Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday inspected the flood situation in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and adjacent areas. The premier witnessed the flood situation for herself as the helicopter carrying her hovered over the affected areas maintaining the "low fly mode". Later, she landed at the Sylhet Osmani International Airport and then went to Sylhet Circuit house, where she  held a meeting with the divisional and district administration as well as local Awami League leaders. The authorities earlier called out army troops to cooperate the civil administration in evacuating people or reaching support to marooned people while navy and air force units subsequently were summoned particularly in northeastern Sylhet region as it now appeared as a sea. The government has allocated Taka 22.5 million cash, 400 metric tons of rice and 41,000 packets of dry and other foods as immediate humanitarian aid to deputy commissioners of flood-hit districts between 15 and 18 June, said a press release. Source: BSS AH

The flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts has worsened further because of constant heavy rain and onrush of water from the hills. At least 40 lakh people are marooned and 3 lakh are facing electricity outage in those districts, officials said. All the upazilas and half of Sylhet city, and all upazilas and municipalities of Sunamganj district, the Sylhet-Sunamganj highway and the Sylhet-Bholaganj Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman highway are already submerged. The Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in the next 48 hours. The power supply system has been cut off at Kumargaon station, one of the power substations of Sylhet, around 12pm today. The army, fire service and City Corporation started working jointly to keep the power center operational from Friday noon as the water level inside the station started to rise from Thursday night. A dam was built to protect the station but it eventually sank due to the rising water. Abdul Quader, chief engineer of the power sales and distribution department in Sylhet, said, "The sub-station has been shut down for the time being due to rising water... But we are trying to get it back on track as soon as possible." Palli Bidyut Samiti sources said, about three lakh customers in Sylhet and Sunamganj are facing power outage due to the flood. Due to shut-down of electricity in Sunamganj for the last two days, the mobile network system has also broken down. Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Chief Engineer, Power Development Board, Sylhet, said, "In many areas, power transmission lines and substations have sunk. Power supply to Sylhet and Sunamganj districts has been cut off as flood water entered the 132/33 KV grid substation in Kumargaon."   The power outage has soared the crisis of candles and kerosene in the areas without electricity. Prices have also gone up in many places. To rescue people trapped in flood-hit areas in Sylhet, 10 platoons of army and six medical teams have been working in Sylhet and Sunamganj from Friday afternoon. According to district administration sources, a 35-member naval team began rescue operations with one Coast Guard cruise and two Air Force helicopters this afternoon. Asked about the overall rescue operation, Sylhet Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Mojibur Rahman said, "Two teams from Sylhet Sadar Upazila are working in Jalalabad Union and Companiganj. A 60-member navy contingent and two more cruises are expected to join the rescue operations in Sylhet and Sunamganj." According to the Sylhet Disaster Management and Relief Branch, Taka 17.5 lakh and 7,900 sacks of dry food have been allocated for the flood victims. The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry has allocated another 8,000 packets of food and taka 30 lakh. Source: BSS AH

The flood situation has deteriorated in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts in the last 24 hours as the water level of all the major rivers of these districts have already crossed the danger level. Over 20 lakh people under 20 upazilas of the two districts have been marooned due to flood. Majibor Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet today confirmed that the flood situation has further worsened in the last 24 hours till Friday morning. Army has been deployed in the district for providing assistance and carrying relief materials to the flood affected people of the district, he added. Meanwhile, Sylhet city has already been inundated by the flood water due to continuous rainfall for the last four days. All the regional highways including Sylhet-Sunamganj and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib highway between Sylhet and Bholaganj have been submerged due to the deluge. Regional road connectivity has already been disrupted due to the intensity of flood water. The electricity supply to Sunamganj district and its adjacent areas has been disconnected to avoid accident as Chhatak and Sunamganj grid substations were inundated by flood. Regretting the temporary inconvenience incurred by people due to the natural disaster, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid wrote from his verified Facebook account that the electricity supply would be restored as soon as the flood situation improves. Source: BSS AH

A Bangladeshi youth was shot dead by members of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along Badaghata border in Tahirpur upazila in Sunamganj on Saturday.   The deceased was identified as Jewel Mia, 29, son of Afaz Uddin of Badaghat union in the upazila. Lt Col Md Maksudul Alam, commander, Border Guard Bangladesh-28, said Jewel was shot and wounded on Saturday afternoon when he entered 100-150 yards inside India by a boat. Jewel was taken to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital where he died at around 10pm, he said. Lt Col Maksudul said that Jewel was collecting floating wood from Jadukata River coming from the Indian side with upstream water. Source: UNB AH