
At least 30,000 people were marooned and arable lands were inundated in different areas of Munshiganj, though the flood situation there remained unchanged yesterday.
At Bhagyakul point, the water level in Padma fell by 1cm yesterday morning but was still 17cm above the danger level.
No new areas was inundated while the situation in low-lying areas affected by flood remained the same.
Meanwhile, 48 families lost their homes in erosion in Kumarbhogh and Kamarkhara areas. Kamarkhara Barail Government Primary School was also closed.
Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Md Saiful Hasan Badol said medical teams were working in the submerged villages and the government allocated 100 tonnes of rice for the victims.
Upazila officials were directed to supply every family with 30kg rice and the local administration is closely monitoring the overall situation, he said.
Academic affairs are open at all educational institutions in the district, except a primary school, and no shelter has yet been opened.
Jamalpur
Water in Jamuna at Bahadurabad point of Jamalpur flowed 60cm above the danger level yesterday morning, marking a 26cm rise in 24 hours.
The continuous rise in water for two weeks has worsened the flood situation further in the district, multiplying the plight of more than two lakh people in seven upazilas.
Apart from the crisis of safe water and food, water-borne diseases are spreading.
Deputy Commissioner Md Shahabuddin Khan held an emergency meeting of the district disaster and relief committee yesterday morning and directed officials to extend support and assistance to the flood victims.
Another 81 tonnes of rice and dry food worth Tk2 lakh were allocated by the district administration yesterday.
Agriculture Extension Department officials said 16,311 hectares of paddy fields and vegetable plantations went under water.
District Education Officer Shamsul Haque said a total of 164 flood-hit educational institutions, including 27 secondary schools and 137 primary schools, were closed so far.
Schools also feel the heat
Academic affairs in schools in the flood-affected areas were disrupted as many institutions were either inundated or affected by river erosion.
Teachers said they were worried whether they could complete teaching all the lessons in the syllabus for the upcoming Primary School Certificate and Junior School Certificate examinations.
Both the public exams are scheduled for November.