Al Mamun Harun Ur Rashid :
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted an extended monsoon with heavy rainfall, which threatens agricultural production, particularly after recent floods in the eastern and northern regions. In August, rainfall was 46% above average, and in September, it was 33% higher than normal.
This prolonged monsoon could bring unusually heavy rainfall beyond mid-October.
The BMD warned of a potential deluge in the eastern and southern regions. In the past 24 hours, Chattogram recorded 120mm of rainfall, followed by Cox’s Bazar with 114mm.
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue in Chattogram and Sylhet, with rising river water levels and a risk of landslides in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
A low-pressure area is also expected to form over Bangladesh and the North Bay of Bengal, which may trigger a cyclonic storm in the coming weeks, causing higher tides in coastal areas like Barishal and Khulna.
Agricultural experts from the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) are concerned that continuous rainfall will further damage crops, worsening the food supply.
The recent floods in August and September already caused severe losses. Over 2,08,573 hectares of croplands were submerged, resulting in a loss of 7,14,514 metric tonnes of agricultural produce, with an estimated financial toll of Tk 3,346 crore.
The worst-affected areas included Cumilla, Noakhali, and Chattogram, with significant impacts on farming communities. The flood disaster underscores the need for improved cross-border water management and early warning systems to prevent future calamities.
In addition to these rural challenges, urban areas like Dhaka have been hit hard by heavy rain. In the last 24 hours, Dhaka received 44mm of rainfall, causing major roads to flood up to knee- and waist-high levels.
Areas like Motijheel, Shantinagar, Sewrapara, and Mirpur were especially affected. Residents blamed the city’s collapsed drainage system for the flooding, as drains clogged with waste failed to clear the water quickly.
Despite having over 50 agencies tasked with improving the capital’s infrastructure, Dhaka remains vulnerable to even moderate rainfall. The city’s drainage system failure and severe traffic congestion point to the inefficiency of these entities.
The division of Dhaka into North and South City Corporations in 2011, intended to enhance services, is now under scrutiny as these issues persist more than a decade later.
