Photo: Messenger
In the southeastern part of the country, 11 districts have been severely affected by floods, although water levels in Feni have begun to recede slightly. However, the situation remains critical as floodwaters continue to rise in certain areas of Noakhali, Comilla, and Lakshmipur, worsening the suffering of the local population.
Around 10,47,029 families in these districts have become marooned due to the floods, triggered by torrential rains descending from India's Tripura region combined with several days of heavy local rainfall. Despite the ongoing challenges, Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Kamrul Hasan has stated that there is no immediate risk of flooding in any new areas.
During a press conference held at the Secretariat on Sunday (August 25), Secretary Kamrul Hasan provided updates on the flood situation in 11 districts, stating that overall conditions are improving. He assured that no new areas are experiencing flooding, and there is no imminent threat of further flooding.
The secretary expressed concern about the outbreak of diseases as the floodwaters recede and urged everyone to use safe water. "We have issued warnings and requested people to take necessary precautions," he said. He also mentioned that a control room remains operational to monitor the situation. Additionally, an account opened by the chief advisor is available for those who wish to make donations to support flood relief efforts.
He said that a field hospital has been built in Feni. The private hospitals and clinics or health care facilities there have been directed to ensure health care to all those who come from the flood affected areas for receiving treatment.
New areas in Lakshmipur are reportedly being inundated as floodwaters continue to rise, compounded by ongoing drizzle across the region. Starting from Sunday morning, water levels have surged throughout the district, worsening the situation. On Saturday, water pressure from Noakhali began flowing into Lakshmipur, and heavy rain overnight has exacerbated the flooding. As a result, water levels in Lakshmipur city, Raipur, and Ramganj began rising by morning.
In the last 24 hours, tens of thousands of people in Lakshmipur Sadar, Ramgati, Kamalnagar, Ramganj, and Raipur have once again found themselves stranded due to flooding. The Rahmatkhali Canal and Wapda Canal in Sadar, Bhulua River in Ramgati and Kamalnagar, Wapda and Birendra Canals in Ramganj, and Dakatiya River in Raipur are failing to drain water as expected, leading to waterlogging in these areas. The situation remains critical, and the affected residents are struggling as water levels continue to rise.
Several areas in Raipur, including Denayatpur, Keroa, Charpata, Bamni, and parts of Sadar such as North and South Hamchadi, Dalal Bazar, Bashikpur, Chandraganj, Dattapara, Charshahi, and Bhabaniganj, are increasingly being affected by rising floodwaters. While these areas experienced minimal flooding two days ago, the situation has significantly worsened, with water levels continuing to rise.
In response, Raipur Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shahed Arman stated that efforts have been made to clear obstructions in parts of the Dakatiya River and its connecting canals to alleviate waterlogging. He mentioned that the campaign to resolve the issue is ongoing, as authorities work to improve the drainage and reduce the impact on the affected areas. Despite these efforts, the situation remains challenging for residents as floodwaters persist.
The flood situation in Lakshmipur and Noakhali remains dire, as heavy rainfall and rising water levels continue to affect low-lying areas. Nahid-Uz Zaman Khan, the executive engineer of the Lakshmipur Water Development Board, reported that 75 millimeters of rain fell in Lakshmipur last night, leading to renewed flooding in some areas, including parts of Lakshmipur city. Additionally, the overflow of water from Noakhali is exacerbating the situation in Lakshmipur, although conditions in riverside areas have shown some improvement.
In Noakhali, the flood situation has worsened, leaving around 21 lakh people stranded in waterlogged conditions. The flood-affected areas are facing severe shortages of pure water and food. The situation is further complicated by an increase in snake infestations, forcing many residents to stay vigilant and endure sleepless nights. This dual crisis of food scarcity and health risks has left flood victims struggling to cope with the ongoing challenges.
The flood situation in Noakhali is taking a severe toll on public health, with an alarming rise in snakebite cases and waterborne diseases. According to Syed Mohiuddin Abdul Azim, the Residential Medical Officer (RMO) of Noakhali General Hospital, 63 people have been bitten by snakes over the past three days, with 28 cases reported in just the last 24 hours. Additionally, 108 people have been hospitalized due to diarrhea.
The flood situation remains dire in several districts, with Noakhali and Comilla being particularly hard-hit. Despite no recent rainfall in areas like Senbagh, Begumganj, and Sonaimuri, floodwaters continue to rise due to upstream flow from the Muhuri River in Feni, causing further submersion in these upazilas. This has exacerbated the situation for residents who are already struggling with waterlogging and displacement.
In Comilla, while relief efforts are being concentrated in areas like Daudkandi, Burichong, and Brahmanpara, residents in Nangalkot, Laksam, and parts of Manoharganj are facing severe neglect. Despite the extensive flooding that has left thousands of people stranded, these areas have not received adequate relief or rescue support. Locals attribute this to the lack of media attention and social media coverage, which has resulted in limited awareness of their plight.
The affected people in these upazilas are in desperate need of food, clean water, and other essentials. The absence of proper relief distribution has exacerbated the suffering, leaving many to fend for themselves in increasingly dire conditions. The disparity in relief operations underscores the importance of equitable resource allocation and the need for broader media coverage to ensure that all flood-affected communities receive timely aid. This situation calls for urgent attention from both local authorities and humanitarian organizations to address the critical needs of those who have been overlooked.
In Comilla, the focus on Burichong upazila has intensified due to reports of the Gomti River breaching its banks, leading to increased media coverage. However, the rising waters of the Dakatiya River have also caused severe flooding in three upazilas in the southern part of the district, affecting at least 2.5 million people. The flood-affected residents in these areas are reporting that the government relief efforts are inadequate.
Nangalkot Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Suraiya Akhter Lucky acknowledged that there is a shortage of relief supplies in Nangalkot, and some areas are completely inaccessible. Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to provide assistance through volunteers.
Meanwhile, the anti-discrimination student movement has sent 44 truckloads of relief and more than 20,000 relief packages to the flood-affected people in the last three days. Among them, 19 truckloads of relief goods and 20,000 relief packages were sent to the flood-affected areas on Saturday. Relief materials were sent to various places including Feni, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, Habiganj and Moulvibazar.
Messenger/Disha
