Rising River Levels in Moulvibazar Spark Fresh Fears of Flooding
Moulvibazar, a district known for its rivers and wetlands, is once again under the shadow of possible flooding as water levels in its rivers, canals, and haors continue to rise. This sudden surge comes after three consecutive days of heavy rainfall, combined with upstream runoff from the hills, which has pushed the region’s water bodies to alarming levels.
Among the four major rivers flowing through the district—Manu, Dhalai, Kushiara, and Juri—water levels have noticeably increased. According to data from the Water Development Board, the Juri River is now flowing a staggering 102 centimeters above the danger mark. The Manu River, at its Chandnighat point, has crossed the danger level by 15 centimeters. Meanwhile, the Dhalai River is showing a reading of 250 centimeters at the railway bridge point. Only the Kushiara River, at the Sherpur station, remains just below the danger mark for now.
Locals, however, remain deeply concerned. Many point to the river embankments damaged in previous floods, which, they claim, have not yet been fully repaired. Their worry is that if the rains persist and the rivers keep swelling, the area could face another bout of serious flooding in the current monsoon season.
Khaled Bin Walid, the executive engineer of the Moulvibazar office of the Water Development Board, confirmed that water levels are indeed rising in the rivers. However, he urged residents not to panic, assuring them that the situation is being closely monitored around the clock. He added that if the rain stops soon, the excess water is expected to recede quickly.
Despite such assurances, the combination of rising rivers and incomplete embankment repairs continues to stir anxiety across the district, where memories of past floods still linger.
