Flood-hit people suffer as Padma remains steady

The water level of the Padma River has remained steady in Chapainawabganj, while the levels of the Mahananda and Punarbhaba rivers have risen.

Although the Padma water level has remained unchanged, extensive areas of the char regions in Chapainawabganj Sadar and Shibganj upazilas have been flooded, worsening the suffering of local residents.

Nearly 40,000 people in several low-lying areas of Narayanpur and Alatuli unions in Sadar upazila and Panka, Ujirpur and Durlabhpur unions in Shibganj have remained waterlogged for four days. Many have left their homes and moved to safer places.

Crops on 206.4 hectares of land, including Aus and Aman rice and black gram, have been submerged. Classes at 28 educational institutions have also been suspended after floodwater entered the premises.

According to the Water Development Board, the water level of the Padma rose by 3 centimetres in the past 24 hours. At 9am on Saturday, the river was flowing 26 centimetres below the danger level.

However, the water level remained unchanged from 9am to 6pm on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Mahananda rose by 7 centimetres and was flowing 1.5 metres below the danger level, while the Punarbhaba also rose by 7 centimetres and was flowing 2.2 metres below the danger level.

SM Ahsan Habib, executive engineer of the Chapainawabganj Water Development Board, said according to data from the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, the Padma rose by 3 centimetres over the past 24 hours. However, its water level remained steady on Saturday.

A visit to the affected areas found floodwater entering homes in various low-lying parts of Sadar and Shibganj upazilas. In some places, water has reached courtyards, while in others it has accumulated around homesteads. The situation has disrupted normal life, with many struggling to move livestock, household furniture and essential belongings to safer locations.

Abdul Malek, chairman of Panka Union Parishad in Shibganj upazila, said around 2,000 families in the union were waterlogged. Water has entered the courtyards of 600 families, while 6,000-7,000 people in total are currently stranded by floodwater.

He said rice had been distributed among 466 families over the past two days and that the relief operation would continue.

He also urged the administration to keep medical teams ready as various diseases could emerge after the floodwater recedes.