The overall flood situation has improved as the water level of Jamuna and other rivers started receding in Jamalpur.
Jamalpur Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rafiqul Islam said that at 10am on Saturday the water of Jamuna River decreased by 20cm in the last 24 hours at Bahadurabad ghat point of Dewanganj to 35cm and at Jagannathganj ghat point of Sarishabari it has decreased by 12cm and is flowing over 82cm.
As the water recedes, many have left the shelters and started returning to their homes. About 200,000 people in 40 unions of Dewanganj, Bakshiganj, Islampur, Melandah, Motherganj and Sarishabari upazilas are still stuck in water.
Zakia Sultana, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, said that 8,000 hectares of cropland have been submerged due to floods. These crops include aus, seedling, banana, jute, chilli, maize, sesame and various vegetables.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Alamgir Hossain said that thousands of families have taken shelter in 15 shelters for flood victims. Various local and regional roads have been submerged causing inconvenience to travel.
There is an acute shortage of food, fresh water, baby food and cattle fodder in the affected areas. 540 tons of rice, Tk700,000 and 4,050 packets of dry food have been distributed to the victims.