Flood situation: Adviser Nahid sees India’s “non-cooperation” with Bangladesh

Referring to the worsening flood situation, Information and Broadcasting Affairs Adviser Md Nahid Islam on Thursday accused India of "non-cooperation" with Bangladesh, and urged the neighboring country to come out of what he called "anti-people policy" to protect people in both countries.

“The dam was opened without any prior warning and without giving us any scope for preparation,” he told reporters on Thursday after the advisory council’s meeting at state guesthouse Jamuna, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

Environment, Forests and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan also spoke and responded to various questions from journalists.

She said Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma is holding a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus where Bangladesh will want to know the reasons behind the flood.

Rizwana said there is discussion in official channel to find ways for avoiding such flood in the future.

Nahid said that India demonstrated an "inhuman behavior" and non-cooperation with Bangladesh.

On the other hand, India has noted concerns expressed in Bangladesh regarding the flood situation and explained the reasons behind the flood, claiming that what is being said in Bangladesh is not factually correct.

"We have seen concerns being expressed in Bangladesh that the current situation of flood in districts on the eastern borders of Bangladesh has been caused by opening of the Dumbur dam upstream of the Gumti River in Tripura. This is factually not correct," said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday.

Floods in the rivers between India and Bangladesh are a shared problem inflicting sufferings to people on both sides, and requires close mutual cooperation towards resolving them, said the Indian side.

At least 1,796,248 people have been affected by floods across six districts in Bangladesh and one death was reported from Fulgazi upazila of Feni district, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, which detailed the situation as of Thursday morning (August 22).

Nahid said that people of Bangladesh are angry due to India’s policy and demanded fair share of water.

Nahid said the government is also in discussion with the chiefs of three forces – army, navy and air force – for effectively dealing with the flood situation. 

He urged people from all strata to come forward and help the affected people. “We need to work together.”

India, meanwhile, pointed out that the catchment areas of Gumti river that flows through India and Bangladesh have witnessed heaviest rains this year over the last few days.

"The flood in Bangladesh is primarily due to waters from these large catchments downstream of the dam," India‍‍`s MEA said in a statement on the situation.

As two countries share 54 common cross-border rivers, river water cooperation is an important part of bilateral engagement, India said.

"We remain committed to resolving issues and mutual concerns in water resources and river water management through bilateral consultations and technical discussions," according to MEA.

The Dumbur dam is located quite far from the border - over 120 Km upstream of Bangladesh. It is a low height (about 30m) dam that generates power, feeding into a grid from which Bangladesh also draws 40MW power from Tripura.

Along the about 120 km river course, there are three water level observation sites at Amarpur, Sonamura and Sonamura 2.

Heavy rainfall has been continuing since August 21 in India‍‍`s Tripura and adjoining districts of Bangladesh.

"In the event of heavy inflow, automatic releases have been observed," India‍‍`s MEA said.

"Amarpur station is part of a bilateral protocol under which we are transmitting real time flood data to Bangladesh," it added.

Data showing rising trend has been supplied to Bangladesh upto 1500 hrs on August 21, 2024. At 1800 hrs, due to flooding, there was a power outage leading to problems of communication.

"Still, we have tried to maintain communication through other means created for urgent transmission of data," said the MEA.

Adviser Nahid also urged businesspeople to come forward on humanitarian grounds to help the affected people.

The interim government has taken "adequate preparation" to face the flood situation in the country as a number of districts are already affected.

"We have adequate preparation," Chief Adviser‍‍`s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters on Wednesday.

He said Chattogram, Noakhali and Feni are very affected and some people have already moved to safe shelters.

The Press Secretary said adequate medicine and dry food are being supplied.

Quoting the weather officials, Alam said the rainfall may continue until August 26 with heavy rainfall and there is no sign for a quick improvement of the rain-driven floods.

Eight districts of the country have been flooded due to heavy rains and onrush of water from the upstream, said the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief on Wednesday.

The eight districts are Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Feni, Chattogram, Noakhali, Comilla and Khagrachhari.