The upstream floodwaters from Tripura, India, have caused severe flooding in Moulvibazar District, leading to widespread panic among residents.
Over the past three days, flooding has submerged homes, highways, rural roads, and educational institutions across 37 unions and municipalities in seven upazilas. Communication with the district headquarters is disrupted, leaving over 300,000 people stranded.
Water from the Manu River has breached into shops on Central Road in the district town, causing anxiety among business owners.
There is a possibility that the dam will break and submerge the entire city at any time.
Suman Ahmed, a shopkeeper on Central Road, expressed concerns about rising water entering his shop. The town fears the imminent risk of total inundation.
As of 6pm Thursday, district administration reports indicate 195,000 flood-affected individuals, with 6,065 people taking shelter in 47 relief centres.
A total of 212 villages in 47 areas have been submerged.
Relief efforts include the allocation of 285 metric tons of rice and Tk20.5 lakh for seven upazilas, with 25 medical teams deployed.
According to the Water Development Board's data at 6pm on Thursday, water is flowing over 195 cm of the water level in Juri river, 22 cm of water level in Dhalai river, 119 cm at Chandnighat of Manu river and 70 cm above the railway bridge.
Apart from this, at Moulvibazar Sherpur point, Kushiara river water is flowing 11 cm above the danger level.
Moulvibazar's District Fisheries Officer, Md Shahnewaz Siraji, reported damage to 1,168 ponds and fish farms, totaling 268 hectares.
The loss includes 324 metric tons of fish and 9.1 million fish fry, with a total financial loss of Tk6.1 crore.
Md Samsuddin Ahmed, Deputy Director of the District Agriculture Extension (DAE), reported that 39,082 hectares of Aman rice fields are submerged.
Executive Engineer Md Javed Iqbal of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) stated that continuous rain and upstream floods have drastically increased river levels, surpassing danger thresholds.
Repair work on vulnerable river sections is underway, he added.
Deputy Commissioner Urmi Binte Salam noted that inspections and warnings are in place, and relief materials and cash assistance have been dispatched to the affected upazilas.
