Dhaka: Although the overall flood situation started improving in the country's northern region, the crisis of food and drinking water has turned acute in the affected areas, taking the death toll from the flood across the country to 47.

According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, the water level of all the major rivers in the region decreased although some of them were still flowing above the danger level.

The water level of the Dharla River fell by 5cm at Kurigram point and it was flowing 49cm above the red mark at 3pm while the Teesta was flowing 60 and 121cm below the danger level at Dalia and Kaunia points shedding 6cm and 10cm respectively.

The Brahmaputra was still 59cm above the red level at Chilmari point although the water level fell by 5cm while the Jamuan was flowing 118cm, 119cm 150cm and 150cm above the danger level at Bahadurbad, Sariakandi, Kazipur and Sirajganj points marking a decrease by 3cm, 3cm, 4cm and 2cm respectively.

The Atrai River was flowing 102cm above the danger level at Baghabari point marking a rise by 3cm.

Meanwhile, the rivers of the country's middle region, including Dhaka and Manikganj, started swelling as the receding waters from the northern region were entering those.

The Jamuna River was flowing 72cm above the red mark at Aricha at 3pm while the water level of the Buriganga rose by 5cm in Dhaka although it was flowing 120cam below the red mark.

The Padma water was passing 99cm above the danger level at Goalanda increasing by 6cm while above 33cm at Bhagyakul. The water level of the mighty river increased 31cm at Sureswar point.

In Dinajpur, the bodies of three people who drowned in floodwater were recovered on Thursday with an improvement in the flood situation of the district.

The deceased are Atabur Rahman, 60, son of Asir Uddin of Namapara village in Parbatipur upazila, Mou, 60, daughter of Shahidul Islam of Badhpur village in Kaharole upazila, and Hasan Ali, 58, son of late Abul Ali of Banrampur village in Birganj upazila.

Water Development Board officer Mahbub Alam said three major rivers of the district -- Purnavaba, Isamati and Atrai - were now flowing below the danger level.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit flood-affected areas in the district and distribute relief materials among flood victims on Sunday.

In Jamalpur, the bodies of three people, including two schoolboys, who drowned in floodwater on Wednesday morning, were found at Bhaluka village in Melandah upazila today.

The deceased are Zillur Rahman, 15, son of Liakat Ali of Nagerpara, and Sajib, 15, son of Myna of the upazila, both Class-X students, and Lal Miah, son of Badsha Miah of Tentulia village in Jamalpur municipality.

Mazharul Karim, officer-in-charge of Melandah Police Station, said Zillur and Sajib were taking a group selfie standing by floodwater in the area around 11:30 am on Tuesday. At one stage, they slipped into the water and drowned. Pedestrian Lal Miah also drowned as he tried to rescue the schoolboys.

In Sirajganj, two children - Nirob, 6, son of Abdul Awal of Naggati village, and Hazrat Ali, 8, son of Zahurul Islam of Boura village in Belkuchu upazila - drowned in floodwater on Thursday while the body of Fahim Hossain, 2, son of Alamin Hossain of Bakua village in Ullapara who went missing in floodwater on Wednesday was recovered today.

Meanwhile, although the water level of the Jamuna did not increase, the low-lying areas in Shahjadpur upazila were inundated as gushing water entered those through a damaged dam in Gopalpur.

Besides, there was an acute shortage of food, drinking water and fuel in many areas of five upazilas - Shahjadpur, Chouhali, Belkuchi, Kazipur and Sadar.

The food victims, especially in remote char areas, were passing their days amid misery for lack of relief materials.

In Lalmonirhat, the flood-affected people who left their houses due to inundation started returning home at many places as the flood water is receding.

However, the flood victims living in the Teesta and Dharla chars were passing their days in great misery for lack of food, drinking water and shelter.

The government relief materials are not enough in many areas while those were yet to reach many other affected areas, alleged the victims.

Local office of the Department of Agricultural Extension said a total of 31,134 hectares of Aman paddy field and 265 hectares of vegetable fields were damaged by the flood in the district.

Meanwhile, the 2nd term examination of 325 primary schools was suspended due to flood.

District Primary Education Officer Nabez Uddin Sarkar said they put on hold the examination as most of the schools were inundated in five upazilas of the district and many people who were displaced by the flood were yet to return home.

Meanwhile, a vast area in Sadar upazila of Naogaon was inundated in the morning as an embankment along the Jamuna River broke down at Iktara in the morning.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh, Fire Service and police along with locals were trying to repair the dam.

In Joypurhat, the floodwater started receding from the affected areas in the district.

However, a 20-metre portion of the flood control embankment along the Tulshiganga River in Akkekpur upazila gave in on Wednesday night.

Locals were trying to repair the damaged dam with sacks of soil.

In Manikganj, the flood situation worsened as the rivers in the district continued to swell, inundating fresh areas.

Thousands of people in 30 unions of five upazilas - Shibalaya, Harirampur, Ghior, Saturia and Daulatpur - were left marooned.

Besides, the water entered the upazila parishad premises of Harirampur, disrupting road communication of the upazila with other parts of the district.

In Faridpur, around 100 villages in the low-lying areas of three upazilas - Sadar, Charbhadrasan and Sadarpur -- were flooded due to the onrush of water from the upstream, leaving over 1 lakh people marooned.

Jahirul Islam, deputy assistant engineer of Water Development Board of the district, said the Padma was flowing 99cm above the danger level at Goalanda point.

Goaldangi road in North Channel union and Mohammadpur road in Charmadhobdia, the only road connecting the unions, were submerged by floodwater, snapping the road communication with the district town.

Executive Magistrate Parvez Mollik said some 29 schools in low-lying areas of the district remained closed as floodwater entered those.

In Tangail, over 1 lakh people remained trapped in floodwater at Bhuapur, Gopalpur, Kalihati, Nagarpur and Sadar upazilas.

Vast tracts of paddy fields also went under water in the district.

Academic activities of 200 educational institutions were suspended while affected people were living in a miserable condition without food, water and sanitation.

Deputy Commissioner Khan Md Amin said they were trying to send relief materials in flood-affected areas.

He also said they began the repair work on the risky embankments.
 In Khulna, several rivers including Rupsa, were flowing above red mark and the water level may swell more by Monday next, said local WDB officials.

They feared that the low-lying areas might be inundated in ebb tide coupled with a rise in the water level of the rivers.