Bangladesh’s flood emergency entered a new phase on Tuesday as the death toll from heavy rain, flash floods and landslides rose to 56, while authorities warned that although floodwaters are receding in the northeast, swelling northern rivers could trigger fresh inundation in Rangpur and adjoining districts over the coming days.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, seven districts have been affected by the disaster, leaving 56 people dead, 39 injured and one person missing.
A total of 329 shelters are now housing 10,854 displaced people, while flooding has affected 59 upazilas, 334 unions and 12 municipalities.
Cox’s Bazar remains the worst-hit district, accounting for 31 deaths, including 13 Rohingyas and 18 local residents. Chittagong has reported 15 deaths, followed by Bandarban (6), Rangamati (3) and Moulvibazar (1).
Waters recede in northeast
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said water levels in the Surma-Kushiyara river system have started to decline after several days of flooding.
If current trends continue, flood conditions in low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj are expected to improve further within the next 24 to 48 hours.
River levels have also fallen in parts of Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions, including the Jadukata, Bhugai-Kangs and Sarigowain rivers.
Although the Someshwari River continues to rise, officials expect the situation in Netrakona to remain stable before gradually improving.
Despite the improvement, the FFWC said five monitoring stations on four rivers remain above the danger level: the Teesta at Dalia, Surma at Chhatak, Kushiyara at Markuli and Fenchuganj, and the Someshwari at Kalmakanda.
Fresh flood fears in the north
Attention is now shifting to northern Bangladesh, where continuous rainfall and upstream runoff from India have pushed the Teesta above the danger level for the third time this monsoon.
At Dalia in Nilphamari, the river was flowing 4 centimetres above the danger level on Tuesday morning after peaking at 10 centimetres above the previous evening.
Water has already entered low-lying villages in Dimla and Jaldhaka upazilas, prompting residents to prepare for further flooding.
Authorities have opened all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage to manage the increased flow.
The FFWC warned that the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers could rise further over the next 24 to 48 hours, causing short-term flooding in parts of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Kurigram.
The Kaunia point on the Teesta may temporarily cross the danger level, while riverbank communities have been advised to move to safer ground if conditions deteriorate.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast moderate to moderately heavy rainfall across much of the country and adjoining upstream areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal over the next 72 hours.
While forecasters expect flood conditions to continue improving in the northeast, they warned that renewed rainfall and upstream flows could prolong flooding in parts of northern Bangladesh before river levels begin to recede later in the week.