Government forecast improvement in northern flood situation, worsening in south

The Bangladesh government forecasts an improvement in the flood situation in the northern region but anticipates aggravation in the middle and southern parts, as water rushes towards the Bay of Bengal.

Floodwaters from northeast India and incessant rain have wrecked havoc in 16 districts.
 
“Water in rivers flowing above danger levels will come down within a day or two,” Secretary to the Disaster Management Ministry Md Shah Kamal said at a media briefing on Saturday.
 
He added Rajbarhi, Faridpur, Shariyatpur, Madaripur, Chandpur, and Barisal districts might be flooded with water swirling towards the sea.
 

Floods have so far claimed 14 lives — one in Rangpur, two in Kurhigram, four in Gaibandha and seven in Jamalpur, said Kamal.

He said almost 1.5 million people have been affected with over 9,000 houses being washed away and another 12,000 partially damaged.

“Relief operations are on in the affected areas. Between Jul 3 and 29, as much as 13,000 tonnes of rice and cash assistances of Tk 55 million have been disbursed,” said Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury.

Replying a query over the flood situation around capital Dhaka, he said the government was fully prepared to deal with it. “Eighteen ministries have been alerted.”