Though floodwater has started receding from several districts, including Kurigram, Bogra, Jamalur and Sunamganj, over the last couple of days, people’s sufferings have not been eased for lack of relief materials while the flood situation in Faridpur and Manikganj and other downstream areas has worsened.

As the flood situation improved in Kurigram, various post-flood agonies like acute crisis of food, drinking water and outbreak of waterborne diseases have been reported.

Akher Ali, an official of Kurigram civil surgeon’s office, said at least 6,631 people of the district have been suffering from diarrhoea in the aftermath of the flood.

Besides, at least 12 people, including six minors, drowned in the floodwater till Tuesday, he added.

According to the information of Kurigram Water Development Board (WDB) of the district, around 6.5 lakh residents of the district are still marooned.

Some 7,000 hectares of cropland have been inundated and damaged by the floodwater, leaving at least 1.59 lakh farmers affected.

Some 474 kilometers of unpaved road and 52 kilometers of paved road have broken while 39 bridges of the district have been damaged by the floodwater.

The Dharla and the Brahmaputra rivers were flowing 5 cm and 22 cm respectively above the danger mark on Tuesday, said Mahfuzur Rahman, executive engineer of WDB.

Abdul Mottalib Mollah, an official of the district relief department, said 1,275 tonnes of rice and Tk 38 lakh in cash have already been distributed among the flood-affected people.

In Bogra and Jamalpur, the flood situation is improving as the water level of the Jamuna River has marked a fall at various points in the two districts.

Mohammad Shahabuddin, deputy commissioner of Jamalpur, said 800 tonnes of rice, Tk 31 lakh in cash, 2000 packets of dry foods and 50,000 pieces of bread have so far been distributed among the flood-hit people.

In Sunamganj, the crisis of drinking water and food has deepened while the outbreak of waterborne diseases was reported.

The Surma River was flowing 70 cm above the danger line, down by 21 cm compared to the level recorded two days ago.

Deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension’s (DAE’s) Sunamganj office Zahidul Haque said the losses of crops due to floodwater cannot be properly evaluated before the floodwater recedes completely.

In Munshiganj, several thousand households along the bank of the Padma in Lauhajang, Tangibari and Srinagar upazilas have been affected by the floodwater.

Erosion is also taking place at several points due to the strong currents in the river.

According to the BWDB, the Padma was flowing 59 cm and 38 cm above the danger line at Bhagyakul and Mawa points respectively on Tuesday.

The ferry plying on Shimulia-Kawrakandi route has not yet returned to normalcy due to strong currents in the river.

Only 12 ferries have been plying while the No-2 ghat at Kawrakandi remained inundated.

In Faridpur, most of the low-lying areas in 17 unions of Sadar, Charbhadrason, Sadarpur and Bhanga upazilas have been flooded and thousands of people in those areas have become stranded.

The flood control embankment at Gazirtek in Charbhadrason and the embankment at Bhajandanga of Sadar upazila have breached open by the river, making ways for the water to flood newer areas.

The district administration has already cancelled the leave of all the government offices in the district to tackle the situation.

So far, 60 education institutions across the district have been closed due to the inundation.

According to the DAE, about 10,000 hectares of Aus paddy fields and Aman seedbeds have gone under water.