The overall flood situation in northern areas remained mostly unchanged on Saturday.
Although waters of most of the rivers like Jamuna, Teesta, Ghaghat, Brahmaputra and Dhaleswari started receding, they still flow above danger mark (DM), inundating fresh areas and turning erosion alarming in nine districts, according our correspondents.
Lakhs of marooned people have been facing food and pure drinking water crises for the last several days but adequate relief is yet to reach them. There is outbreak of diarrhoea and water-borne diseases in the flood-affected districts.
Meanwhile, flood waters around Dhaka have increased a little. As a result, common people have fallen into great difficulty. Besides, because of inclement weather prices of vegetables have increased.
Kurigram: The flood situation in the district has remained unchanged where nearly three lakh marooned people are suffering a lot. Water-borne diseases, acute shortage of foods, pure drinking water and life saving medicines are the main problems they are facing now.
Since roads and markets have been submerged none is being able to collect necessary things including medicines.
Sirajganj: The flood situation here has deteriorated. Sufferings of the flood-hit people have continued to increase for two weeks. For want of necessary shelter centres,they are living under open sky. Besides, there is outbreak of water-borne diseases and want of pure water and foods.
DC Billal Hossain said, "There are sufficient reliefs for flood-affected people and if floods last long more relief materials will be supplied."
Tangail: The Jamuna and Dhaleswari are flowing 41 centimetres above DM, Tangail situation worsened.
At dead of night, erosion at Tangail-Basail Dhaleswari protection embankment at Tangail Sadar Upazila started. Local people immediately announced over mikes of mosques of the locality and attempted to protect the embankment with tree trunks and bamboos.
DC M Mahbub Hossain and Executive Engineer of Tangail Water Development Board Jyotiprasad Ghose visited the embankment on Friday morning. They took steps to stop erosion of the embankment with GO bags, bamboos and trees. If this embankment is broken, thousands of houses and crop lands under Tangail Sadar, Kalihati and Basail upazilas will go under water.
Lalmonirhat: The situation at 70 villages has marked an improvement, while it remained unchanged at 20 villages of four unions in Lalmonirhat Sadar and Aditmari upazilas. The Teesta is flowing 10 centimeters below the DM at Hatibandha upazila, while the Dharla river is flowing 8 centimeters above DM at Dharla Bridge point.
Flood affected Nur Islam, 65, at Teesta river basin Char Gobordhan village said, "I along with five members of my family has been marooned the last 18 days, but we are yet to get any relief materials from the government or from any NGO."
MADARIPUR: River erosion has taken a serious turn in Shibchar upazilla of Madaripur Most of such erosions have been triggered by flood. The Padma and Arial Khan, the two mighty rivers in the district, continued to mark a rise for a couple of days flooding low lying areas. The officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board said water level of the river Padma rose by 5 cm in the last 24 hours until 9pm on Saturday and was flowing 15 cm above the DM at Shibchar point of the district.
Bogra: At least 150 villages of the five upazilas of Bogra town have been inundated as the 300 metrtes flood control dyke collapsed at Rohodaha in Shariakandi upazila in Bogra district on early Saturday.
Local sources said that at least 39,600 of people of 26 villages of Sonatola, 102 villages of Shariakandi, 20 villages of Dhunat, 1vilalge of Gabtoli and some villages of Sherpur of the district have been affected by flood water.
Contacted, Nezarat Deputy Collector (NDC) of Bogra Md. Arifuzzaman said that 175 tonnes of rice and Tk 3.25 lakh have so far been distributed among 29, 900 families in Sharikandi, Sonatola and Dhunat upazilas.
GAIBANDHA: Overall flood situation in chars and the Brahmaputra river basin under four upazilas in the district has started improving since Friday night with the recession of water level.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) M. Ehsan-e-Elahi said relief distribution had also been geared up to the flood and erosion victims of four upazilas to mitigate their sufferings.
As many as 348 tonnes of rice and Tk 8 lakh were given from the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management, which were distributed among the flood victims.
NILPHAMARI: Our Correspondent Sabbir Ahmed Saber adds: A total of 480 hectares of land T-Aman of 3545 farmers have been damaged due to the flood in Nilphamari district.
Dimla upazila agriculture officer Anwar Hossain said 375 hectares of land of 2795 farmers in Khalisha Chapani, Jhunagasa Chapani, Tepa Kharibari, Gayabari & Balapara areas under Dimla upazila were flooded.
Jamalpur: Flood-affected 1500 families in Islampur upazila of Jamalpur district were provided relief materials on Saturday under Char Livelihood Project (CLP). The relief was provided to severe flood-affected families of Belgachha and Sapdhori unions. Rice, lentils, chira, potato, soyabean oil, gur, soap, saline, candles and fire boxes worth Tk 1100 were distributed to each family.
Rangpur : The rain subsided but four villages of Gangachara upuzila in Rangpur district still face disruption.
The Flood-hit people alleged about inadequate relief distribution.