Day-long drizzling to heavy rainfall caused water-logging in several parts of the capital bringing sufferings to commuters, especially to the office-and school goers and the lower income group of people.
Most of the districts across Bangladesh witnessed heavy to very heavy rainfall due to the impact of active monsoon on Thursday while the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (Met Office) predicted the intensity of rain is likely to decrease from today (Friday).
According to the Met Office bulletin issued at 6:00pm on Thursday, light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Sylhet division; at a few places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions with moderately heavy falls at places over the country.
The day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country, the bulletin stated, adding in its next five days outlook that rainfall activity is likely to increase.
While talking to media, Abdur Rahman Khan, a meteorologist, said, "Almost the entire country experienced heavy rainfall in the past two days as monsoon has remained active over the country."
"Met office recorded 79mm rainfall at Dhaka city in last 24 hours commencing from 6:00pm Wednesday to 6:00pm on Thursday," Abdur Rahman added.
According to a weather bulletin issued by BMD, highest 157 mm rainfalls were recorded at in Saidpur of Nilphamary while 150mm in Dinajpur, 104mm in Kumarkhali, 103mm in Rangpur and Tentulia, 102mm in Mongla, 101mm at Baghabari in Sirajganj and Rajshahi, 100mm in Nilphamari's Dimla, 93mm at Aricha, 90mm at Bagabari, 64mm at Faridpur, 87 at Ishurdi, 82mm at Hatita and 77mm at Jashore.
According to witnesses, the capital's Mirpur-10, Kaziapara, Shyamoli, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Purana Paltan, Gulistan, Old Dhaka, Bangshal Road, Bijoy Sarani, Eskaton, Farmgate and Tejgaon, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Mouchak, Kakrail, Naya Paltan, Arambagh, Shahjahanpur, Fakirapul, Bijoynagar were also waterlogged in the morning due to the heavy rainfall.
The rain caused immense sufferings to people who needed to leave home. Those who had work suffered as very few vehicles operated on the roads.
Our Correspondent from Khulna reports that days of continuous rainfall have led to severe waterlogging in the low-lying areas of Dumuria and Phultala upazilas in Khulna, flooding 8,250 fish enclosures and 3.15 hectares of cropland, due to which farmers are facing huge financial losses, with damages estimated at Tk 100 crore.
In Dumuria, around 7,500 fish enclosures in the Beel Dakatia area have been completely washed away by the relentless rain, causing an estimated loss of Tk 45 crore, according to Abu Bakar Siddique, senior fisheries officer of Dumuria upazila.
The agricultural sector has also been severely affected. Insad Ibne Amin, Dumuria upazila agriculture officer, reported that vast tracts of land in Rangpur, Gutudia, Raghunathpur, and Dhamalia unions have been submerged, devastating vegetable and paddy fields.
Farmers in the area are expected to suffer losses of Tk 35 crore due to the damage to crops, Amin said, adding that tomato fields have also been affected.
Farmers have been advised to drain water from their fields to mitigate further damage.
Meanwhile, in Phultala upazila, 750 fish enclosures have been washed away by the heavy rain, leading to losses amounting to Tk 5.5 crore. Selim Sultan, senior fisheries officer of Phultala upazila, said they have advised fish farmers to secure their enclosures with nets to prevent further damage.
Razia Sultana, Phultala agriculture officer, reported that 80 hectares of paddy and other crops have been damaged by the rainfall in the area.
Local authorities are already compiling a list of affected farmers, and financial assistance may be provided if the government takes steps to address the losses, officials said.
Mostafizur Rahman Mostak, a fish farmer from Teligati Mouja in Beel Dakatia, described the devastating impact of the rains on his livelihood. Of the six fish enclosures he manages, four have been washed away, causing a loss of Tk 8 crore, Mostak said.
Our Correspondent from Satkhira reports that continuous rainfall and the breach of an embankment have resulted in an estimated Tk 700 crore worth of damage to Satkhira's fisheries and agricultural sectors.
Fields of Aman, Aush paddy, and various vegetables have been submerged, while 6,000 fish enclosures and 1,500 ponds were swept away.
Heavy rains over four days last week caused the embankment of the Bhetna River to break near a graveyard in Satkhira Sadar upazila, flooding at least 50 villages in three unions across two upazilas.
As of Wednesday, the Water Development Board had yet to repair the breached embankment, and water continues to flood the area.
Villages such as Binerpota, Khejurdanga, Gopinathpur, Taltala, and others remain waterlogged. Many residents have been forced to abandon their homes due to rising water.
Additionally, rainwater drainage issues have exacerbated flooding in 30 villages in Puraton Satkhira area, including Ghuterdangi, Ramchandrapur, Labongola, Patharghata, and several municipal areas, affecting 20-25 thousand families.
