Floodwaters are gradually receding from several districts battered by days of torrential rain, but the threat is now shifting towards the northern and north-eastern river basins as major rivers begin rising again.
Although inundation has eased in parts of Chattogram, Feni and Noakhali, flood-forecasting agencies warned that renewed rainfall and rising upstream flows could trigger fresh flooding in low-lying areas of Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur and Sylhet districts.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), the Kushiyara River remained above the danger level at both Fenchuganj in Sylhet and Markuli in Sunamganj on Friday morning.
Water at Fenchuganj stood 34 cm above the danger mark, while Markuli was flowing 16 cm above it.
The agency said the flood situation along the Surma-Kushiyara river system may remain stable over the next 24 hours, but further rises are possible during the next three days due to continued rainfall in north-eastern Bangladesh and adjoining Indian states.
In the northern region, water levels of the Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers declined during the last 24 hours, but are forecast to rise again over the next three days.
Short-duration flooding may occur in low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Gaibandha and Kurigram if the rivers cross danger levels, the FFWC said.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers at most places of Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at many places elsewhere, with moderate to heavy rainfall at some locations during the next five days.
The outlook suggests rainfall activity may gradually decrease towards the end of the period.
Among the highest rainfall records in the past 24 hours, Teknaf received 117 mm, followed by Feni with 64 mm, Shenbagh in Noakhali 63 mm and Basurhat 60 mm.
In neighbouring India, Meghalaya recorded exceptionally heavy rain, with Sohra receiving 103 mm and Mawsynram 90 mm.
Officials said water levels in the Feni, Muhuri, Gomti and Selaonia rivers have fallen, helping improve conditions in the south-eastern districts that experienced severe flooding earlier this week.
Disaster management authorities said relief distribution, evacuation support and damage assessments are continuing in the affected areas. Attention is now focused on the northern river basins, where rising Brahmaputra-Jamuna flows and persistent monsoon rainfall could create new pockets of flooding over the coming days.
However, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief suid the overall flood death toll climbed to 58 till Friday, while nearly 1.2 million people have been affected in 43 districts across the country.
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