Water levels in several rivers across four divisions of Bangladesh are expected to rise over the next three days, potentially triggering flash floods, according to Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).
While the situation is anticipated to improve after three days, the immediate outlook remains precarious.
The current weather pattern, influenced by a depression in the Bay of Bengal, has brought persistent rain to various parts of the country for the last three days.
Some regions have recorded more than 200 millimetres of rainfall within a 24-hour period, with Chattogram recording a significant 394mm on Tuesday.
The weather forecast indicates that heavy rainfall may continue until Saturday.
As a result of these conditions, water levels have already begun to increase in several rivers within the Chattogram, Sylhet, Mymensingh, and Rangpur divisions.
An official bulletin from FFWC noted that heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 to 72 hours could cause a rapid rise in river levels across the north-eastern, eastern, south-eastern, and northern regions of the country.
Low-lying areas in several districts, including Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Netrokona, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, Feni, Cox’s Bazar, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, and Kurigram, are at risk of short-term flooding as rivers may cross their respective danger marks.
Despite the warnings, all major rivers in the country are currently flowing below their danger levels.
However, the last 24 hours saw very heavy rain in the Chattogram division and heavy to very heavy rain in the Sylhet and Barishal divisions. Significant rainfall was also recorded in upstream Indian regions, specifically in Meghalaya and Tripura.
The FFWC has warned that the Teesta River could cross the danger level within the next 24 to 48 hours. Additionally, water levels are expected to rise rapidly in other major rivers, including the Surma-Kushiyara, Gomti, Muhuri, Feni, Sangu, Matamuhuri, Dudhkumar, and Dharla.
