The opening of the Farakka Barrage gates in the Padma basin is not affecting the ongoing flood situation as the water level in the catchment has increased very little, according to the officials at Bangladesh Water Development Board.

The agency responsible for the flood control, drainage and irrigation urged people not to panic as there is no possibility of flooding in the areas along the mighty river.

Sarder Udoy Raihan, executive engineer at WDB’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, said: “India’s Ganges basin upstream of the Padma River in Bangladesh is experiencing normal rainfall. Even if the water rises, it will not exceed the danger mark in the next five days.

“There is no risk of flooding in the areas along the Padma River at this time. The flood situation in India's Tripura and Bangladesh's Cumilla and Feni is also unlikely to deteriorate.”

According to the bulletin issued by the FFWC, the water level on the Bangladesh part of the Padma adjacent to the Farakka Barrage was 1.5 metres below the danger mark at 11am on Tuesday.

However, the water is swelling by several centimetres every day, halting further escalation of water exceeding the danger level in the next five days.

The flood forecasting centre observed that the river water is increasing at 24 points and decreasing at 88 points among 116 stations in Bangladesh. The Kushiyara, the Gomti and the Matamuhuri rivers are flowing above the danger level. However, the waters are receding in these rivers as well.

WDB’s North Zone Additional Chief Engineer Md Enayet Ullah said, “The gates of the Farakka Barrage remain open in the monsoon. Under its influence, the normal flooding we are seeing will continue. No need to worry about that.

Illustrating his rationale to support the argument in a televised interview on Tuesday, Enayet said the water level was 16.2 cm at Boalia gauging station in Rajshahi’s Rampura on Aug 23 within the past five days. It rose to 16.4 cm the next day. It was stable on Aug 25 and rose to 16.27 cm yesterday [Monday].

“The water level was 16.30 cm on Tuesday morning. That means it’s increasing gradually but the rate is very little. According to our forecast, it could reach 16.38 cm by Aug 31 which means the water can swell by 8 cm in the next five days.”

“By analysing the previous data and warnings issued by the FFWC, we have realised that there will be no unusual flood in Bangladesh. There's nothing to be afraid of," he said, advising not to panic.

He said, “If the gates were opened after closure, the water level is supposed to rise at an unusual rate, but this is not happening.

“The truth is that the gates remain open during the monsoon. It is a barrage. The maximum water that can be taken through the diversion channel is 40,000 cusecs. They [India] cannot take more water than this. So whatever water comes to Farakka point, they will take a maximum of 40,000 cusecs and release the rest. That's what always happens."

LATEST FLOOD SITUATION

The water level of major rivers in the country’s northeastern, eastern and southeastern regions continues to decrease.

However, the Gomti River in Cumilla is flowing 5 cm above the danger point.

>> 12 stations are below the danger line such as the Muhuri River’s Porsuram point; the Kushiyara’s Amalshid, Sherpur-Sylhet, and Markuli points, the Manu’s Manu Railway Bridge and Moulvibazar points, the Khoai’s Habiganj and Ballah points, the Gomti’s Debidwar and the Halda’s Narayanhat and Panch Pukuria points.

>> No significant rain in the country’s upstream over the past nine hours.

>> Significant rain over the past nine hours: 31.0mm in Barguna’s Amtali, 21mm in Chattogram’s Satkania, 26mm in Bandarban’s Lama, 16mm in Pirojpur’s Nazirpur, 13mm in Kushtia and 12mm in Satkhira’s Assasuni.

>> In the past three hours, the water level of the Ganges River remained unchanged at the Farakka point (22.76 metres) upstream and the Pankha point (20.55 metres) inland. Normal flow of the Ganges is prevailing which is likely to persist for the next 48 hours.

Citing the FFWC, Ministry of Water Resources Secretary Nazmul Ahsan said no significant rainfall was observed in eastern Cumilla, Brahmanbaria and Feni districts bordering Tripura and inland basins of Tripura province and water levels in upstream rivers continued to recede. As a result, the current flood situation in the eastern districts continues to improve.

The river waters in the Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts are flowing below the danger level. According to the data of meteorological agencies, there is no possibility of heavy rainfall in the northeastern region of Bangladesh and adjoining upstreams in the next 48 hours.

At this time, the water level of the rivers of Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts in the northeastern region is likely to decrease.

According to the reports by Met agencies, there is no possibility of heavy rainfall in the eastern part of the country and adjacent upstreams in the next 24 hours. At this time, the water level of the Gomti River in Cumilla and the Muhuri River in Feni may decrease. As a result, the flood situation in the low-lying parts of Cumilla is expected to improve.

The FFWC also issued no warning of heavy rainfall in the south-eastern region of the country and adjacent upstreams in the next 24 hours. At this time, the water level of the Sangu, the Matamuhuri, the Karnaphuli, the Halda and other major rivers in Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Cox's Bazar and Chittagong may decrease.

A well-marked depression is located in the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining the southern part of Bangladesh. Due to this, moderate to heavy rainfall may occur in the country’s south and southwestern parts in the next 24 hours, which may increase the water level of the main rivers in the region.

The water level of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Surma-Kushiyara rivers in the country’s northeastern part is receding, the water level of the Ganges-Padma river is stable, the normal flow of Teesta-Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers in the northern region is prevailing, which may continue until the next 48 hours.