Rising river levels in northern Bangladesh are threatening floods across multiple districts. According to the Water Development Board (WDB), at least 140 river islands and riverside villages across 33 unions in 13 upazilas of Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Rangpur, Gaibandha, and Nilphamari have already been inundated as the Teesta River flows above its danger level.

The Dudhkumar and Dharla rivers are also rising rapidly, though they remain below their respective danger marks.

At 9:00am today, water at the Teesta Barrage in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat was measured at 52.22 metres, seven centimetres above the danger threshold. Meanwhile, the Brahmaputra River at Chilmari stood at 22.17 metres, 1.08 metres below danger level. The Dudhkumar River at Pateshwari in Nageshwari measured 29.08 metres, 52 cm below danger level, and the Dharla River at Bridge Point in Kurigram Sadar was 26.19 metres, 86 cm below the danger mark.

Teesta Barrage WDB Executive Engineer Amitav Chowdhury confirmed that all 44 gates have been opened since morning and warned that water levels could rise further due to ongoing upstream inflow. Lalmonirhat WDB Executive Engineer Shunil Kumar noted, “Low-lying areas and chars are already flooded. The situation is currently under control, but continued rainfall and upstream runoff could worsen conditions in the next two to three days.”

Kurigram WDB Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan added that the Brahmaputra, Dudhkumar, and Dharla rivers have risen by 40–45 centimetres over the past 12 hours.

Local residents are already feeling the impact. Mozmul Haque, a farmer from Char Gokunda in Lalmonirhat Sadar, said, “Water has entered all homes this morning, and many villagers have taken shelter on roads. Aman paddy fields are submerged. Rising water could lead to severe flooding.”

Kamal Hossain, from Char Bajra in Ulipur upazila, said, “Water entered our homes at dawn, and continuous rainfall has worsened our situation. We are struggling to safeguard our cattle.”

Nader Islam, a resident of Jatrapur in Kurigram Sadar, observed, “The Brahmaputra has risen sharply in the last 24 hours. It appears that floodwaters may arrive soon.”

Kurigram District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Abdul Matin assured that authorities are prepared, stating, “We have adequate relief supplies and are ready to respond to the flood situation.”