GAIBANDHA, Sept 1, 2021 (BSS) - Flood situation in the Brahmaputra river

basins of four upazilas in the district deteriorated further as the water
level of the river increased during the last 24 hours ending today's 9 am due
to incessant rainfall and on rush of hilly waters from the upstream.

   Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) official sources here said the
water level of the Brahmaputra river increased by 16cm during the period and
the river was flowing 39cm above its danger mark at Fulchharighat point of
the district.

   As a result, the chars located on the eastern sides of the river basin
areas of Sundarganj, Sadar, Fulchhari and Shaghata upazilas of the district
have been inundated.

   Md. Jalal Uddin Sarker, chairman of Kapasia Union Parishad of Sundarganj
upazila said, Lalchamar Purbapara, Adarsha village, Paglar char, Khalifapara,
Badamer char, Char mintu, Porarchar, Bochagari, and Bhati Kapasia of the
union have been flooded with the sharp rise of water level of the Brahmaputra
river.

  Hundreds of char dwellers have been marooned and are passing their days
with hardship, he also said.

   Md. Abdul Hai B. Sc, chairman of Mollarchar union Parishad of Sadar
upazila said the houses of char Shedhai, Baze Chithulia, Maizbari and
Moulavir char including Mollarchar went under from knee to waist deep water
of the river creating untold sufferings to the dwellers of the chars.

   In addition, river erosion had also been added to their sufferings.
Erosion victims are in much trouble and in countless anxiety as there are no
higher places where they would build their houses for residing, he added.

   The low lying areas of the western side of the Brahmaputra river have also
been flooded, said Saddam Hossain, a social worker of Kamarjani river port.
Many flood victims of the chars of Kamarjani union started taking shelter on
the flood control embankment, he added.

   On the other hand, another major river-the Ghagot blowing through the
mainland of the district crossed the danger level last night and the river
was flowing 6 cm above its danger level at New Bridge Road point of the
district town this morning around 9 AM.

  The low lying areas located on both sides of the river have also been
flooded. As a result, the standing crop specially the seedlings of T- Aman
paddy have gone under flood water making the farmers more worried about their
staple crop and their food security.

   An official of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said a total
of 995 hectares of land of T-Aman paddy had gone under flood water. Executive
Engineer of BWDB Mokhlasur Rahman said as the Brahmaputra was flowing over
its danger mark, the officials and the employees of the board had been kept
alert and vigil there to protect the embankment from any kind of damage.

   Superintendent of police Muhammad Towhidul Islam said police patrolling by
engine driven boats had been intensified in the Brahmaputra river to check
piracy in the chars and western sides of the river.

  District relief and rehabilitation officer(DRRO) AKM Idris Ali said, 40
metric tonnes of rice and Taka 2 lakh were sanctioned for the flood affected
people of Sundarganj, Sadar, Fulchhari and Shaghata upazilas of the district.

   A list of the flood affected people was being prepared by the upazila
administration taking the help of local government bodies aimed at
distributing rice and money to mitigate their sufferings, the DRRO added.

   Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abdul Matin told the BSS that they were
monitoring the flood situation closely.