National
Continuous Heavy Rainfall Worsens Sylhet Floods, Strands Nearly 4 Lakh People
Continuous heavy rainfall over the past two days has severely worsened the flood situation in Sylhet, marking the second such instance in just 20 days. Nearly four lakh people in the Sylhet metropolitan area and throughout the district are now stranded.
In the metropolitan area alone, 10,000 people across 15 wards have been affected by flooding, according to Sylhet district administration sources on Tuesday afternoon.
Sylhet experienced the first phase of flooding on May 27, impacting approximately seven lakh people across all upazilas. The water had not fully receded when heavy rainfall and hill torrents struck again on June 15, worsening the situation by Eid day (June 17).
Heavy rainfall on Eid-ul-Azha morning briefly subsided, but resumed from Tuesday dawn, causing significant overflows in all rivers and streams in Sylhet. On Eid day, water levels were above danger points at two river locations. By Tuesday morning, water levels at four rivers were above danger points at six locations.
The Water Development Board in Sylhet reported that by last evening, the Surma River at Kanaighat point was 133 cm above danger levels. At another point in Sylhet, it was 27 cm above. The Kushiyara River was 47 cm above danger levels at Amalshid and 88 cm above at Fenchuganj. Additionally, the Sari River at Sarighat was 33 cm above danger levels.
By Tuesday, 864 villages and localities in Sylhet were inundated, affecting 371,507 people. Within the metropolitan area, 10,000 people remain stranded. To address the crisis, 619 shelters have been opened, including 80 in the metropolitan area.
Low-lying areas of the city are particularly hard-hit, with Shahjalal suburb completely submerged and water reaching neck level in many homes. Other severely affected areas include Jatrapur, Mendibagh, Shibganj, Raingar, Sobhanighat, Kalighat, Kamalgarh, Machimpur, Taltala, Jamtola, Kajirbazar, Madina Market, Akhaliya, and Mezortil. Several important roads within the city are also flooded.
From 6 am Monday to 6 am Tuesday, the Sylhet Meteorological Office recorded 153 mm of rainfall and forecasted continuous heavy rainfall for the next three days.
The district administration is actively working to rescue stranded individuals and has set up control rooms at the district collector’s office and upazila executive offices to monitor the flood situation. Dedicated officers have been appointed in each upazila, and medical teams have been formed at union levels to provide health services to flood victims.
If the heavy rainfall persists, the flood situation in Sylhet is expected to deteriorate further.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the National Primary Education Week-2024 today, emphasizing a renewed commitment to ensuring quality education for children. The event took place at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium, where the prime minister served as the chief guest.
During the ceremony, Sheikh Hasina distributed the Primary Education Medal-2023 to 126 stakeholders in recognition of their contributions to primary education. The awards were presented in 18 categories, with 36 students, 15 individuals, and three organizations receiving medals directly from the prime minister.
The theme for this year’s Primary Education Week is “Shishu Bandhov Prathomik Shikkha, Smart Bangladesher Deekkha,” underscoring the importance of child-friendly primary education as a foundation for a smart Bangladesh.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Rumana Ali and Secretary Farid Ahmed also addressed the audience at the event. Additionally, a video documentary showcasing the development of primary and mass education across the country was screened.
A two-hour downpour this morning brought much-needed relief from the oppressive heat but also caused significant disruption for commuters in Dhaka.
The rain, which began around 9:30 am and continued until 11:30 am, led to flooding in several areas, including Malibagh, Moghbazar, Shantinagar, Farmgate, Badda, Mirpur, and Khilkhet. Office-goers and residents found themselves wading through ankle-deep water to reach their destinations.
While the rainfall provided a respite from the heat, it also highlighted the city’s drainage problems as people struggled to navigate the waterlogged streets. Many were seen battling the flooded roads, underscoring the ongoing issues with Dhaka’s infrastructure.
The sky had been overcast since early morning, and the rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, helped alleviate the stifling heat that had gripped the city for the past few days.
Four death row convicts were recaptured this morning (26 June), just hours after escaping from Bogura Central Jail late last night.
The convicts managed to break out by scaling a wall through a breach in the roof. They were apprehended in the vicinity of the jail this morning, Jailer Mohammad Faridur Rahman informed the media.
District Additional Superintendent of Police Snigdha Akhtar stated, “The issue is very sensitive. The district superintendent of police will announce the details in this regard at a later time.”
Following the escape, coordinated efforts by jail police and district police led to the convicts being detained in the Chashi Bazar area of Bogura Sadar upazila.
District Superintendent of Police Sudip Kumar Chakraborty confirmed that the four convicts were involved in a murder case. The escapees were identified as Nazrul, 68, from Kurigram; Amir Hamza, 41, from Narsingdi; Abdul Mannan, 34, and Farid Sheikh, 30, both from Bogura.
