Life became normal with the return of displaced people to their homes some two weeks back in most of the Brahmaputra basin where no flood situation prevails presently despite a rising trend in water levels of major rivers during the past two days.
Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said all major rivers were flowing much below the danger mark (DM) at all points on Wednesday despite a rising trend in their water levels due to monsoon rains during the past two days in the basin.
Chief Engineer for Rangpur Zone of BWDB Jyoti Prosad Ghosh said no flood situation has been prevailing alongside major rivers in the Brahmaputra basin since the last two weeks.
“There is no possibility of any flood situation in the river basin in the next ten days and water levels of major rivers are expected to start falling within the next few days,” he said.
Executive Engineer of BWDB for its Kurigram Division Ariful Islam said that normalcy returned in the district with the recession of floodwaters and return of marooned people to their flood-affected houses two weeks ago.
According to BWDB officials, water levels of the Dharla rose by 52cm at Kurigram, Ghaghot by 24cm at Gaibandha and Kartoa by 26cm at Chak Rahimpur points during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am Wednesday.
Water levels of the Brahmaputra rose by 18cm at Noonkhawa and 8cm at Chilmari while Teesta marked a rise of 5cm at Dalia and 36cm at Kawnia points during the period.
Besides, water levels of the Jamuna marked a rise by 14cm at Fulchhari, 26cm at Bahadurabad, 23cm at Sariakandi, 19cm at Kazipur, and 13cm at Sirajganj points during the same period.
The Dharla was flowing below the DM by 65cm at Kurigram, Ghaghot by 161cm at Gaibandha and Kartoa by 288cm at Chak Rahimpur points at 9 am Wednesday.
The Brahmaputra was flowing below the DM by 145cm at Noonkhawa and 125cm at Chilmari while Teesta was flowing below the DM by 20cm at Dalia and 54cm at Kawnia points at 9 am.
The Jamuna was flowing much below the DM by 134cm at Fulchhari, 134cm at Bahadurabad, 104cm at Sariakandi, 59cm at Kazipur, and 105cm at Sirajganj points at 9 am on Wednesday.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md. Zakir Hossain said the government conducted massive relief activities to stand beside the affected people during the flood periods.
“The government through the Department of Agricultural Extension and other related organisations is extending assistance and incentives to flood-affected farmers in recouping the crop losses they incurred during recent floods in the division,” he said.
The government would also rehabilitate river-eroded people who have lost houses and properties in flood-affected areas of Rangpur division so that they could stand on their own feet again at the earliest possible time, he added.
