Rains, run-off inundate nine dists

Nine districts of the country have been flooded due to heavy rains and onrush of water from the upstream, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief announced on Wednesday.
The affected districts are Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Feni, Chittagong, Noakhali, Comilla, Laxmipur and Khagrachhari.
Additional Secretary KM Ali Reza, speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat, warned that the flooding could worsen.
He cited a forecast from the Meteorological Department predicting moderate to heavy rainfall in the northeastern region and neighbouring upstream areas over the next 48 hours.
This anticipated rainfall could cause water levels in the major rivers of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrakona, Moulvibazar and Habiganj to rise further, he added.
Reza noted that the water levels of major rivers in the northeastern and eastern regions are continuously rising.
Currently, the Kushiyara, Manu, Dholai, Khowai, Muhuri, Feni, and Halda rivers are flowing above the danger level at seven monitoring stations.
"In the next 24 hours, the water levels of the Manu, Khowai, Dholai and Sarigowain rivers in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts may cross the danger marks at several locations, leading to flooding in the low-lying areas," he said.
Relief operations have already got underway in the flood-affected districts, with local administrations working closely with the DCs, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement activists, the army, and different volunteer organisations.