Bangladesh Faces Flood Risk as Record Rainfall Hits Sunamganj

Bangladesh is bracing for potential short-term flooding in at least 10 districts over the next two days. Heavy rainfall across the country, coupled with torrential downpours in upstream areas of India, has caused river levels to rise significantly. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) issued the warning today, highlighting the immediate risk.

Sunamganj district in the northeastern region recorded the highest rainfall in Bangladesh within a 24-hour period, with 402mm. This marks the highest single-day rainfall recorded in the country this year. Meanwhile, Cooch Behar in India's West Bengal received 254mm of rain during the same period. The FFWC anticipates heavy to very heavy rainfall in Rangpur, Sylhet, Mymensingh, and Chattogram divisions, as well as adjacent upstream regions, over the next 24 hours.

Already, water levels at two monitoring stations have crossed their danger marks: the Teesta river at Dalia point in Nilphamari and the Kushiyara river at Fenchuganj point in Sylhet. The FFWC warned that river levels are expected to swell above danger levels across multiple river basins within the next 24 hours. Low-lying areas in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts are at immediate risk. In the northern region, districts along the Teesta and Dudhkumar river basins, including Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha, are also vulnerable. Additionally, areas in Sherpur, Mymensingh, and Netrokona districts along the Bhugai-Kangsha and Someshwari river basins may exceed danger thresholds.

FFWC Executive Engineer Sarder Udoy Raihan stated that the extreme rainfall has placed at least 10 districts at risk of flooding within the next 24 hours. However, he added that flooding in these areas is likely to improve within the next 72 hours.

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Due to the extreme rainfall in the last 24 hours, at least 10 districts are at risk of flooding within the next 24 hours.