The Kushiyara River in Sylhet is flowing about two metres (seven feet) above the danger level.
Asif Ahmed, executive engineer of the Water Development Board (Paubo), said that the record of water flow is the highest in 10 years.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune on Wednesday, he said that the Kushiyara river flowed 191cm above the danger level at Amalsid point in the afternoon.
“Water was flowing at high speed over the dams in different places. However, upstream water rainfall has decreased,” he added.
Asif hoped that the flow of water in the river will decrease from Thursday.
Regarding the overall flood situation in Sylhet, he said that, although the water level in Surma Basin has decreased, the water level in Kushiyara Basin is increasing.
“On Wednesday afternoon, the water level at Sheola Point exceeded 88cm above the danger level. However, the water level of Surma river in Sylhet has decreased a bit,” he observed.
On Tuesday, the water level of Surma River at Sylhet Point was 30cm above the danger level and at Kanaighat Point it was 99cm above the danger level.
Saeed Ahmad Chowdhury, a senior meteorologist at the Sylhet Meteorological Office, said the rainfall in Sylhet has been declining since Tuesday. “Low rainfall is forecast for the next 10 days. There may be some rain only on Sunday.”
Improvement in some areas, deterioration in others
The flood situation in Beanibazar, Fenchuganj, Balaganj and South Surma in Sylhet has further deteriorated as the Kushiyara River continues to flow.
Even if the situation improved in Companiganj, Gowainghat, Jaintapur, Sylhet Sadar and Bishwanath of Sylhet and Chhatak, Doarazar and Sunamganj Sadar of Sunamganj, the suffering of the waterlogged people will not be alleviated in any way.
Sadeq Ahmad Azad, a resident of Beanibazar, said that the communication between Beanibazar and Sylhet has been cut off due to the increase in flood waters. “The whole upazila is flooded.”
Jahangir Alam Musik, a resident of South Surma, said nine unions in South Surma have been flooded since Tuesday.
“The situation in the upazila deteriorated further on Wednesday. As the water level rose, many people left their homes and took refuge elsewhere,” he continued.
Abdul Hasib, a resident of Zakiganj, said the floods were causing erosion in new areas.
Along with rural roads, Sylhet-Zakiganj road has also been submerged. In the meantime, 48 flood shelters have been opened in Zakiganj where 885 families have taken shelter.
Sunamganj is still under water
Shah Ashikur Rahman, a resident of Hasannagar in Sunamganj, said that, although the flood waters had receded a bit, many areas of Sunamganj town were still under water.
He also said that all upazila roads are still closed to the district headquarters except for one or two water in his backyard.
“Although the district administration, army, people's representatives and individuals have distributed relief among the flood victims, it is very inadequate. Especially in most of the areas due to power outage in Sunamganj city and surrounding areas is a haunting environment,” he added.
Mashiur Rahman, executive engineer of the Power Development Board, said it would take one or two more days to start power transmission in the entire Sunamganj town.
“Robbers raided the house of a journalist in Sunamganj and looted valuables. Robbers are terrorizing every neighborhood in the city,” he mentioned.