United News of Bangladesh

The water level of the Muhuri River in Feni district may reach the danger level within the next 24 hours, raising the risk of temporary flashfloods in adjacent low-lying areas, according to the latest forecast from the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC). Due to the influence of a low-pressure system over the northwestern Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in the Muhuri basin over the next 24 hours. This will be followed by moderate to moderately heavy rainfall over the next two days. The FFWC said that water levels of the Feni, Muhuri, Halda, Sangu, and Matamuhuri rivers in Chattogram Division are currently rising and may continue to rise over the next 24 hours. They are expected to remain stable in the subsequent 48 hours. Besides, the Gomti River’s level remains unchanged. The water levels of the country’s major rivers are still flowing below the danger mark, according to FFWC. Incessant rains submerge parts of Feni town, flood fears loom The Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system is also witnessing a rising trend that may persist for the next three days before starting to recede. These rivers are expected to continue flowing below the danger level during this period. The Ganges and Padma rivers are experiencing a gradual rise in water levels which may continue for the next five days. However, they too are projected to remain below the danger level. Meanwhile, higher-than-normal tidal activity is prevailing in coastal rivers of Barisal, Khulna, and Chattogram divisions. These elevated tides are likely to persist for another day contributing to waterlogging in some areas. In August 2024, heavy rainfall, coupled with a surge of water released from a dam in India's Tripura resulted in severe flooding that claimed over 70 lives and affected 11 districts in northeastern and southeastern Bangladesh.

The body of a member of Bangladesh Navy who went missing while taking a bath in the Muhuri River in Feni on Saturday (April 20, 2024) afternoon has been recovered after more than 8 hours. The deceased Abul Hasan was the son of Abul Khair of Dhanikunda village of Parshuram upazila. He was posted at Chittagong Naval Basecamp. Abul Hasan along with his friends went to take a bath at the ghat adjacent to Nazir's house on the Muhuri river around 2pm on Saturday for some relief from the scorching heat. Read more: Bangladeshi siblings drown in Sea of Oman Suddenly, Abul Hasan presumably drowned and went missing. Failing to find him, his friends informed the Parashuram Fire Service. Despite a lot of searching, the members of the Fire Service failed to rescue the missing Abul Hasan. Later, a diving team from Chattogram joined the rescue operation and managed to recover the body around 9:20pm. Mohammad Shahadat Hossain Khan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Parashuram Police Station, said the body would be sent to Feni General Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Read more: No concrete bridge for 20,000 inhabitants in Feni, Noakhali for over 22 years

Seven villages in Fulgazi upazila of Feni district have got submerged as the flood control embankment along the Muhuri River collapsed due to the onrush of water, destroying crops and dwellings. The river was flowing 140 cm above its danger level, cutting off road communications with Parshuram areas. Sources at the upazila administration and Water Development Board (WDB) said the embankment at Jaipur point in Fulgazi Sadar Union got damaged due to the deluge of water from across the border. READ: Searches, sorrow in wake of Ida’s destructive, deadly floods They said the floods sent Fulgazi Sadar Union, West Ghaniamora, East Ghaniamora and Kismat Ghaniamoa, Jaipur, North Daulatpur, South Dinajpur and Bairagpur areas under water, damaging houses and huge crops. Fulgazi Union Parishad (UP) chairman Nurul Islam said the floodwater poured into the villages through the damaged parts of the embankment at Jaipur part in Sadar Union.