Rising rivers threaten short-term flooding across five northern districts

Water levels in the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar have fallen over the past 24 hours but may rise again over the next three days

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) has warned of short-term flooding in five districts of northern Bangladesh's Rangpur Division.

In a forecast issued on Friday, it also warned that water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Ganges-Padma rivers could continue rising over the next five days.

It said water levels in the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers fell over the past 24 hours, from Thursday morning to Friday morning.

However, they are likely to rise again over the next three days and may exceed danger levels at some points, triggering short-term flooding in low-lying areas along the rivers in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha and Kurigram.

Mustafa Kamal Jihan, assistant engineer of the FFWC, said that water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Ganges-Padma increased over the past 24 hours and may continue to do so for the next five days.

The Brahmaputra-Jamuna could reach warning levels in parts of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur and Bogura, flooding nearby low-lying areas.

In Sylhet, the Kushiara River is flowing above the danger level at Fenchuganj and Markuli stations in Sunamganj.

While the Kushiara rose and the Surma fell over the past day, both rivers may rise again over the next three days, with flooding in low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj likely to remain largely unchanged over the next 24 hours.

He added that water levels in the Feni, Muhuri, Gomti and Silonia rivers fell over the past 24 hours but may rise for a day before stabilising.

A weakening low-pressure area now lies over north Odisha and adjoining Bihar and Gangetic West Bengal.