Army Launches Flood Helpline for Sylhet, Sunamganj

Bangladesh Army has launched a toll-free helpline for the flood-hit people of Sunamganj and Sylhet, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate, reports UNB.

The helpline numbers are — 01769177266, 01769177267, 01769177268, 01852788000, 01852798800, 01852804477, 01987781144, 01993781144, 01995781144, 01513918096, 01513918097, 01513918098.

On Friday, the government deployed army personnel in Sylhet and Sunamganj to speed up flood rescue and relief operations, ISPR said.

Meanwhile, the sufferings of flood-hit people in Sylhet and Sunamganj have mounted with more and more areas going under water and suspension of power supply to the two districts.

The situation turned severe with rising water levels in major rivers due to onrush of hilly water from India.

The unprecedented flood inundated 80 per cent areas of Sylhet division and 90 per cent areas of Sunamganj, according to the Flood Forecast and Warning Centre.

Executive Engineer of Flood Forecast and Warning Centre Arifuzzaman Bhuiya said this is the first time that 80 per cent of Sylhet division went under water and the flood situation may turn worse further as the meteorologists predict heavy showers on Saturday and Sunday.

The low-lying areas in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts have also been flooded as major rivers keep rising.

In the wake of the worsening flood situation, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) on Saturday directed the authorities concerned to use all nearby educational institutions as temporary shelters in the flood-hit areas.