RANGPUR, Aug 31, 2021 (BSS) - The flood situation deteriorated in the
Brahmaputra basin due to further rise in water levels of major rivers
following onrush of water from the upstream during the past 24 hours ending
at 9 am today.

   Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said the major
rivers were flowing above their respective danger levels (DL) at eight points
in Kurigram, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj districts at 9 am today.

   The Dharla was flowing above the DL by 25cm at Kurigram and Brahmaputra by
37cm above the DL at Chilmari points in Kurigram district at 9 am today.

   Besides, the Jamuna was flowing above the DL by 23cm at Fulchhari, 8cm at
Shaghata, 30cm at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, 42cm at Sariakandi in Bogura
district and 43cm at Kazipur and 41cm above the DL at Sirajganj points in
Sirajganj district at 9 am today.

   Due to falls in water levels during the last 24 hours, the Teesta was
flowing below the DL by 26cm at Kawnia point in Rangpur and 42cm at Dalia
points respectively in Nilphamari 9am today.

   Talking to BSS, Chief Engineer for Rangpur zone of BWDB Engineer Jyoti
Prosad Ghosh said water levels of major rivers might continue to rise during
the next 48 hours to deteriorate the flood situation in the Brahmaputra
basin.

  "We have taken adequate preparedness to face any situation during possible
floods in all eight districts of Rangpur division under BWDB's Rangpur zone
from where no incident of breaching of flood control embankments was reported
so far," he said.

   To conduct repairing works and management of flood control embankments on
an emergency basis when and where needed, all 12 divisions of three circles
of BWBD's Rangpur zone have taken all necessary preparations.

   "We are continuing repair works of erosion-prone riverside banks and ready
to do the same for flood control structures alongside the major rivers in
Rangpur zone spending Taka 62 crore for the "season flood" this year," Ghosh
added.

   BWDB's Executive Engineers Mokhlesur Rahman for Gaibandha and Ariful Islam
for Kurigram said all flood control embankments and structures are remaining
safe in the two districts although some sporadic incidents of erosions were
reported from few places. Executive Engineer of the Flood Forecasting and
Warning Center (FFWC) of BWDB at Dhaka, Engineer M Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan said
the Brahmaputra- Jamuna river systems were in rising trend which might
continue in the next 48 hours in the Brahmaputra basin.

   The major rainfalls recorded during the past 24 hours ending at 9 am today
were 42mm each at Shillong and Jalpaiguri and 28mm at Tezpur points of the
northwestern Indian states in the upstream.

   "During the next 24 hours, the flood situation at low lying areas of
Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Bogura and Sirajganj districts may deteriorate
in the upper Brahmaputra basin," Engineer Arifuzzaman added.

   Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md Zakir Hossain said that
the district administrations are closely monitoring the flood situation and
conducting relief activities among flood-hit people at deluge-affected areas
of Rangpur division.