Flood Warning Issued for 6 Divisions Including Dhaka

Driven by the intense impact of an active monsoon, continuous heavy to very heavy rainfalls are lashing the country, triggering serious concerns over a worsening flood situation in 12 districts. Fresh low-lying terrains are expected to be inundated over the next 24 hours. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) and the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) confirmed the developments through separate warnings issued on Sunday (July 12).

According to the meteorological office’s heavy rainfall alert, active monsoon currents are expected to bring heavy ($44\text{--}88\text{ mm}$) to very heavy (exceeding $88\text{ mm}$) downpours across various regions of the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet divisions over the next 24 hours, effective from 12:00 PM today.

The relentless rainfall has already caused severe waterlogging on major thoroughfares across the capital and several divisional and district towns, heavily disrupting public transport networks. Due to the urban flooding, multiple educational institutions have temporarily suspended their academic activities. Low-income day laborers remain the worst affected, facing immense hardship as the inclement weather prevents them from venturing outside for work.

Meanwhile, a river situation report signed by Mostafa Kamal Jehan, Assistant Engineer at the FFWC, revealed that water levels at five major river monitoring stations are currently flowing above their respective danger marks. The affected points include:

• Sangu River: Bandarbans and Dohazari (Chittagong) points

• Kushiyara River: Markuli (Sunamganj) and Fenchuganj (Sylhet) points

• Someshwari River: Kalmakanda (Netrokona) point

The BWDB further warned that water levels of the Muhuri, Feni, Selonia, and Halda rivers in the Feni, Chittagong, and Khagrachhari regions may cross danger thresholds within the next two days. Consequently, short-term flash floods could emerge or existing conditions may deteriorate in the low-lying riverine zones of Feni, Chittagong, Khagrachhari, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, and Kurigram districts. Low-lying areas of Noakhali and Lakshmipur also face temporary inundation threats.

In contrast, a slight respite is expected in some southeastern and northeastern river basins. The FFWC predicted that the flood situation in areas adjacent to the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers in Bandarban, Chittagong, and Cox's Bazar, as well as the Manu and Khowai rivers in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts, may experience marginal improvements over the next 24 hours.