Water levels in Kurigram's main rivers continue to rise because of runoff from upstream and several days of heavy rain. All the district's rivers are still flowing below the danger mark, but fear of flooding has spread through the char areas along the Teesta, and river erosion has appeared in several places.

The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) says the Teesta may rise further over the next 72 hours, with a risk of short-term flooding in low-lying areas.

According to Kurigram BWDB, at 6am on Tuesday, 23 June, the Teesta at the Kaunia point had risen 13 cm and was flowing 36 cm below the danger mark. At the same time the Dharla at the Taluk Shimulbari point had risen 3 cm and was 94 cm below the danger mark, and the Brahmaputra at the Nunkhawa point had risen 2 cm and was 1.66 metres below the danger mark. At 9am the Dudhkumar at the Pateshwari point was 63 cm below the danger mark.

As the water rises, low-lying land in the char areas along the Teesta has begun to go under, and farmers fear crop losses.

Abdus Salam, a farmer from Char Juan Satra in Thetrai union of Ulipur upazila, said low land in the chars had started to flood, putting chilli and pointed gourd fields at risk.

Sabed Ali, a farmer from Char Gatiasham in Ghoriyaldanga union of Rajarhat upazila, said: "As the groundnut field went under water, I hurriedly harvested the groundnuts. But water has already entered jute fields and other vegetable fields."

Local people said the rising rivers had raised fears of flooding in the chars, and with erosion starting in several places, people fear losing their homes and farmland.

Kurigram BWDB executive engineer Rakibul Hasan said that although the rivers were still rising, all were below the danger mark. But low-lying char areas were at risk of inundation, and the Teesta could rise further and flood some low areas within the next 72 hours, possibly creating a short-term flood situation.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.