Northern and North-Eastern Bangladesh Face Flash Flood Threat Within 72 Hours

DHAKA — Low-lying regions across northern and north-eastern Bangladesh are bracing for short-term flooding as heavy upstream rainfall is projected to swell major river systems rapidly over the next 72 hours, according to an alert issued by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) on Sunday.

The FFWC warned that water levels in the Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers are likely to breach danger thresholds at several points within three days, placing five northern districts—Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha—at risk of temporary inundation.

Vulnerable River Basins and Regions

The water resources authority highlighted potential flooding across three key hydrological basins:

• Teesta-Dudhkumar & Dharla Basins: Rising water levels in the Dharla River are expected to approach alert marks, threatening low-lying plain areas across Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Gaibandha.

• Surma-Kushiara Basin: Riverside communities in Sylhet and Sunamganj face localized flooding as water levels rise over the three-day period. Currently, the Kushiara River is already flowing above its designated danger level at the Fenchuganj point in Sylhet, though conditions there are expected to remain relatively stable.

• Someshwari-Bhugai-Kangsha Basin: Low-lying terrain in Sherpur, Mymensingh, and Netrokona remains vulnerable to rapid run-off.

Weather Outlook and Upstream Rainfall

Meteorological agencies predict moderate to heavy—and isolated very heavy—rainfall across Sylhet and Rangpur divisions, as well as adjacent upstream Indian catchment areas, over the next 48 hours. Rainfall intensity is expected to heighten over Rangpur division and upper catchment zones on the third day, accelerating water flow into regional river networks.

With water levels in the Surma and Kushiara rivers consistently climbing over the past 24 hours, local authorities and communities living near riverbanks have been advised to maintain vigilance as disaster management teams monitor rising water levels across high-risk districts.