Habib Sarwar Azad, Sunamganj

Continuous heavy rainfall coupled with onrushing upstream water from the Meghalaya hills in India has triggered a second wave of flooding in Sunamganj’s haor regions and border areas.

Local residents in district headquarters, Tahirpur, and surrounding areas reported worsening conditions throughout Monday as water levels in transboundary rivers and hill streams surged.

According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), heavy downpours in Cherrapunji and upper catchments have significantly increased water flow in rivers such as the Jadukata, Patlai, Bagli Chhara, and Kalagaon Chhara in Tahirpur, the Naljur and Kushiyara in Jagannathpur, and the Chela and Khashiamara in Doarabazar.

Water levels at the Sholaghar point along the Surma River in Sunamganj town reached 7.53 meters by 3:00 PM on Monday, marking an increase of 22 centimeters over a six-hour period. Rainfall recorded over the 24 hours leading up to Monday morning reached 110 millimeters. The district's highest seasonal rainfall occurred earlier on July 7, measuring 265 millimeters.

Critical danger marks have been breached in multiple upazilas. Near Chhatak upazila, the Surma River was flowing 20 centimeters above the danger level, registering at 8.90 meters against a danger mark of 8.70 meters by Monday afternoon. Similarly, the Kushiyara River at Markuli in Dirai upazila crossed the danger threshold by 3 centimeters, reaching 7.8 meters.

In border tracts such as Laurgarh, Chandpur, Barchhara, Charagaon, Kalagaon, and Bagli in Tahirpur upazila, sudden flash floods inundated rural roads and washed away homes and market stalls starting late Sunday night. Residents in Doarabazar's Bangla Bazar area reported similar disruptions, with overflowing waters from the Khashiamara, Maula, and Chela rivers submerging low-lying roadways and causing severe public suffering.

Mamun Howlader, Executive Engineer of the Sunamganj Water Development Board, stated that while water levels are expected to rise further due to ongoing rain, a major statewide flood is not currently anticipated, though localized rivers like the Jadukata may temporarily exceed danger limits.

In response to the developing situation, Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Minhajur Rahman assured that the district administration is closely monitoring conditions. A total of 1,311 educational institutions have been prepared as emergency shelters, alongside adequate water vessels, rescue volunteers, and 1,056 medical teams.

The district administration has also dispatched 1,200 packets of dry rations and General Relief (GR) rice across all 12 upazilas, with additional relief supplies kept in reserve. Control rooms remain active, and special safety guidelines are in place for tourists visiting local haor areas.