By Mizan Rahman/Dhaka
The flood situation in the northern districts of Bangladesh remained grave yesterday with more villages getting inundated.
In Bogra district, river water was still entering through the broken embankment of Sariakandi sub-district, inundating 30 more villages. However, there was no rise in the level in the Jamuna River.
The flood-hit people in these areas were facing acute shortage of drinking water and food. Many have been living under the open sky with almost no food.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has distributed dry food in the area and intends to continue doing so, district administration sources said.
In Sherpur district, the flood situation was worsening as the water level in the Brahmaputra River had increased.
River bank erosion continued in the district, devouring new homesteads and inundating arable lands and villages.
Locals said though the water from the Brahmaputra was entering the villages through the damaged embankment near Sadar sub-district. Many villages of Char Mucharia, Kamarer Char and Char Pokkhimari unions were already inundated, while more villages would go under water soon if the water level kept increasing, they added.
If the embankment was not repaired soon, the diversion of the Sherpur-Jamalpur road would go under water in two days that would cut the district from northern districts and Dhaka.
In Chandpur, hundreds of families in lowlands were marooned as the water level increased in the Meghna River in last four-five days.
The homes of thousand of families went under water in Haimchar sub-district, while water was flowing 20cm above the danger level near
Chandpur in the Meghna.
Haimchar Union Parishad Chairman Ishak Khokon told newsmen that around 5,000-6,000 families were marooned in flood water.
Haimchar Sub-district Chairman Shahjahan Mia said as the flood water was receding through the Meghna, the lowlands of the district were inundated, adding that most people of those areas were marooned.
Meanwhile, Chandpur Water Development Board Executive
Engineer Mohaned Rafikul said the water level had been crossing the danger mark.
The flood situation in Gaibandha remained unchanged, though the water level in the Teesta, Brahmaputra, Karotoa and Ghaghot rivers receded a little.
Water Development Board Engineer Abdul Aowal said water was flowing 62cm and 19cm above the danger level in the Ghaghot and Brahmaputra rivers respectively.
Abdul Matin, chairman of Erendabari union parishad under Fulchhari sub-district, said river bank erosion was at its worst in Algar Char, Paglar Char and Uriar Singria areas.
Students attend open-air classes after their school was flooded in Matlab sub-district of Chandpur.
