Vast swathes of coastal land in Khulna division have been flooded due to high tide and heavy rainfall, while rivers in the north saw a slight rise in water level yesterday.

However, people of southern districts in Barishal division heaved a sigh of relief as water levels of the rivers there started coming down yesterday noon.

"Major rivers of the upper Meghna basin in the north-eastern region are showing a rising trend, which may continue for the next 24 hours," said a bulletin of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre.

"The flood situation in low-lying areas of the south-western and south-central coastal regions may improve significantly over the next 24 hours," said the bulletin released at 9:00am yesterday.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rain is likely in most places of Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions today, Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions, the forecast said yesterday.

Meanwhile, water levels in many of the rivers in the Ganges basin in the northern region were recorded to be rising again yesterday due to an onrush of floodwater from upstream hilly catchment areas, reports BSS

Water levels increased at 16 points, receded at 13 points and remained stable at one point among the 30 river points monitored in the Ganges basin in 24 hours till 9:00am yesterday, the report said.

Our correspondents from different districts reported on their respective flood situations.

In Bagerhat, tidal water continues to enter the locality with heavy rainfall for the last five days. At least 1,500 families of ​​Sadar, Morelganj, Kachua, Rampal, Fakirhat, Chitalmari, Mollahat, Mongla and Sharankhola upazila are marooned.

Over 5,000 fish enclosures have washed away and 10,727 hectares of crops have been affected by the floods, said local agriculture and fisheries officers.

Tahidul, a resident of Chargram village of Sadar upazila, said water started entering their village after an embankment broke.

"My house, fish enclosure and pond have been submerged," he said.

In Satkhira, at least five unions of Ashashuni upazila have also been flooded after an embankment breach.

Locals said even cyclones Amphan, Bulbul or other major ones did not cause much damage to Pratapnagar union. "The whole union was submerged. As a result, communications with the union headquarters have been cut off."

Shahinur Rahman of the union said, "I have not seen such a horrible situation in the past 40 years. When the tides started flowing in the Kopotaksh and Kholpetua rivers, the water rushed through the broken embankment and swept everything away."

In Khulna, 10 villages in Koyra upazila were inundated leaving around 5,000 people affected. Eight points along the embankment were breached.

In Barishal division, water levels of different rivers have started coming down since yesterday noon.

"Water levels of different rivers in this region are falling. But some rivers are still flowing above danger level. However, I think those will come down too within two days," said Md Hasanuzzaman, executive engineer of Bhola's Water Development Board.

Mehendiganj upazila was the worst affected from overflowing rivers. A bridge, around 144 kms of unpaved roads and 44 kms of paved roads have been damaged, 15,000 hectares of agricultural land and 595 metric tons of fish have been washed away, while at least 50,000 people have been affected, locals said.

In Pirojpur, low-lying areas have been inundated due to tidal surges over the past few days. Fishes worth around Tk 6 crore have been washed away, said fisheries' officers.

In Jhalakathi, some 700 ponds and fish enclosures have been submerged due to high tide.

In Patuakhali, several thousand people in at least 50 villages remained marooned due to tidal surges, while at least 500 fish ponds in those areas have been submerged

In Sirajganj, floodwater is receding, but the risk of river erosion is intensifying.

About 50 metres of river banks along the flood protection embankment at the Dhekuria point near the Shahid M Mansur Ali Eco park in Kazipur upazila have eroded over the last couple of days.

In Manikganj, water level of the Jamuna has slightly increased during that period. But it was still flowing 27cm below danger level at Aricha point yesterday.

In Munshiganj, ferry services on Shimulia-Kathalbari route are being disrupted due to strong currents on the Padma and poor navigability, said officials concerned.

(Our Correspondents from Bagerhat, Barishal, Pirojpur, Manikganj and Munshiganj contributed to the report.)