Three-day window for Haor flood relief as eight rivers remain above danger mark

Forecasts say water levels may ease within three days, but multiple rivers continue to flow above danger levels in the northeast

The flood situation in the low-lying Haor areas of northeastern Bangladesh may improve within the next three days if no more rainfall occurs, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

Although water levels in some rivers have started to decline due to the absence of fresh rainfall, eight rivers are still flowing above danger levels at 10 points, the FFWC said on Wednesday.

Executive Engineer Manzur Rahman said in the afternoon recent rainfall has remained absent both upstream and within the country over the past 24 hours, causing water levels to either stabilise or begin to fall in parts of the northeastern river system.

“Under such conditions, the flood situation in the Haor-adjacent lowlands of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and Habiganj is expected to improve within three days,” he said.

Heavy rainfall over the past few days, combined with upstream runoff, had raised river levels and triggered flooding in Haor-adjacent lowlands across the four districts.

Despite the absence of significant rainfall in the last 24 hours, water is still unable to drain properly, leaving several rivers above danger levels, the FFWC said.

Its latest bulletin on Wednesday showed that water levels in the Surma and Bhogai-Kangsa rivers have started to fall, while the Kushiyara and Dhanu-Baulai rivers remain stable.

However, at 9am, eight rivers were still flowing above pre-monsoon danger levels at 10 monitoring points, including Kushiyara at Fenchuganj in Sylhet, Kushiyara at Markuli and Naljuri at Jagannathpur in Sunamganj, Baulai at Khaliajuri, Bhogai-Kangsa at Jariajanjail, Someshwari at Kolmakanda, Magra at Netrokona and Atpara, Kalni-Kushiyara at Ajmiriganj in Habiganj, and the Sutang River at Sutang Railway Bridge.

According to the Water Development Board’s FFWC, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) and global weather agencies indicate that moderate to moderately heavy rainfall may occur in the region over the next three days.

The FFWC also forecast that water levels in the Surma-Kushiyara basin may continue to fall over the next three days, improving conditions in Sylhet and Sunamganj Haor areas.

Water levels in the Bhogai-Kangsa and Someshwari rivers are expected to remain stable, while conditions in the Dhanu-Baulai basin may also improve gradually.

In the Manu basin, water levels may fall for two days before stabilising, while the Juri and Khowai rivers are likely to remain steady.

The Sutang is expected to continue declining, improving flood conditions in adjacent low-lying Haor areas of Habiganj.

The FFWC said rainfall intensity is categorised as moderate between 12–22mm, moderately heavy between 23–43mm, and heavy between 44–88mm over 24 hours.