Many displaced people started returning home following further improvement of the flood situation in the deluge that hit northern districts in the Brahmaputra basin during the last 24 hours till 9am on Tuesday.
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) officials said water levels of the major rivers marked further sharp falls to flow below their respective danger levels at most places except at Kazipur and Sirajganj points.
The improving trend in the flood situation may continue with the further recession in water level of the major rivers in the basin during the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, sporadic incidents of riverbank erosion have been reported from several points alongside Dharla, Dudhkumar, Teesta, Brahmaputra, Ghaghot, and Jamuna rivers due to stronger river currents with a recession of floodwater.
Also Read - Flood situation improves rapidly in Brahmaputra basin
Water levels of the Brahmaputra marked a fall by 25cm at Noonkhawa, 28cm at Hatia, and 25cm at Chilmari while Dharla marked a fall by 41cm at Kurigram and Ghaghot by 26cm at Gaibandha points during the last 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday.
Water levels of the Jamuna marked sharp falls by 32cm at Fulchhari, 35cm at Shaghata, 34cm at Bahadurabad, 29cm at Sariakandi, 22cm at Kazipur, and 25cm at Sirajganj points during the period.
The Brahmaputra was flowing below the danger level by 98cm at Noonkhawa, 82cm at Haita, and 33cm at Chilmari while Dharla by 33cm at Kurigram and Ghaghot by 53cm below the danger level at Gaibandha points at 9 am on Tuesday.
The Jamuna was flowing below the danger level by 39cm at Fulchhari, 57cm at Shaghata, 36cm at Bahadurabad, 2cm each at Sariakandi while above the danger level by 11cm at Kazipur and 8cm at Sirajganj points.
However, water levels of the Teesta marked rises by 10cm at Dalia and 3cm at Kawnia points in Nilphamari and were flowing below the danger level by 20cm and 52cm at these points respectively at 9 am on Tuesday.
Chief Engineer Jyoti Prosad Ghosh of Rangpur Zone of BWDB said sporadic riverbank erosion was being reported alongside major rivers from Kurigram, Gaibandha, and other areas and riverbank protection works are continuing at most places.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md Zakir Hossain said the displaced people have already started returning homes as the flood situation continues improving everywhere in the Rangpur division.
He said: "The district administrations are ensuring proper distribution of relief goods and money among the flood-hit people."
Also Read - Flood situation improves in Rangpur, Gaibandha and Jamalpur
Distribution of Tk3.5 lakh and 20 tons of rice among the flood-affected people in Rangpur, 80 tons of rice and Tk8 lakh in Gaibandha, and 280 tons of rice and Tk12 lakh in Kurigram continues to be distributed to flood victims.
Similarly, the district administrations are continuing relief activities in other flood-affected northern districts in the Brahmaputra basin where the flood situation continues improving rapidly.
According to a bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB in Dhaka, water levels of all major rivers are in a falling trend which may continue in the next 48 hours in the Brahmaputra basin.
Executive Engineer M Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan of the FFWC of BWDB said: "The flood situation may continue improving in all districts in the Brahmaputra basin while the Teesta may rise and stay near the danger level at Dalia point in the next 24 hours."
