The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rafiqul Islam Azad

The government has expressed concern over the fresh flood that has marooned thousands of people in different districts of the country recently.

The government apprehends that the fresh flood would be a prolonged one and would cause more losses to the already flood affected countrymen.

Adviser for the Water Resources Ministry Maj Gen (Retd) Motiur Rahman yesterday told journalists that the government would face huge difficulties due to the fresh flood, as the Government was yet to recover the losses caused by the previous flood.

Briefing journalists at his office the Adviser informed that India had cautioned Bangladesh about the severity of the fresh spell of flood.

According to sources, previously flood had occurred only in the rivers of the Brahmaputra basin; but this time, all the major rivers of Brahmaputra, Ganges, Meghna and Hill basins continued to swell due to heavy rains and onrush of waters from across the border for the last few days.

Waters in all the rivers are increasing simultaneously, while onrush of waters from across the border was threatening flood protection dams, bridges and culverts, he said.

Motiur Rahman said the safety fuse of the Teesta Barrage has been washed away by strong currents of the fresh flood. The flood has caused huge damages over large area of the Teesta basin, resulting in the destruction of huge quantity of crops, houses and washing away of hatcheries in the affected areas, he added.

He informed that the pressure of water at Kaptai Dam was so strong that all the 16 sluice gates of the dam had to be opened to avoid damages to the country's only hydroelectric power plant

Floodwater has been entering Bangladesh through the Brahmaputra, Ganges, Surma and Kushiara rivers, he said.

The flood situation in Sirajganj was worse than the previous time, he said.

Motiur Rahman said floodwater could not recede due to the rise in the sea level.

Replying to a question, he said there was no lack of coordination among the ministries concerned to deal with the flood situation.

He hoped that Bangladesh would be able to face the deluge utilizing its past experiences.

Water Secretary Syed Mohammad Zobaer told journalists that the flood situation would worsen if the situation in India deteriorates.

He said the flood situation has been worsening due to onrush of water from India and continuous rainfall across the country.

Director General of Water Development Board Mojaddad Al Faruq said the country incurred a loss of over Tk 551 crore due to damages to the dams and embankments by the previous flood. The fresh flood would increase the amount, he apprehended.