Persistent heavy to very heavy rainfall across Bangladesh and India's northeastern states has triggered a sharp rise in major rivers, prompting fears of short-term flooding in several northern and northeastern districts over the coming days.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board's Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), the Dudhkumar River at Pateshwari in Kurigram was flowing 23 centimetres above the danger level on Monday, making it the only monitored station currently above the danger mark. Water levels in the Teesta, Surma, Kushiyara and Jadukata rivers have also reached warning levels at several locations.
The FFWC said heavy rainfall over Rangpur, Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions, as well as adjoining Indian states, is likely to continue over the next two days, with moderate to heavy rain expected afterwards. Water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna basin are forecast to keep rising over the next five days, potentially reaching warning levels in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur and Bogura between July 2 and July 4.
The Teesta, Dudhkumar and Dharla rivers are also expected to rise further. The Teesta may cross the danger level within 24 hours, while the Dharla could do so within 48 hours, increasing the risk of flooding in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Gaibandha and Kurigram.
The situation has already worsened in Kurigram, where floodwaters breached an embankment at Muriarhat in Nageshwari upazila, inundating around 20 villages in Bamnadanga union. Agricultural losses have begun to mount, with the Department of Agricultural Extension reporting that about 204 hectares of seedbeds, jute fields and vegetable crops have gone under water in Kurigram Sadar, Nageshwari, Bhurungamari and Roumari.
In Rajarhat upazila, rising water in the Teesta has flooded char and low-lying areas, while riverbank erosion in Char Vidyananda has destroyed several homes, forcing families to relocate. In Phulbari upazila, continued rainfall and upstream flows have inundated farmland, threatening aman seedbeds, jute and maize fields.
Although the Ganges and Padma remain below danger levels, both rivers are expected to continue rising. In the northeast, low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj may face localised flooding over the next 72 hours.
