North-eastern rivers have started to fall after being in spate following heavy rain during the past few days, inundating thousands of acres of Boro rice fields in the haors (wetlands) of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Maulavibazar, Habiganj and Netrokona, report sources..
This usually happens in the pre-monsoon month of May after the rice fields are harvested. Instead of coming as a boon, the waters not only filled the wetlands, but also flooded the rice fields.
It rained for nearly a week, ranging from heavy to very heavy. As a result, the soil beneath a rail bridge at Srimangal caved in on Wednesday, forcing suspension of train services.
Farmers of Sunamganj were the worst affected. Embankments were washed away and crops in 110,000 hectares were damaged in 30 haors, despite local people's efforts to protect their crops.
Reports said people of Maulavibazar saved the flood barriers on the Kushiara river on their own, without any support from any source.
Sources at the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) said yesterday (Friday) that the main rivers in the region—the Surma, Kushiara, Manu and Khowai—have started to recede since Wednesday.
Rain is unlikely, barring one or two places, in all the divisions except Barisal today (Saturday), the Met Office said.
There was scanty rainfall yesterday, barring one mm in Rangpur. The weather was bone dry elsewhere. The cloud cover earlier in the day provided some relief, but later the scorching sun blazed down with all its might.
The FFWC reported that all rivers, except the Jamuna, which rose following the rain upstream, have started to recede.
The upstream rivers, including the Barak, the source of the Surma-Kushiara, have also started to fall. This promises respite for the people of the north-eastern region, who may now heave a sigh of relief.
During the next five days, rainfall will be light and scanty. Day and night temperatures are likely to rise. After more than normal showers in March, there may be a little above average rainfall in April.