[🇧🇩] Smart Flood Management for Bangladesh

[Saif]

Flood warning issued in six districts after heavy rainfall

The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has issued a flood alert for six districts in the northeast and eastern regions of the country following heavy rainfall. According to a bulletin released by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) on Thursday, low-lying areas in Feni, Sylhet, S

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Flood warning issued in six districts after heavy rainfall

Published :
May 29, 2025 21:06
Updated :
May 29, 2025 21:06

The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has issued a flood alert for six districts in the northeast and eastern regions of the country following heavy rainfall.

According to a bulletin released by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) on Thursday, low-lying areas in Feni, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Netrokona are at risk of flooding.

The Muhuri River in Feni is expected to rise above the danger level within the next two days due to continuous rainfall.

Other rivers in the Chattogram Division, including the Gomti and Feni, are also likely to swell, reports bdnews24.com.

While the Muhuri may crest above the danger mark, the BWDB forecasts that water levels in these rivers could begin receding after a day.

In the Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions, rivers such as the Shari-Goyain, Jadukata, Manu, Dhalai, Khowai, and Someshwari are projected to rise over the next three days, potentially exceeding danger levels.

This increases the risk of flooding in adjacent low-lying areas across Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Netrokona.

In the Rangpur Division, water levels in the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers are also expected to rise in the coming days, with the Teesta likely to flow near the danger line.

Meanwhile, tidal surges may cause temporarily elevated water levels in coastal rivers across the Barishal, Khulna, and Chattogram divisions over the next two days.

The Surma and Kushiyara Rivers, although currently receding, are forecast to rise again within three days, but are expected to remain below danger levels.

Similarly, the Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers are seeing a gradual decline, though their levels may begin to rise again within four days without crossing danger thresholds.

The Ganges river remains stable, while water in the Padma is slowly increasing.

Both are expected to continue rising over the next five days but are likely to remain below the danger threshold.​

 

[Saif]

The looming threat of floods

That floods in this deltaic plain are recurrent is no news. The news is that the timing of this type of natural calamity has changed remarkably. Floods and the monsoon are interlinked. Before the month of Ashar on the Bangla calendar, the onset of monsoon was unimaginable. But this unprecedented ph

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

The looming threat of floods

Neil Ray
Published :
Jun 02, 2025 00:13
Updated :
Jun 02, 2025 00:13

That floods in this deltaic plain are recurrent is no news. The news is that the timing of this type of natural calamity has changed remarkably. Floods and the monsoon are interlinked. Before the month of Ashar on the Bangla calendar, the onset of monsoon was unimaginable. But this unprecedented phenomenon now looks all set to become a reality. At a time when in mid-Jaistha, sweltering heat was the norm with hardly any rain, the country this year is experiencing an early monsoon brought ahead by at least two weeks. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has confirmed this. The heavy rains most of the country has witnessed over the past few days have threatened to cause floods in at least four districts in the north-eastern region of the country. Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Netrakona districts are under threat of floods.

With the possibility of heavy rainfall continuing for five more days in the Sylhet region and mid-northern part of the country, the rivers there are likely to be in spate. The situation has been further complicated by the excessive rains in Mehgalaya where Cherrapunji is known for the heaviest rainfall in the whole world, which is located just on the other side of the border of north-eastern Bangladesh. To make the matter worse, excessive rainfall in that upper riparian Indian state comes rushing down the common rivers flowing between the two countries.

So, the country has to brace for floods in the making. Mercifully, though, this time Boro harvest in the haor areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj was completed earlier. For the last few years it had been a race against time for farmers to harvest the main crop of that area. The floods that caused extensive damage to standing Aman crop in wide areas of Feni and Cumilla in July-August last year actually had a negative impact on the country's food reserve. The newly installed interim government had to bear the brunt of this food shortage because millers and traders seized the opportunity of raising the staple price to a new level that still refuses to come down to the level before that astronomical price escalation.

Even if the projected floods strike after harvest of the main crop, the areas apprehended to fall under the calamity's sway will suffer a lot. The suffering will depend on the enormity of floods. Sylhet's sufferings due to floods last year was no less telling. The visitation of floods in the hilly areas is different from those in plain lands. Torrential rains conspire with rivers flowing in full spate to create strong currents that sweep everything ahead of those. On that count, damage to crops including vegetables, livestock and immovable property is far greater than in areas where flat plain can disperse the flow of waters to temper the speed.

The rains of the past few days have already made some impact on the market. Almost all kinds of vegetables have become dearer and if floods wreak havoc with such green crops, their price will shoot up triggering inflation that gave an indication of relenting during the past few months. Struggling to stay afloat, the country's economy will be in real danger if a natural calamity causes widespread disruptions to its agriculture. Last time the administrative response to various needs of the flood-stricken and displaced people was poor. Let the administrative apparatuses responsible for undertaking relief and rehabilitation works be kept ready for any eventuality for an early and effective response.

Climate has become capricious and the monsoon's arrival earlier than schedule speaks volume for the unexpected exigencies the government will have to handle. There should be more allocation for short-term relief and rehabilitation of people falling victim to river erosion, floods, storms and cyclones. The frequency of such Nature's convulsions including earthquake has become higher over the past few years. These may be considered an early warning for what the nations everywhere, particularly this calamity-prone country, are expected to encounter in the days to come. At a time when the pipeline of international aid has been drying up, the challenge will prove even more daunting than before.​

 

[Saif]

Flash flood vulnerability should be reduced

FLOODING from incessant rain caused by the recent depression in the Bay of Bengal has remained somewhat unchanged while the government’s disaster management and relief efforts are barely visible. Four of the five north-eastern rivers that were flowing above their danger marks further swelled, as...

www.newagebd.net

Flash flood vulnerability should be reduced
05 June, 2025, 00:00

FLOODING from incessant rain caused by the recent depression in the Bay of Bengal has remained somewhat unchanged while the government’s disaster management and relief efforts are barely visible. Four of the five north-eastern rivers that were flowing above their danger marks further swelled, as the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre reported in its last cycle on June 3. It is likely that rain would continue and some areas will remain flooded in the north-east. The onrush of water from the upstream region in India into these rivers has forced several hundred families to move to safety, also to flood shelter centres. The death toll from the flash flood and landslide has, meanwhile, already reached 15. Road connectivity and economic activities in the flood-hit areas have been disrupted. It is concerning that the government’s role has so far been limited to observing the disaster situation and issuing warnings, especially when flash floods from heavy rain became a cause for concern in the recent past.

Preventive efforts to minimise the loss of life and public suffering from heavy rainfall should have already been in place. That has not, however, been the case. In Sylhet, the government has opened flood shelters but was not prompt enough to relocate people living in areas at landslide risk. The death of four members of a family from landslides in Sylhet speaks of the government’s inaction. Emergency response to help to alleviate the sufferings of people is the need of the hour, but equally important it is to address the root cause of frequent flash flooding. Local leaders put the flash flood mainly down to the unplanned construction of roads and other infrastructure that, too, grabbing canals and blocking low-lying areas that could, otherwise, drain out floodwater. Such infrastructure also includes long stretches of rural roads that block water from receding. Coupled with this is the problem of waning capacity of the rivers and canals to deal with excess water flow coming from the upstream.

In this context, the government should immediately take steps to minimise the loss of life and public suffering in the north-eastern flood-affected areas. In doing so, it should take early steps to relocate people living in areas already identified as risky for landslides and arrange transport and shelter for people living in the worst-hit areas. More important, the government should ensure emergency food and cash aid for people directly affected by the flash flood and landslide from the heavy rainfall. It should also pull down road stretches and infrastructure that block the natural flow of floodwater and dredge the rivers to increase their capacity to flush out floodwater and collected rainwater.​

 

[Saif]

Low-lying areas face flood risk

Low-lying areas in some eastern and north-eastern areas might witness brief flooding by June 20 because of the very heavy rainfall likely to continue over vast swathes of land in Bangladesh and its adjacent upstream areas in India.

www.newagebd.net

Low-lying areas face flood risk
Maritime ports asked to hoist signal 3
Staff Correspondent 18 June, 2025, 00:09

Low-lying areas in some eastern and north-eastern areas might witness brief flooding by June 20 because of the very heavy rainfall likely to continue over vast swathes of land in Bangladesh and its adjacent upstream areas in India.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre on Tuesday afternoon forecast that the rivers of Muhuri, Sarigowain, Jadukata and Someswari might flow at their danger marks during the forecast period till June 20.

Low-lying areas in Feni, Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrakona districts are at risk of going under water.

Bangladesh is witnessing intermittent light to moderate rainfall since June 15 due to active monsoon and the wet spell is likely to intensify following the formation of a low pressure area in the south-western Bangladesh and its adjacent areas.

On Tuesday, the BMD said, Bangladesh’s highest maximum rainfall of 118mm, in the 24 hours until 6:00pm, was recorded at Sitakunda in Chattogram.

Most of Bangladesh is likely to receive light to moderate rainfall amidst thunderstorms today and next three days, the BMD said in a forecast issued at 6:00pm Tuesday.

Potential heavy to very heavy rainfall may cause landslides in Chattogram, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachari and Cox’s Bazar, the BMD said.

Temporary waterlogging may also occur in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas, it also said.

Thunderstorms, accompanied by gusty wind, reaching up to 60kmph might occur over large parts of the country, prompting the BMD to issue Signal Number One for all river ports.

The active monsoon and thunder clouds lying over the north Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas in the country might also leave the sea rough, the meteorological office said.

All four maritime ports have been asked to hoist cautionary Signal Number Three and all fishing boats and trawlers were asked to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.

This is the second significant spell of rain since the monsoon onset in late May, earliest in the last four decades.

Dhaka recorded 38mm rainfall in the 24 hours until 6:00pm Tuesday.

The flood forecasting centre also warned that rivers in the country, particularly in south-eastern, eastern and north-eastern regions, might as well rapidly swell during its forecast period until June 20.​

 

[Saif]

Flood threat looms over Feni as Muhuri river swells 137cm above danger level

Four breaches occurred in Parshuram upazila and three in Fulgazi

www.thedailystar.net

Flood threat looms over Feni as Muhuri river swells 137cm above danger level

Continuous rainfall and upstream water from India have triggered a sharp rise in river levels across Feni, prompting fears of renewed flooding in the district.

At 9:00pm today, Executive Engineer of the Feni Water Development Board Akter Hossain Majumder confirmed that the Muhuri river was flowing 137cm above the danger mark, with breaches reported at seven points along flood control embankments on the Muhuri, Kahua, and Silonia rivers.

Of these, four breaches occurred in Parshuram upazila and three in Fulgazi.

Photo: Collected

Local officials said the embankments are under increasing pressure as water levels continue to rise. Earlier in the day, a section of road along the Muhuri river in Fulgazi collapsed, submerging nearby shops and severing road connectivity between Fulgazi Bazar and Rajeshpur.

In response, the district administration has declared all primary and secondary schools as emergency shelters, said Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam.

Most educational institutions have suspended classes and exams temporarily, although no directive has yet been issued regarding ongoing HSC board exams.

Heavy rainfall began last afternoon and has since inundated Feni town. Streets in several neighbourhoods -- including Shaheed Shahidullah Kaiser Road, Rampur Shaheen Academy, Pathan Bari, Nazir Road, Shanti Company Road, and Petrobangla -- are submerged under 2-3 feet of water, causing severe waterlogging and disrupting daily life.

Residents, particularly day labourers and transport workers, are bearing the brunt of the crisis.

"We haven't recovered from last year's flood damage," said auto-rickshaw driver Belayet Hossain. "If this rain continues, we'll face another disaster."

Fulgazi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Faria Islam reported that two shops were swept away when the embankment near Rajeshpur collapsed around 7:00am today. Road access to the village remains cut off.

Meanwhile, Feni Sadar UNO Sultana Nasrin Kanta said that midterm exams have been suspended in several schools due to rising water levels.

"We've issued notices to affected institutions, but no update has come from the education board regarding board exams," she added.​

 

[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.

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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...

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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.​