Syed Shahidul Islam, officer of Chapainawabganj Water Development Board, said the water level of the Padma River is about to reach its danger mark with 12cm and Mahanada 16cm rise in every three hours. The water flow of the Padma was increasing as India had opened the floodgates of Farakka Barrage, said Shahidul. On Tuesday, the Central Water Resour-ces Ministry of India directed to open 106 gates of the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal to relieve Bihar of monsoon flood. Padma, the main distributary of the Ganges, enters Bangladesh from India near Chapainawabganj and meets the Jamuna River in Goalonda, Rajbarhi. Bangladeshi experts and environmental activists have criticised the barrage, saying it affects biodiversity in Bangladesh by cutting off the water supply.

Source: Dhaka Tribune August 27, 2016 18:45 UTC