Rivers keep swelling in Sunamganj, tourists advised not to travel

Sunamganj district administration advised tourists to avoid travelling to the district as all major rivers of the North-Eastern region started to swell due to heavy rainfall for the last few days coupled with an onrush of water from upstream.  

The traffic on the Sunamganj-Tahirpur road has become unsafe as various points of the road went under knee-deep water due to the overflow of the Surma River. The direct road connection has already stopped.

In an emergency meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee last Sunday, Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Didare Alam Mohammad Maksud Chowdhury said, "Currently low-lying areas of the district have been inundated due to the onrush of hill water from Meghalaya and the swelling of rivers caused by torrential rains. There is a forecast for more rain in the next 48 hours.

"We discourage tourists from coming amid such conditions. If the situation worsens, tourist arrivals will be banned," he said.

Executive Engineer of Sunamganj Water Development Board Mamun Howladar said the water of the Surma River is flowing 19 cm above the danger level at Sholgarh point of the district town. The river is flowing 133 cm above the danger level in Chhatak upazila, inundating the low-lying areas. Besides, Jadukata, Boulai, and other rivers continue to swell.

Abu Jahan Talukder, a resident near Tanguar Haor, said the tourism season has just started with the hope of a monsoon. Tourists from home and abroad are expected to arrive at various tourist spots including Tanguar Haor, Shaheed Siraj Lake, and Barrica Tila. However, the upcoming flood dashed all hopes.

Several parts of the Sunamganj-Tahirpur road were submerged, causing disruption in traffic movement. People are seen crossing these roads by boat.

Jamuna devours 50 establishments, including a school

Erosion by the Jamuna River in Sirajganj's Belkuchi upazila has turned severe over the last few days which has resulted in the destruction of over 50 establishments including Khidrchapari Government Primary School in the area.

Local residents are attributing the calamity to negligence and the illegal extraction of sand near the project area for the construction of a permanent dam, reports UNB.

A Tk95 crore project was taken to construct a dam from Mehernagar in Belkuchi upazila to Enayatpur spur dam in Chauhali upazila for protecting the area from river banks erosion.

They alleged that the establishments went into the river's gorge as geo bags remained suspended over the past few days due to rising water levels in the Jamuna River.

Farid Ahmed Nayan, acting headmaster of Khidrchapari Government Primary School, said, "Established in 1940, it currently has 142 students. The academic building and shelter centre were constructed in 2008."

He said, "This year, prior to the monsoon, the school building was at risk of collapsing. Despite multiple appeals to various departments to take preventive measures, no action was taken. We have no place left to accommodate our students."