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The water level of the Teesta River receded below the danger mark in Lalmonirhat on Friday after crossing it overnight due to heavy upstream runoff and persistent rainfall. However, authorities warned that the threat of short-term flooding in low-lying areas remains.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has kept all 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage open to regulate the rising flow as concerns persist over possible flooding in char (sandbar) and riverbank areas.
At 6 pm on Friday, the Teesta was flowing 16 centimetres below the danger level at Dalia Point of the Teesta Barrage, the country’s largest irrigation project.
Just a day earlier, at 9 pm on Thursday, the river had risen to 3 centimetres above the danger level.
According to BWDB officials, the river witnessed a sharp rise over the previous 24 hours. At 6 am on Thursday, the water level was 21 centimetres below the danger mark before climbing steadily throughout the day. By 6 pm, it had reached 1 centimetre below the danger level before exceeding it later that night.
The sudden rise and fall in the river’s water level has heightened concerns among farmers about potential damage to standing crops in low-lying areas.
“We are still staying in our homes, but if the water rises further, we may have to move to safer places,” said Ripon Mia, a farmer from Gobardhan area in Aditmari upazila.
“Although there has been little rainfall during the day, it has been raining almost every night, and upstream hill runoff continues to swell the river,” he added.
Sunil Kumar Roy, Executive Engineer of the Lalmonirhat Water Development Board, said heavy rainfall both upstream and within Bangladesh had caused the rapid rise in the river’s water level.
“All 44 sluice gates of the Teesta Barrage have been opened to help regulate the flow,” he said, adding that officials are closely monitoring the situation and have advised people living in riverbank and char areas to remain vigilant.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), the Teesta’s water level may rise again over the next 24 to 48 hours, potentially causing temporary flooding in low-lying and char areas of Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Kurigram districts.
Local administrations have also been placed on alert and are closely monitoring the evolving flood situation.