Receding floodwater swells eastern rivers

The Mawa ro-ro (roll-on, roll-over) ferry terminal was devoured Monday by the turbulent Padma as floodwater rolling down from the worst-affetcd northern districts sent rivers in the country's central parts into spate.      
Meanwhile, the displaced people started returning home following further improvements in the flood situation during the past 24 hours till 6am on the day in seven affected districts along the Brahmaputra basin, official and local sources told BSS.
Officials in the Water Development Board (WDB) said the major rivers were still flowing above their respective danger mark (DM) at six pints at 6 am and the improving trend would continue in the next 24 hours.
Sources in the local administrations and public representatives said sporadic erosion by the receding rivers virtually rubbed salt into the wounds of many people affected by the late-monsoon flood havoc.              
Erosion by Dharla, Brahmaputra, Teesta, Jamuna and Ghaghot rivers continued at places in Kurigram, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Bogra and Sirajganj districts.
The district administrations have further intensified relief activities among the flood- and river-erosion-affected people in these districts to mitigate their sufferings.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer of Sirajganj Zakiur Rahim told BSS that 500 tonnes of rice and Taka 8.50 lakh were being distributed among the affected people in 40 unions under five upazilas of the district where the flood situation continued improving.
Some 2.50 lakh people of 65,000 families have been affected by floods and 180 educational institutions, 16,000 houses, and 338km 'kutcha' roads have been damaged in Sirajganj.
A total of 47 medical teams have been providing health services in the affected areas.
In Bogra, 3.63 lakh people of 89,570 families in 262 villages under Sariakandi, Dhunot and Sonatola upazilas have been affected.The district administration has allocated 220 tonnes of rice and Taka 4.50 lakh for distribution among the flood-hit people.
Thirteen kilometres of flood-control embankments, 112.50-kilometre 'kutcha' roads, 43-kilometre metalled roads and 25,190 houses have been damaged totally or partially so far in Bogra, one of the worst-hit districts.
Sources in Gaibandha district administration said more than 1.42 lakh people of 45,290 families have been affected in the flooding in the district where "the overall flood situation has been improving continuously".
Erosion and flood have so far partially or totally damaged 17,074 houses, 308-kilometre kutcha' roads, 45-kilometre embankments, 11 bridges and culverts in the district.
The district administration has so far allocated 397 tonnes rice and Taka 10.18 lakh in cash for distribution among the flood- and erosion-hit people of Gaibandha district.
Sources in Kurigram district administration said 2.40 lakh people of 54,757 families have been affected by floodwater in 542.55 square kilometre area under 56 unions of all nine upazilas in the district.
Erosion has damaged 10,282 houses, 77 educational and religious institutions, 127 km 'kutcha' roads, 38 km flood control embankments and seven culverts partially or totally in the district.
The district administration has so far allocated 806.66 tonne rice and Taka 6.23 lakh for distribution among the flood-hit people in Kurigram district.
According to WDB sources, the Brahmaputra was still flowing above the DM by only 1cm at Chilmari and below the DM by 17cm at Fulchhari and by 57cm at Noonkhawa points at 6 am today.
The Jamuna was flowing above its DM by 30cm at Bahadurabad, 73cm at Sariakandi, 23cm at Sirajganj and 5cm at Aricha points and Ghaghot was flowing above the DM by 24cm at Gaibandha points at 6 am today.
The Teesta was flowing well below its DM by 15cm at Dalia, 153 at Kawnia and by 115cm at Sundarganj points respectively this morning.
Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr Md Nuruzzaman Haque said,  
"One medical team has been providing medicare services to flood-hit people in every affected union and a reserve medical team has been kept standby at every upazila headquarters."
Meanwhile, the ro-ro ferry services on Mawa-Kawrakandi route remained suspended since Monday afternoon after the newly established ro-ro terminal at Mawa was devoured by the Padma River.
BIWTA marine officer at Mawa M Shajahan said the mighty river gobbled up the terminal around 3pm, barely four days after it was newly established.
The incident forced the authorities to suspend the ro-ro ferry services on the river route.
The ro-ro ferry terminal was set up anew on August 28 following the collapse of the No-3 terminal on August 27.
The Padma was still flowing 34cm above the danger level on Monday although the water level marked a 2cm fall.