[🇧🇩] Smart Flood Management for Bangladesh

[Saif]

Over 34,000 affected by floods in Feni, many start leaving shelters

More than 34,600 people have been affected by flooding across five Upazilas in Feni, according to local administration. As water levels begin to recede in some areas, many displaced residents return home from shelters. By Friday evening, floods had hit five of the district’s six upazilas.

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Over 34,000 affected by floods in Feni, many start leaving shelters

bdnews24.com
Published :
Jul 11, 2025 23:10
Updated :
Jul 11, 2025 23:10

More than 34,600 people have been affected by flooding across five Upazilas in Feni, according to local administration.

As water levels begin to recede in some areas, many displaced residents return home from shelters.

By Friday evening, floods had hit five of the district’s six upazilas.

Local authorities and residents said floodwaters are still flowing over the main roads connecting three Upazilas. As the water continues to flow over the roads, small vehicle movement on the Feni-Parshuram road has remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day.

Although floodwaters have begun receding in parts of Parshuram, large parts of Fulgazi remain waterlogged, with many residents stranded in waist-deep water.

The district and Upazila administrations have been distributing food at the shelters, though some residents have reported not receiving any aid.

Nur Nabi, a Fulgazi resident who runs a tea stall, said he recently upgraded his tin-shed house with a loan from an NGO. The house collapsed in the flood, and his belongings were destroyed.

Jahanara Begum, a woman in her 60s, said the floodwaters from a collapsed embankment submerged her home. She and her elderly husband spent Friday afternoon salvaging what they could.

In Fulgazi, 62-year-old Nurul Alam drowned while fishing in the floodwaters.

His body was recovered on Thursday night and buried on Friday. His family said he had set out fishing nets and drowned while attempting to retrieve them.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Ismail Hossain said flooding has affected 112 villages across five upazilas: 67 in Fulgazi, 27 in Parshuram, 15 in Chhagalnaiya, two in Daganbhuiyan, and one in Sadar.

In the five Upazilas, 34,600 people have been affected by the flood. Among them, 8,966 people from 2,625 families have taken shelter in relief centres, along with 648 livestock.

Feni Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam said the government has allocated Tk 2.35 million to aid the flood victims.

He assured that Upazila chief executives and local administration are actively working on flood response, and the situation is gradually improving.​

 

[Saif]

Call for flood resilience

MORE than 1.4 million lives were upended overnight by flooding in 2024. Now, heavy monsoon rain has lashed Patuakhali and Cox’s Bazar while Feni faces trouble afresh. The River Muhuri has surged 137 centimetres above the danger level, triggering...

www.newagebd.net

Call for flood resilience
by Nafew Sajed Joy 12 July, 2025, 00:00

Flood protection embankments along several rivers collapse in Feni, causing flood in many areas. | Focus Bangla

MORE than 1.4 million lives were upended overnight by flooding in 2024. Now, heavy monsoon rain has lashed Patuakhali and Cox’s Bazar while Feni faces trouble afresh. The River Muhuri has surged 137 centimetres above the danger level, triggering warnings and the opening of 131 shelters, 99 of them in Phulgazi alone. Breached embankments and forest dams have turned flood risk from a distant threat into an urgent reality. Officials downplay the flood, but this fragile calm feels risky. The issue is not whether flooding would continue, but whether we are ready to face them.

A low pressure over the Bay of Bengal keeps the downpour relentless, adding to the river height beyond danger levels, flooding coastal areas and forcing evacuation. Strong currents have damaged the Padma embankment near Majhirghat, adding urgency to an already dire situation.

Water has always been part of Bangladesh’s identity. With more than 230 rivers weaving through the land, nearly 70 per cent of the country is floodplain — the nature’s way of handling flows from the Himalayan rivers such as the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna. Flooding is nothing new. It is as much a part of life as the soil beneath the feet. But today, the flooding that we face has taken on new forms, calling for changes in ways to deal with them.

Flooding no longer happens in only one shape. There is the slow, steady rise of water, drowning the northern plains during the monsoon season. There is then the sudden, fierce flash flooding, tearing through the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In cities, a brief but heavy rain can turn roads into rivers, flooding already clogged drains. Along the coast, saline tidal surges ruin once-fertile cropland. The problems are no longer isolated. A single storm can now cause landslide in Bandarban, flood wetland in Sunamganj and bring the capital to a standstill — all at the same time.

The recent warnings of landslide in Khagrachhari and Rangamati are a grim reminder of how vulnerable hill communities are. Despite administration’s calls for relocation, many still live in high-risk zones, with more than 20,000 people in Rangamati living near 31 identified landslide-prone spots. The fear is palpable and justified.

But we cannot blame nature alone. Much of this vulnerability is our own making. The Muhuri and the Buriganga are strangled by illegal structures and unchecked development. Wetland in Dhaka and Chittagong have been paved over with concrete. Forests on the hills have been cut down, leaving the soil exposed and ready to be washed away with the first heavy rainfall. And, without proper urban planning, every downpour becomes a threat rather than water merely falling from the sky.

With heavy rainfall this July, the official forecast remains calm. Meteorologists note that the rainfall, intense though, is concentrated in southern and western regions while the upstream catchments in India and Nepal remain relatively dry. Major rivers such as the Brahmaputra, the Jamuna, the Padma and the Kushiyara are flowing below danger levels. This statistical calm should not, however, push us into a strategic paralysis.

Recent developments challenge this calm. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre reports that the Ganges and the Padma are rising gradually although they remain below danger marks. Meanwhile, tidal activities in the coastal regions of Barishal, Khulna, and Chattogram continue to exacerbate water stagnation concerns. The compounded challenges suggest that flood risk is multifaceted and dynamic, requiring constant vigilance.

Urban centres such as Chittagong and Dhaka have not been spared either. In Chittagong city, recent rainfall has caused water stagnation in low-lying areas such as Agrabad and Panchlaish, disrupting life and traffic. Dhaka recorded 45 millimetres of rainfall in 24 hours, prompting the south city authorities to activate emergency response teams and set up control rooms to mitigate risks. Barishal and Bhola have experienced severe flooding, with parts of urban centres having been under two-to-three feet high water, disrupting livelihood and public services.

Bangladesh is not alone in this battle. In recent months, flooding happened in Himachal Pradesh in India, in Punjab in Pakistan and even in Texas in the United States. As climate change accelerates, flooding is no longer a regional issue. It is a global warning. And if countries with far greater infrastructure and financial muscle struggle, Bangladesh, already on the climate frontline, must act now.

Flooding in Bangladesh stems from a mix of geography, climate change and developmental missteps. Rising sea levels, erratic rainfall and glacial melting amplify flood risks. At the same time, local mismanagement worsen things. River encroachment restricts natural water flow. Deforestation, especially in hill districts, accelerates runoff and landslide. And, unplanned urban sprawl has replaced wetland with shopping malls and concrete jungles that repel water.

The seasonal intensity of the monsoon from June to September is something we have always known of. The only difference is how much rainfall happens and how unpredictable it becomes. In July, Feni had a rainfall reaching 222 millimetres in a single day, well above what is normal. Combined with poor drainage systems in both cities and rural areas, it is easy to understand why even a moderate rainfall can quickly turn into serious problems.

Flooding is much more than just environmental events. It becomes a humanitarian crisis, economic shock and a public health emergency all at once. Crops are destroyed, livestock drown and roads and bridges are swept away. Schools are closed, children miss weeks of learning and families sink deeper into poverty. Diseases such as cholera, malaria and diarrhoea follow the floodwater closely, spreading quickly. In a few hours, the livelihood can be lost.

The economic toll is huge. Small and medium businesses face major disruption in transport and supply chains. The overall economic growth slows down. And with each flood, money that could have been spent on long-term development is used on rebuilding and recovery. Flooding is a serious setback for progress.

Bangladesh has made some important progress. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre uses weather and water data to issue early warnings sometimes up to five days ahead. Satellite images, river gauges and community radio help to spread the alerts far and wide. But warnings only matter if people and authorities act on them and, unfortunately, disaster preparedness still falls short in many places.

The system that classifies flooding as alert level, normal flood or severe flood makes sense on paper. However, embankments often breach not because of flooding beyond danger levels but because of poor maintenance and corruption. Training at the community level happens only sporadically. Emergency supplies are often not enough. And local officials frequently struggle to coordinate effectively when disaster strikes.

Bangladesh urgently needs a strong, clear and enforceable national flood management strategy that goes far beyond quick-fixes. The government needs to go for regular and thorough dredging of rivers and solid reinforcement of embankments in all flood-prone areas, instead of just patching them up after flooding. Smart drainage systems should be put in place in large cities such as Dhaka and Chattogram, equipped with real-time monitoring. Rainwater should be harvested and retention ponds across both urban and rural areas should be maintained to soak up excess water and recharge underground aquifers. Structures should be made flood-resilient with raised foundations, strong materials and clear escape routes. More trees should be planted in the hills and wetland should be restored to naturally absorb floodwater. Land use laws should be enforced to stop illegal building along river banks and on floodplains. There should be an emphasis on education and awareness programmes, especially in schools, so that everyone grows up knowing how to stay safe and prepare for flooding.

Flood-prone countries are leveraging technology in transformative ways. Japan has introduced super levees, smart floodgates and floating infrastructure. In Bangladesh, similar technology can be put to use through localised innovation and international collaboration. Satellite-based forecasting, drones for emergency delivery and even climate-resilient crops that withstand submersion must be part of the devices. The use of predictive models can also enhance early warning accuracy. We must open the door to the private sector and foster partnerships with development agencies, climate funds as well as neighbours for both funding and expertise.

The lesson from the 2024 flooding is painfully clear: Bangladesh cannot afford to treat flooding as a seasonal inevitability. It is a chronic national emergency that demands systemic, round-the-year action. The solutions exist, but they require will, public pressure and a shift from reactive charity to proactive resilience. With the monsoon season growing more erratic and intense because of climate change, we are fast approaching a point of no return. Flooding may be part of the geography, but devastation does not have to the destiny. If we choose planning over procrastination, science over superstition and foresight over fatalism, we can build a Bangladesh where the next flooding finds us prepared.

Nafew Sajed Joy is a writer and researcher.​

 

[Saif]

Need for sustainable flood management

Flooding has become an unfortunate monsoon ritual in Bangladesh. Each year, with the onset of the monsoon, heavy downpours and flash floods ravage the country, plunging lives and livelihoods in flood-prone areas into a profound crisis. After last year's devastating deluge, which inundated vast swat

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Need for sustainable flood management

FE
Published :
Jul 13, 2025 23:25
Updated :
Jul 13, 2025 23:25

Flooding has become an unfortunate monsoon ritual in Bangladesh. Each year, with the onset of the monsoon, heavy downpours and flash floods ravage the country, plunging lives and livelihoods in flood-prone areas into a profound crisis. After last year's devastating deluge, which inundated vast swathes of the country, policymakers spoke at length about enhancing flood preparedness through timely river dredging and the repair of embankments. But one year on, despite the government's claim of better preparedness, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The monsoon, once again, has exposed how terribly unprepared the country is in tackling floods. According to a report by The Financial Express, nearly 100,000 hectares of farmlands have been submerged due to onrushing waters, affecting low-lying areas in 21 districts as of Friday. Another report informs that the district of Feni, one of the worst-hit areas during last year's floods, is once again facing severe devastation. This year, more than a hundred villages in the district have gone under water after embankments on three major rivers in Feni broke at 20 different points as of Saturday.

So, the question is, why are the authorities still caught off guard, even after experiencing recurring floods year after year? While the wrath of Nature can indeed be unpredictable, much of the destruction could have been avoided through timely, sustainable embankment repairs, proper dredging of rivers and effective early warning systems for timely evacuation. Since three major rivers - the Padma, the Brahmaputra, and the Meghna - flow into the Bay of Bengal through Bangladesh, the country is geographically situated in a highly flood-prone region. This makes it all the more important for the country to develop a comprehensive master plan in line with the science of river management aimed at protecting the riverbanks from erosion and mitigating the risk of flooding. Unfortunately, the state of embankment maintenance has been a cycle of short-term fixes and repeated breaches. Take the case of embankments in Feni district, where approximately 122 kilometers of earthen dams were constructed along three major rivers nearly 50 years ago. Sections of these embankments are patched up almost every year and naturally they continue to collapse due to their fragile and unsustainable repair. Reportedly, during the catastrophic floods of August last year, breaches occurred at 99 points. The authorities later spent Tk 190 million on repairs. Still, this year, the embankments have already broken in 20 areas. To make matters worse, rivers across the country are increasingly getting silted up, and there is little sign of an effective, sustainable dredging strategy. Though billions of taka are allocated each year for river dredging, these sporadic efforts yield no lasting solution.

Experts have long emphasised that sustainable embankments must be constructed with durable, weather-resistant materials to withstand erosion and damage. The dams should also be environmentally friendly and easy to maintain. Countries like the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States have successfully implemented these long-term, resilient dams. Bangladesh, however, continues to rely on short-term repairs that fail to prevent recurring flood damage. During the Chief Adviser's recent visit to China, he sought Chinese assistance in river management. Yet, so far, no tangible progress has been made in this regard. As the frequency and intensity of floods are increasing and are likely to be exacerbated by climate change, proactive measures, rather than reactive responses, can better safeguard lives and property.​

 

[Saif]

Floodwaters trap nearly 7,000 families across Feni

A total of 6,950 families remain waterlogged in Feni after flash floods caused by heavy rain and hilly runoff that led the Muhuri, Kuhua and Silonia rivers to overflow. According to a report by the National Disaster Response Coordination Centre (NDRCC) on Monday, embankments breached at 36 points

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Floodwaters trap nearly 7,000 families across Feni

bdnews24.com
Published :
Jul 14, 2025 22:04
Updated :
Jul 14, 2025 22:04

A total of 6,950 families remain waterlogged in Feni after flash floods caused by heavy rain and hilly runoff that led the Muhuri, Kuhua and Silonia rivers to overflow.

According to a report by the National Disaster Response Coordination Centre (NDRCC) on Monday, embankments breached at 36 points in Feni district -- 19 in Porshuram and 17 in Fulgazi—flooding 137 villages across five Upazilas including 44 in Parshuram, 67 in Fulgazi, 15 in Chhagalnaiya, nine in Feni Sadar, and two in Daganbhuiyan.

Water has since receded from 130 of these villages, and the overall flood situation is gradually improving.

Currently, all rivers in the district are flowing below danger levels.

The report estimated that around 29,700 people have been affected by the disaster.

Most of those who sought refuge in shelter centres have returned home.

At present, 88 families comprising 365 people remain in six shelters across three Upazilas: one in Parshuram, four in Fulgazi, and one in Daganbhuiyan.

The Feni district administration has undertaken a series of relief and rehabilitation efforts in response to the crisis:

Tk 2.35 million in cash and 160 metric tonnes of rice have been distributed in Fulgazi, Parshuram, Chhagalnaiya, Sonagazi, Daganbhuiyan and Feni Sadar Upazilas.

A total of 2,200 packets of dry and other food have been handed out in Fulgazi, Parshuram and Chhagalnaiya.

Authorities have kept 230 shelters on standby -- 99 in Fulgazi, 36 in Parshuram, 22 in Feni Sadar, 11 in Chhagalnaiya, and 62 in Daganbhuiyan.

A total of 72 life jackets, 16 pairs of gumboots, and 39 raincoats have been supplied to volunteers and local representatives in Fulgazi, Chhagalnaiya, and Parshuram.

A total of 10 fibre boats have been sent to Feni Sadar, Fulgazi, and Chhagalnaiya for rescue efforts.

Cooked meals are being provided to those in shelters.

From a pool of 2,547 trained volunteers across the district, 230 are currently working with Upazila administrations in Parshuram, Fulgazi and Chhagalnaiya.

The Bangladesh Army is assisting local authorities in relief and rescue operations with boats.​

 

[Saif]

Take measures to build flood resilience

Flood-hit farmers, livestock owners face mounting losses across 21 districts.

www.thedailystar.net

Take measures to build flood resilience
Govt must provide support to farmers, rein in potential food price hikes

VISUAL: STAR

We are concerned about the aftermath of the heavy rain-triggered flooding in 21 districts of the Barishal, Khulna, Chattogram, and Dhaka divisions. According to the district offices of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Fisheries, and Department of Livestock Services (DLS), the full extent of the loss suffered by farmers and fish, poultry, and livestock owners could not be assessed yet, as the floodwater has not completely receded in many areas.

However, floodwater had initially submerged 1.36 lakh hectares of croplands, including paddy fields, Aman seedbeds, jute and vegetable fields, and fruit orchards. Similarly, the initial estimate by DLS mentions Tk 98 crore loss in livestock. While the flood impacts individual farmers directly, the entire nation will have to bear consequences too. The price of vegetables has already increased in many affected areas, and the loss of Aush and Aman crops is likely to put strain on our food security. Therefore, the government must urgently provide farmers not just with relief materials but also support to recover their losses and rebuild their lives.

Among the most-affected areas are Feni and Noakhali, which had yet to fully recover from last year's devastating flood when fresh floods hit them early this month. In Feni, locals have complained about the lack of a sturdy embankment. The existing 122-kilometre earthen dam, built between 2006 and 2010 at a cost of Tk 151 crore, has developed cracks in about 20 places this year. Last year's flood breached 99 spots of the embankment, which were repaired at a cost of Tk 19 crore. But the work was allegedly inadequate, as breaches occurred in some of the same places which were mended. A new embankment that can last 30 years with little need for constant repair has, clearly, become an urgent requirement. Although such an undertaking has been planned, it is currently awaiting approval. We urge the disaster management and relief adviser to kickstart the project at the earliest, since the severity of monsoon rains and flooding will only worsen in the coming years.

It is crucial that disaster preparedness is prioritised in our fight against climate change. Flooding during monsoon being an expected phenomenon, necessary steps should have been taken before the rainy season. These include reclaiming floodplains of rivers, re-excavating natural canals, revamping drainage systems of urban areas, etc. Such pre-emptive measures can help mitigate losses and build the resilience of communities in the future.​

 

[Saif]

Flood alert issued for low-lying coastal areas

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has warned that low-lying coastal areas may be inundated by tidal surges due to the combined effects of a depression over the Bay of Bengal and the new moon. In its regular bulletin on Friday, the centre said that although normal tides were prevailing in th

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Flood alert issued for low-lying coastal areas

bdnews24.com
Published :
Jul 25, 2025 17:37
Updated :
Jul 25, 2025 17:37

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has warned that low-lying coastal areas may be inundated by tidal surges due to the combined effects of a depression over the Bay of Bengal and the new moon.

In its regular bulletin on Friday, the centre said that although normal tides were prevailing in the coastal rivers of the Barishal, Khulna, and Chattogram divisions, the influence of the weather system and the new moon could lead to wind-driven tidal surges 1 to 3 feet higher than usual.

According to the centre’s data, the Chattogram Division was lashed by heavy rains over the past 24 hours, but there was no significant rainfall in upstream areas. All major rivers across the country are currently flowing below the danger mark.

Earlier in the day, a trough of low over the northern Bay of Bengal intensified and turned into a depression near the coastal areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal. As a result, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over the next three days in the Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, as well as in India's Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya states upstream.

Meanwhile, the Gomti, Feni, and Selonia rivers in the Chattogram Division are swelling, while the water levels in the Muhuri, Halda, Sangu, and Matamuhuri rivers are receding.

Over the next three days, water levels in these rivers may increase. In particular, the Muhuri and Selonia rivers in the Feni district may rise above danger levels, potentially leading to flooding in the area.

During this period, rivers such as the Feni, Halda, Sangu, Matamuhuri, Rahmat Khali Khal, and Noakhali Khal in the Chattogram, Bandarban, Cox’s Bazar, Lakshmipur, and Noakhali districts may also cross the danger mark, inundating nearby low-lying areas.

In Sylhet, the water levels of the Manu, Dhalai, and Khowai rivers are rising and may continue to do so over the next three days.

Meanwhile, water levels in the Surma and Kushiyara rivers are currently falling but may remain stable over the next 24 hours before rising again in the following two days.​