Flooding worsens in 13 dists

Although water flow in some major rivers came down below their danger marks, the flood situation in thirteen districts in the country's south and south-eastern parts worsened over the last 48 hours till 6:00 pm on Wednesday.
Offices of the deputy commissioners (DCs) in the flood-affected districts said nearly 1.5 million people were facing immense sufferings due to scarcity of drinking water, food and sanitation facility as well as poor communications.  
A number of areas in Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Jessore, Khulna, Bhola and Barisal districts were badly affected by the flood in recent days.
The DC offices urgently sought humanitarian assistance in the form of foodstuff, medicine and others from the government before the situation worsens further.
However, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) on Wednesday in an immediate move made a special allocation of 11,000 tonnes of rice and Tk 60 million in cash for people living in the flood-hit areas.
MoDMR additional secretary Md. Shohid Ulla Mia confirmed the latest allocation, saying that the ministry already gave the rice and cash to the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), which is releasing relief as sought by DC offices.
At the same time around 200 tonnes of food-grains and fund worth Tk 0.2 million have been stored in each flood-affected district to carry out emergency relief activities.
According to the official, about 400 tonnes of food-grains and Tk 1.0 million were disbursed in Cox's Bazar, followed by 400 tonnes and Tk 0.9 million in Comilla, 400 tonnes and Tk 0.8 million in Chittagong, 225 tonnes and Tk 0.55 million in Bandarban, 200 tonnes and Tk 0.5 million in Noakhali, 225 tonnes and Tk 0.45 million in Feni over the last few days.
Talking to the FE, ADC of Bandarban district Md Abu Zafar said a total of 10,000 families were affected across the district. Of them, 3,000 were in Ali Kadam upazila and 1,500 in Bandarban Sadar.
"Communication with the flood-hit people in many areas of the district has become difficult, as many key roads are now under waist-deep water," he added.
According to the DC offices, the flood situation turned worst in Satkania, Chandanaish and Bashkhali under Chittagong district, Noakhali, Khagrachhari and Rangamati.
The offices said Khagrachhari-Rangamati Highway, Noakhali-Senbag Road and Satkania-Bagalia Road were submerged by flood water, marooning more than 0.5 million people in the areas.
According to official data, two rivers including Sangu in Dohajari, Chittagong and Kopotakkho in Jhikargachha, Jessore were flowing 25 to 40 cm above the danger levels.
The Teesta in Nilpahamari, the Matamuhuri in Chakaria, Cox's Bazar and the Surma in Sylhet and Moulvibazar were flowing near the danger levels.
However, water levels of the rivers Muhuri, Surma, Halda and Kushiyara declined in last 24 hours (until 6 pm on Wednesday), according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) under the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWBD).
FFWC sub-divisional engineer Md Arifuzzman told the FE that the depression over the Bay of Bengal along with the monsoon was causing moderate to heavy rainfall in the country's southern and south-eastern parts.
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