UP Chairman denies flooding claims

Published : Thursday, 23 July, 2026 at 5:54 PM

Observer Staff Correspondent

File Photo

More than 500 families have reportedly been marooned in low-lying areas of Nilphamari's Dimla upazila as the Teesta River continues to fluctuate due to upstream inflows and persistent rainfall. While residents and local representatives say floodwaters have inundated homes and forced families to seek shelter elsewhere, the chairman of the concerned union parishad claimed no families in his area were waterlogged.

According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the Teesta River at the Dalia Barrage point was flowing at 52.00 metres, or 15 centimetres below the danger level, at 3:00 pm on Thursday. Earlier in the day, at 9:00 am, the river was recorded at 51.94 metres, 21 centimetres below the danger mark. On Wednesday morning, the water level rose to within one centimetre of the danger level before gradually receding later in the day. To ease the pressure of the rising water, all 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage have been kept open.

The rising water has inundated several low-lying villages, including Chhatunama (Kellapara) and Bhendabari under Jhunagach Chapani Union, leaving hundreds of families stranded, according to local residents.

Residents alleged that floodwater entered their homes, with some reaching floor level, forcing many families to dismantle their houses and move to safer locations. They also claimed that an Ashrayan housing project and more than 200 other families remain under threat from river erosion. A mosque, a madrasa, croplands and dozens of homes have reportedly been damaged, while roads in the affected areas have gone underwater.

The flooding has also created acute shortages of food, livestock fodder, safe drinking water and sanitary facilities, residents said.

Habibur Rahman, a resident of Chhatunama, claimed that between 500 and 700 families had become marooned in the area. He alleged that the union parishad chairman had not visited the affected communities even once despite water entering homes.

Another resident, Shukur Ali, said floodwaters had entered his house before receding to the courtyard. He alleged that local roads had been submerged and that a mosque and a madrasa had been damaged. He added that local Member of Parliament Principal Maulana Abdus Sattar and former UP Chairman Aminur Rahman had visited the area and assured residents of necessary assistance.

Ward No. 9 member of Jhunagach Chapani Union Parishad, Lavlu Islam, said around 700 families had been affected by the flooding and many had relocated to higher ground after dismantling their homes. He also alleged that, apart from the MP, no public representative had visited the flood-hit areas. He added that officials from the BWDB had inspected erosion-prone sites and discussed placing geo-bags, but no work had yet begun.

However, Jhunagach Chapani Union Parishad Chairman Ekramul Haque denied that any families in his union were marooned. When confronted with photographs and videos from the affected areas, he said he had gone to Dimla to collect flood relief and that the union had received 13 metric tonnes of rice and 20 dry food packages, which had already been distributed.

BWDB Executive Engineer Amitabh Chowdhury said local representatives, media personnel and residents living along the river had been warned in advance about the possible rise in the Teesta's water level. He said the river had risen close to the danger mark on Wednesday before receding gradually and was flowing 15 centimetres below the danger level at the Dalia point by Thursday afternoon. He added that the situation was being monitored closely.

MIS/HIS