The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has warned that the water levels of the Muhuri, Selonia, and Feni rivers in Chattogram Division could exceed danger levels within the next 48 hours.
This may trigger short-term flooding in low-lying areas along the Feni River in Feni district.
At the same time, water levels in the Halda, Sangu, Matamuhuri, Rahmatkhali Khal, and Noakhali Khal rivers are expected to remain close to cautionary levels, posing a risk of temporary inundation in low-lying areas of Chattogram, Bandarban, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur districts.
According to the BWDB Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, there has been no significant rainfall in the country’s upstream and inland areas over the past 24 hours.
However, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in these areas over the next day (from 9:00 am on August 31 to 9:00 am on September 1). Between September 2 and 3, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely along the country’s coastal regions, in Chattogram Division, and in India’s Tripura state, which may lead to a rapid rise in river water levels both upstream and inland.
The forecast also indicates that water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system may rise over the next five days, while water levels in the Ganges-Padma system could increase over the next three days, though remaining below danger levels. Levels are expected to stabilize on the fourth and fifth days. In Sylhet Division, water levels in the Surma-Kushiyara rivers are likely to decrease over the next three days.
In Chattogram Division, water levels in the Muhuri, Feni, Halda, Sangu, Matamuhuri, Selonia, and Gomati rivers are expected to remain stable over the next 24 hours but may rise on September 2 and 3, with the Muhuri, Selonia, and Feni rivers potentially exceeding danger levels and causing flooding in low-lying areas along the Feni River.
Meanwhile, in Rangpur Division, water levels in the Teesta, Dudhkumar, and Dharla rivers may rise over the next day but decrease in the following two days. Water levels in the Upper Atrai and Upper Kartoa rivers in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions are expected to remain stable over the next three days, though the Atrai may rise initially before stabilizing.
Although all major rivers across Bangladesh are currently flowing below danger levels, the BWDB cautions that heavy rainfall in Chattogram and surrounding areas could trigger short-term flooding in the region over the next two days.
