Rivers in two districts of Bangladesh are flowing above danger level, and the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has warned that rivers in several more northern districts could breach it and cause short-term flooding. The Kushiyara is above danger level at Fenchuganj in Sylhet and at Markuli in Sunamganj, the centre said, and over the next two days the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar could rise past the mark at some points.

According to the forecast, these rivers may keep rising for five days, and within 24 to 48 hours short-lived flooding is possible in low-lying areas along the rivers in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha and Kurigram. The Teesta is already at warning level at Dalia and Kaunia in Nilphamari and at Haripur and Tarapur in Gaibandha. The Brahmaputra-Jamuna rose over the past 24 hours but remains below danger level.

Md Rakibul Hasan, executive engineer of the Kurigram Water Development Board, said no river in the district had yet crossed the danger mark, but rain upstream could push the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar over it. "Water is rising because of intense rain upstream in India's Assam. But the Brahmaputra will not cross the danger level this time, so although water will enter riverside areas there is nothing to worry about as far as flooding goes," he said.

The Gaibandha and Rangpur boards report that all their rivers are rising and the Teesta may exceed danger level in places. Shariful Islam, executive engineer at Gaibandha, said the Jamuna would rise without breaching the mark, but all rivers would swell for two or three more days and water would enter low ground before receding after a few days. Earlier this month the Brahmaputra and Jamuna crossed danger level and flooded the char areas of Gaibandha Sadar, Sundarganj, Fulchhari and Saghata, submerging homes on several chars; Rafiqul Islam, a resident of Manikkor char in Fulchhari, said the same fear has returned. The district disaster management committee has already met under the deputy commissioner.

Md Rabiul Islam, executive engineer of the Rangpur Water Development Board, said rain on the Indian side would raise the Teesta in Rangpur and Kurigram, with a risk of short-term flooding, although flows were still below danger level. In the Ganges-Padma basin water will rise for five days without crossing the mark. The Surma is at warning level at Chhatak and the Kushiyara at Sherpur in Moulvibazar; the Someshwari is above danger level at Kalmakanda in Netrokona. The Atrai, Karatoya, Little Jamuna and Jamuneshwari have fallen, though the Atrai and Little Jamuna remain at warning level at two points in Naogaon. Around Dhaka the Dhaleshwari has risen while the Buriganga, Turag and Tongi Khal are stable.

The Meteorological Department expects rain of varying intensity across the country for five days from Saturday: the monsoon is active over the north, fairly active elsewhere and strong over the northern Bay of Bengal. Most divisions can expect light to moderate or heavy rain, with very heavy falls possible in parts of Rangpur division. Abnormal tides have flooded homes, roads and markets on chars in some southern districts, and the Water Development Board says the high tides may continue until Sunday.

Earlier this month a week of continuous rain flooded at least seven districts including Chattogram and Bandarban; the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief put the death toll from the rain and landslides at 58, the highest, 32, in Cox's Bazar, where 19 were local residents and 13 were Rohingya.

Source: BBC Bangla