Flash Flood Alert Issued for Northern and North-Eastern Districts Over Next 72 Hours

DHAKA — Low-lying areas across northern and north-eastern Bangladesh face the risk of temporary inundation as major rivers are projected to rise rapidly following heavy upstream rainfall over the next 72 hours, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) cautioned in a bulletin on Sunday.

According to the FFWC forecast, short-term flooding may affect five northern districts—Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha—where water levels in the Teesta and Dudhkumar rivers are expected to cross danger marks at several points within the next three days.

Affected River Basins and Regions

The water resources authority warned that riverfront lowlands in several districts across two key geographical zones are vulnerable to temporary flooding:

• Northern Districts: Rising levels in the Dharla River could touch alert thresholds, swelling into low-lying lands across Lalmonirhat and Kurigram.

• Surma-Kushiara Basin: Riverbank areas in Sylhet and Sunamganj face inundation risks as water levels rise over the three-day period.

• Someshwari-Bhugai-Kangsha Basin: Low-lying sections in Sherpur, Mymensingh, and Netrokona are vulnerable to localized flooding.

Currently, only the Kushiara River is flowing above its designated danger level at the Fenchuganj station in Sylhet, where flood conditions are expected to remain relatively stable.

Weather Outlook and Heavy Rainfall Risks

Meteorological forecasts indicate moderate to heavy—and at times very heavy—rainfall over the Sylhet and Rangpur divisions and adjacent upstream hilly regions over the next 48 hours. By the third day, intense precipitation is projected to concentrate over Rangpur division and upper catchment zones, accelerating run-off into regional river systems.

With the Surma and Kushiara rivers continually rising over the last 24 hours, local authorities and communities in riverbank areas have been advised to monitor water level updates as proctorial and relief preparations take shape across vulnerable districts.