Floodwaters inundate parts of country including Feni, Cumilla, Akhaura, Khagrachari, Lakshmipur
Meanwhile, residents on both sides of Gumti river spent a sleepless night fearing that the embankment might overflow anytime.
Flooding across the country, triggered by water from upstream in India's Gumti, is deteriorating amid incessant rainfall throughout the last couple of days.
Besides Feni, Cumilla, Akhaura, Khagrachhari and Lakshmipur the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway was also inundated disrupting communication on the route.
Feni
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Feni has been the most affected with lakhs stranded in without drinking water and electricity.
Since Monday night (19 August), most areas of Parshuram, Phulgazi, and Chhagalnaiya upazilas have been without electricity due to damage to the power lines caused by the floodwaters.
As the situation deteriorated, power was completely shut off in these three upazilas, as well as parts of Sonagazi and Dagonbhuiyan upazilas. Additionally, due to waterlogging in Feni town caused by heavy rainfall, electricity was turned off from noon until late at night.
Meanwhile, the army has started rescue operations with speedboats to evacuate people stranded in the flood-affected areas. In addition, members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and hundreds of volunteers from district volunteer organisations are conducting rescue operations and providing food assistance throughout the day.
Cumilla
Parts of Cumilla has been flooded amid incessant rainfall and water from Gumti River in Tripura, India, flowing into Gumti River in Bangladesh's Cumilla.
Currently the Gumti river in Cumilla is flowing 70cm above the danger level as of 7am today (22 August).
Executive Engineer of the Cumilla Water Development Board (CWDB) Mohammad Waliuzzaman confirmed the matter, saying that the water level may rise further.
"The army, district administration, CWDB, upazila administration, police, public representatives, various volunteer organisations and locals are working together to protect the embankment. Water was leaking from some risky parts of the embankment, which we have been trying to fix," Waliuzzaman said.
Relief and Repatriation Officer of Cumilla district Mohammad Abed Ali said, "A total of 14 relief shelters have been opened in the district till yesterday (21 August). The number of shelters may increase today due to the rising water levels. We're supplying rice and dry foods to the flood-affected people."
Akhaura
The flood situation in Brahmanbaria's Akhaura Upazila has worsened due to the heavy rainfall and water coming down from the upstream of India's Gumti River.
At least five more villages were inundated since yesterday (21 August) night to Thursday (August 22) morning. In total, more than 1,000 families in about 40 villages are living inhumane conditions.
Apart from this, the import and export activities of goods through Akhaura land port have been stopped since Thursday morning due to flood.
All primary schools and two secondary schools in the upazila were declared as shelters for flood victims. However, many people do not want to leave their houses and come to the shelter.
Rubel Mia, a resident of Bautola area of Akhaura, said, "Even if the house is submerged in water, I cannot leave my cows in the cowshed. So, I am staying at home instead of going to the shelter."
Another resident of the area, Tahmina, said, "She roamed the streets during the day as her house was submerged. Then at night, they created a loft inside the house and stayed there. Besides, there is shortage of food as the stove has been inundated. We are buying dry food from outside and eating it.
Her husband, a day labourer, is unable to go to work due to flooding in the entire Akhaura region. Besides, he said that he has not received any help from the administration so far.
Akhaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ghazala Parvin Ruhi said that last night, the water increased and a few villages were flooded. Dry food is being distributed to the affected people from this morning. Besides, efforts are being made to rescue those who are staying at home under risk and take them to shelters, she said.
Khagrachari
Low-lying areas of Khagrachhari have been inundated again due to incessant rains and in the last 24 hours.
The areas affected include Ganjpara, Aparna Chowdhury Para, Rajyamani Para, Kaladeva, Bottoli, and Footbil. Water has entered homes in these regions, causing severe distress to the residents.
People are in trouble as water has entered the houses in low-lying areas. They are running to the shelter to save their lives. More than 300 families of the flood-hit areas of the district have taken refuge in shelter centres.
Roads have been submerged, disrupting road connectivity between Khagrachari and Dighinala, as well as Langadu and Baghaichhari upazilas in Rangamati. A total of 99 shelter centres have been opened in the district, where food is being provided to those affected.
This marks the fourth time in the past two months that the hilly district has been hit by floods.
Lakshmipur
Continuous heavy rainfall has submerged most areas in five upazilas of Lakshmipur district leaving six lakh people stranded by waterlogging.
The heavy rainfall over the past few days has flooded courtyards, fields, ponds, water bodies, and agricultural lands.
According to the district administration, "Six lakh people are currently trapped by floodwaters. However, no one has yet taken refuge in the available shelters. A total of 189 shelters have been prepared in the district."
To allow the rainwater to flow into the Meghna River, the Water Development Board has opened all the sluice gates in the district.
Nahid Uz Zaman Khan, executive engineer of the Laxmipur Water Development Board, stated, "All the sluice gates in Laxmipur have been opened to alleviate the waterlogging. Our staff is constantly monitoring the situation. The canal water is draining into the river through the sluice gates during low tide in the Meghna River. The gates will be closed if the river's water level rises during high tide."
