Sylhet has experienced the highest rainfall in June in 62 years, according to Met office data.
Nearly 1,456mm of rain has been recorded in the whole month, which is about 78% higher than the average rainfall.
Experts have pointed the finger at climate change for the recent surge in rainfall in Sylhet.
Saeed Ahmed Chowdhury, a senior meteorologist at the Sylhet Meteorological Office, said: “This is the first time Sylhet has witnessed such rainfall in June since 1956. It rained for 28 days in June, which is unusual. The highest rainfall of 303.8mm in a day was recorded on June 16.”
“However, the record of the last five years of rainfall in June has not been preserved. As a result, the rainfall this season has been considered the highest in a month in 62 years. The second highest rainfall of 1,394mm was recorded in Sylhet in June 2004,” he added.
Saeed Ahmed termed Sylhet’s weather as “extreme” for the last few years. “This region is getting more rainfall in a short time, which breaks down the system here.”
According to him, pre-monsoon rains usually fall in March, April and May in the country.
“However, this time the rainfall was 44% less in March and 26% less in April while there was 48% more rainfall in May,” he observed.
Dr Mustaq Ahmed, a professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust), said that the recent heavy rains and floods in Sylhet are an issue related to climate change.
“But we need to compare the data for the next few years to define it as a complete effect of climate change,” he said.
He mentioned that the rivers and reservoirs of Sylhet are not able to hold water while in some places, the flow of water is being obstructed, which needs to be identified.
“The water of the Surma-Kushiyara river in Sylhet joins the Meghna river through a single channel, the Kalani river. As a result, the capacity of this channel must be increased through dredging,” the professor observed.
Prof Nur Hossain Mia of Sylhet Agricultural University said that the rivers of Sylhet are full of silt.
“The water holding capacity of these rivers is declining as we throw our waste in them. The capacity will be increased if we are able to excavate the lands around the haor.”
At a recent press briefing in Sylhet, Sheldon Yett, Unicef Representative of Bangladesh, said: “This is the result of climate change for sure and we have to face such things in the future as well.”
The north-eastern part of Bangladesh has been devastated by torrential rains and flash floods due to heavy rainfall in the upper streams of Surma, Kushiyara and other rivers of the Brahmaputra basin that are linked to the region.
Flash floods in the same region took place in May this year, battering Sunamganj and Sylhet. Then the second wave of flash floods was caused by the heavy rainfall from June 15 in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona districts, inundating many areas.
Around 7.2 million people have been affected by the crisis and are in severe need of immediate food, water and cash support alongside shelter and protection support, said the Needs Assessment Working Group (NAWG).
According to the Sylhet District administration, there are now 439 shelters in the Sylhet district where 37,176 people are still staying.