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.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecasted light to heavy rainfall accompanied by temporary gusty winds across all eight divisions of the country for the next 24 hours starting from 9 am today.
“Light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty winds are likely to occur in most areas of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barisal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall,” stated the weather bulletin issued this morning.
The bulletin noted that the monsoon is active over Bangladesh and strong over the North Bay.
Daytime temperatures may slightly decrease, while nighttime temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
Looking ahead to the next 72 hours, the rainfall activity is likely to continue, according to the extended outlook.
On Saturday, the highest temperature was recorded at 35.0 degrees Celsius in Ishurdi, while today’s lowest temperature of 23.8 degrees Celsius was recorded in Bandarban.
Panchagarh received the highest rainfall of 182 mm in the last 24 hours starting from 6 am today.
In the capital, the sun is set to set at 6:50 pm today and rise at 5:15 am tomorrow.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has issued a stern warning to its approved travel agents, emphasizing that strict measures will be taken against those who violate the national carrier’s regulations.
In a letter addressed to all Passenger Service Agents (PSAs), Biman expressed concerns about agents undercutting or overpricing tickets on their web portals. “It has been observed by Biman Bangladesh Airlines that some reputed Biman-approved travel agents are selling and promoting Biman tickets at prices either lower or higher than the approved fares on different routes,” the letter stated.
The state-owned airline urged all PSAs to adhere to Biman’s rules and policies, warning that failure to comply could result in the termination of business relationships. Biman emphasized that agents manipulating the airline’s image and goodwill will face severe consequences. The letter highlighted that all approved PSAs in Bangladesh are entitled to a 7 percent commission on the base fare.
However, Biman noted that some agents are offering 15-20 percent discounts on tickets through their web portals and social media, creating unhealthy competition and damaging Biman’s reputation. Additionally, the letter mentioned that some online travel agents (OTAs) are failing to provide services to customers after ticket issuance, including assistance with travel plan changes or ticket refunds.
“We have been receiving numerous complaints on this issue, which directly affects our goodwill and image,” the letter from Biman’s Sales Promotion Section stated.
This move follows alerts from the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) regarding irregularities by certain agencies. “In this era of information technology, we support tech-based business but must ensure ticket buyers are not defrauded. We seek a proper and timely policy for OTAs,” ATAB President Abdus Salam Aref told BSS.
ATAB Secretary General Afshia Jannat Saleh also stressed the need for immediate action to restore fair competition in the travel and ticketing industry. “Biman offers agents a 7 percent commission per ticket, but some are selling at a 15-20 percent discount. Such practices clearly indicate dishonest intentions,” she said.
Stakeholders in the air ticketing sector have long advocated for policies regulating OTAs in Bangladesh.
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.
