Bangladesh’s flood threat is shifting from the country’s southeastern districts to the north and northeast, with forecasters warning that continued heavy rainfall and upstream runoff could trigger fresh flooding in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Rangpur over the coming days.
While floodwaters have started receding in parts of Chittagong, Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar after days of torrential rain, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) says four major rivers flowing through six districts remain above danger level and the next phase of the monsoon could bring new areas under water.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast moderate to very heavy rainfall across much of the country over the next several days, raising concerns that the existing flood situation could worsen before improving.
Executive Engineer of the FFWC Sardar Uday Raihan said flood conditions are expected to ease gradually in some southeastern districts but may deteriorate in the Sylhet, Sunamganj and Rangpur regions as rivers continue to swell from both local rainfall and water flowing in from upstream India.
According to the FFWC, flood conditions already prevail in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban, while Feni could also experience flooding if heavy rainfall continues.
The Sangu River is flowing above danger level in Bandarban and Chittagong, while the Kushiyara, Manu and Khowai rivers have crossed danger levels in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj.
The forecasting centre also warned that low-lying areas of Feni, Chittagong and Khagrachhari could experience flash flooding within the next 24 to 48 hours, while parts of Lakshmipur and Noakhali may face temporary inundation.
In the northeast, the low-lying areas along the Kushiyara and Surma rivers are expected to come under increasing pressure as heavy rainfall continues in Meghalaya, Assam and West Bengal, from where several transboundary rivers originate.
Meteorologist Shah Md Sajib Hossain of the Sylhet Meteorological Office said the region is likely to experience similar weather conditions for another two to three days, with more heavy rainfall expected.
Meteorologists also warned that intense rainfall in India’s hill states could trigger fresh mountain runoff into Bangladesh’s northern and northeastern rivers, increasing the likelihood of short-term flooding in low-lying areas.
The BMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in parts of Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions over the next 24 hours, with rainfall likely to continue across all eight divisions before gradually weakening later in the week.
The highest rainfall during the past 24 hours was recorded in Chuadanga, where 147 millimetres of rain fell.
Meanwhile, river levels in the Teesta basin, including the Teesta, Dharla, Karatoya, Atrai and Dudhkumar rivers, continue to rise, with the Teesta approaching warning levels at several monitoring stations.
Although the Brahmaputra and Jamuna remain below danger level, the FFWC said water levels in the Ganges-Padma basin are expected to increase again after remaining stable for the next two days.
In Dhaka, the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, Dhaleshwari and Tongi Khal rivers are also rising, although officials expect them to remain below danger level despite continued rainfall.
The Prime Minister’s Office has instructed local administrations across flood-affected districts to remain on high alert and continue relief operations as authorities monitor the evolving situation.