A devastating floods in Sylhet and Sunamganj inundated much of two northeastern districts leaving over 17 lakh people stranded and damaging standing crops and infrastructures. Residents and officials of local administrations told BSS that 17,57,222 people have been marooned in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts as this year's second spell of flood submerged vast swaths of the two district creating huge suffering of the people. Among the total people, who are marooned by flood water, 7.92 lakh people are in Sunamganj and 9.64 lakh people are in Sylhet, they added. Officials of Sylhet district administration said the first spell of flood affected thousands of people in 13 upazilas and municipalities of Sytlhet district in late May and the flash flood prolonged first week of the current months leaving a large number of people marooned. The authorities have set up 6,392 shelter centres after the second round of flood hit Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. As flood water started receding, people are going to home fr om shelter centres. The Sunamganj district administration sources said flood water submerged 11 upazilas and Sunamgaj municipality. Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Anwaruzzaman Choudhury said, "Volunteer teams of city corporation are working to extend assistances for flood-hit people. We have arranged adequate amount of food at shelter centres." A devastating flood, triggered by heavy rainfall and onrush water from hilly regions, have affected 20 lakh people in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, according to a statement of UNICEF issued today. The statement, signed by Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, read among 20 lakh flood affected people in two northeastern regions - Sylhet and Sunamganj - 7.72 lakh are children. The UNICEF called for emergency assistances for flood-hit children as they (children) are the venerable segment of the population in case of any natural disaster. Sheldon Yett said, "When flood waters are in rising trend, unsecured condition has created for children. They fac e different problems including drowning, malnutrition and various water-borne diseases." The UNICEF in cooperation with of Bangladesh government and other organization working at field level have distributed safe drinking water among one lakh flood-hit people in Sylhet and Sunamganj to reduce their suffering. Alongside distribution of drinking water, the UNICEF also distributed over 10 litre capacity 3000 water pots for the people in food-hit regions. According to the UNICEF statement, 810 primary schools in Sylhet Division have been submerged by flood water while 500 primary schools are used as shelter centre for flood-affected people. As many as 140 community clinics have been damaged by flood waters in the Sylhet region, it added. Water levels at 59 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 48 stations recorded fall. Among the 110 monitored river stations, two have been registered steady and water levels at seven river stations are flowing above the danger level, a bulletin issued by the FFWC said here today. The Teesta River is flowing at 15cm above danger level at Kaunia station while the Surma at Kanaighat, the Kushiyara at Amalsad, at Sherpur-Sylhet and at Markuli, the Old Surma at Derai and the Someshwari at Kalmakanda are flowing 35cm, 15cm, 18cm, 39cm, 23cm and 34cm are flowing respectively. The Ganges-Padma rivers are in rising trend, which may continue in the next 72 hours, the bulletin said, adding that the major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country are in falling trend which may continue in the next 72 hours. Overall improvement of the flood situation in various low-lying areas under districts of the North-eastern part of the country may continue in the next 72 hours. According to the information from meteorological organisations, low to medium rainfall in next 24 hours and medium to heavy rainfall in the next 48 to 72 hours is expected in the Northern and adjoining upstream parts of the country. As a result, the water level of Dudhkumar, Teesta and Dharla rivers in those regions may fall in the next 24 hours which may rise in particular time in the next 48 to 72 hours. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
National Chess Championship begins from tomorrow
SAIF POWERTEC 48th National Chess Championship begins from tomorrow (Sunday) at Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCF) hall-room of National Sports Council in the city. Top 14 chess players will participate in the 14-day meet, sponsored by the SAIF Powertec Limited and organised by BCF. In this regards, a press conference was held today (Saturday) at BCF office room to provide all the details of the meet. BCF vice-president KM Shahidullah, its general secretary Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim, chief arbiter Harun-Ur Rashid and officials of the BCF were also present in the press conference. In the conference, the organisers informed that the Bangladesh chess team would be formed from this tournament for the 45th Chess Olympiad which will be held in September in Budapest, Hungary. They said the competition would be held in a round robin league basis and the winners would be given cash prizes. Shahidullah said the country has over six hundred rating players at the moment which indicate a big progress in che ss and he hoped that the country's chess would make more progress in the future. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
Bangladesh storm into final in AHF Cup hockey
It was another good news for hockey as Bangladesh men's hockey team stormed into the final of Under-21 AHF Cup hockey beating Chinese Taipei by 5-1 goals in the semifinals held in Singapore on Saturday. Chinese Taipei took the lead early in the 5th minute but Bangladesh staged a brilliant fight back as Mohammad Joy restored the parity in the same minute Amirul Islam converted two penalty corners while Mohammad Abdullah scored two field goals as Bangladesh sealed their comfortable victory. Defending champions Bangladesh will play the final against the winners of the second semifinal between China and Thailand. The final will be held tomorrow (Sunday). Earlier, on the day, Bangladesh U-21 women's hockey team got the ticket of Women's Junior Asia Cup Hockey for the first time following their massive a 10-1 victory over Indonesia in the Women's Under-21 AHF Cup hokey. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
Abahani, Kings make winning start in BFF U-18 Football
Abahani Limited Dhaka and Bashundhara Kings got off a winning start in the BFF U-18 Football League that has begun from today (Saturday) at three separate venues in the city. At Bashundhara Kings Arena practice ground, Abahani Limited blanked Fortis Football Club by 2-0 goals in the inaugural match of the opening day with Dipu and Yeasin scored one goal each for the winners in the 11th and 63rd minutes respectively. Vice-President of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and Professional League Management Committee's Chairman Md. Imrul Hasan, its general secretary Imran Hossain Tushar and member Mohidur Rahman Miraj were present in the opening ceremony. At armed-police battalion field at Uttara, Bashundhara Kings defeated Rahmatganj Muslim and Friends Society by 2-1 goals. In the proceeding, Shofiq and Asad scored one goal each for Kings in the 45+3rd and 52nd minutes respectively while Delowar pulled one back for old Dhaka outfit Rahjmatganj in the 90+3rd minute of the match. At Mohammadpur's government physical education training ground, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club split point with Bangladesh Police Football Club when their match ended in a 1-1 goal draw. In the day's match, Zuhan put Police FC ahead in the 17th minute while Hridoy scored the equalizer for Sheikh Jamal in the 78th minute of the match. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
Bangladesh need 197 to beat India in T20 WC Super 8 clash
In a bid to stay alive for the semifinal race of T20 World Cup, Bangladesh were left to chase a huge total at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua today. India, the opponent of Bangladesh in their 'do or die' clash compiled 196-5 after being asked to bat first with Hardik Pandya leading the charge with 27 ball-50 not out. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma gave the side a fluent start before Shakib Al Hasan broke through with the wicket of India captain Rohit for his 50th wicket in T20 World Cup history. Having done so, he became the first bowler in the tournament's history to take 50 wickets. Rohit made 23 off 11 while Kohli gave the glimpse of returning back to form with 28 ball-37. Pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib removed Kohli and then took the prized scalp of Suryakumar Yadav for 6 to finish with 2-32. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain also took two wickets but conceded 43 runs in three overs. Rishab Pant made 34 while Shivam Dube scored 34 before Pandya finished the things off in style to help India edge closer to 200. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha