BWDB orders all staff to remain at posts as heavy rain looms

Five-day rainfall trend likely to persist, says the Met Office

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has instructed all officials and employees not to leave their workstations, as forecasts warn of heavy rain in several parts of Bangladesh in the coming days.

The urgent directive, issued on Thursday, said heavy rainfall is likely over coastal regions until Monday, and in Rangpur and Sylhet divisions until Tuesday.

Light to moderate rainfall may continue across other areas for the next five days.

In response, the board has issued a set of instructions for staff in offices located in the northern, north-eastern and coastal zones:

• No staff member is allowed to leave their designated workstations.

• Weak spots along embankments must be identified and secured, while remaining alert to any signs of erosion elsewhere.

• Emergency materials such as geo-textile bags must be kept in stock.

• In case of any emergency, staff must move to affected areas without delay and take action.

• All evolving situations must be dealt with in coordination with local or district administrations.

• Supervisors must be kept informed of all developments in real time.

Staff in offices across other parts of the country have also been advised to remain alert.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s (BMD) latest bulletin, valid from 6pm on Thursday for the next 24 hours, most areas in Khulna, Barisal and Chattogram divisions, along with many parts of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet, may experience temporary gusts of wind accompanied by light to moderate rain or thundershowers.

Some regions may see moderately heavy to heavy downpours during this period.

Day and night temperatures are likely to drop slightly across the country.

The Met Office has said the current trend of rainfall is expected to continue for the next five days.