Persistent rainfall combined with a fresh surge of water from India's Tripura hills has caused water levels to rise sharply across several rivers in Habiganj and Moulvibazar, increasing the likelihood of flooding in parts of northeastern Bangladesh.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB), water levels had exceeded the official danger mark at nine monitoring points on six rivers by 9:00am on Wednesday, placing nearby communities on alert.
In Habiganj, the Khowai River recorded some of the highest rises. Water was measured at 220 centimetres above the danger level at Balla, 99 centimetres above at Shayestaganj and 135 centimetres above at Haripur in Madhabpur upazila.
The Kushiyara River also rose above the danger level at Markuli, where it stood 11 centimetres higher than the warning mark. However, at Sheolarbazar, it remained 31 centimetres below the danger level. The Kalni-Kushiyara River flowed 61 centimetres above the danger level at Ajmiriganj, while the Sutang River exceeded the warning mark by 26 centimetres near the Sutang Bridge in Shayestaganj.
The Sonai River presented a different picture, remaining 198 centimetres below the danger level at Mantala in Madhabpur, with water levels gradually falling.
Officials said Habiganj received 61.5 millimetres of rainfall during the previous 24 hours. The district's executive engineer at the WDB, Md Saidur Rahman, said the region's haor wetlands were already close to full capacity. As a result, they were unable to absorb additional water efficiently, increasing pressure on surrounding rivers and raising the risk of flooding in riverside settlements.
Conditions in neighbouring Moulvibazar also deteriorated as heavy rainfall continued. The Manu River was flowing 55 centimetres above the danger level at both the Railway Bridge and Chandnighat monitoring stations. The Dhalai River was recorded at 33 centimetres above the warning level at its railway bridge point.
Although the Kushiyara River remained 31 centimetres below the danger level at Sherpur, officials said it continued to rise. Water levels in the Manu, Dhalai, Kushiyara and Juri rivers are being closely monitored as they could lead to further flooding in low-lying areas if rainfall persists.
The Srimangal Meteorological Office reported 95 millimetres of rainfall during the last 24 hours, following another 91 millimetres recorded the previous day, highlighting the intensity of the ongoing wet weather.
Flash floods have already affected several villages in Moulvibazar. In Kamalganj upazila, Adampur Union Parishad Chairman Abdal Hossain said floodwater had entered the courtyards and surrounding areas of between 120 and 150 households. He added that agricultural land had suffered significant damage.
Local residents also reported that water levels continued to rise rapidly, with crops submerged in several villages, raising concerns that further rainfall could worsen the situation in the coming days.
