The flood situation in central districts including Manikganj, Rajbari and Faridpur on Thursday remained unchanged as the water level of the Jamuna, Atrai, Dhaleswari and Padma were again flowing over the danger marks in at least four points.

A Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre bulletin said that out of 101 observation points, water level in 34 points increased and water in 62 points decreased while it remained unchanged in 5 points.

The prolonged flood situation improved a little with water receding early this week when major rivers began to flow below the danger level.

It is feared that another wave of flooding may hit the  country next week due to heavy rainfalls upstream.

Water level of the Padma continued increasing while the Jamuna and Brahmaputra swelled in the last 24 hours and the trend would continue, said the forecast.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority on Thursday suspended movement of all small vessels including launches across the country in the coastal areas for an indefinite period due to inclement weather as the Met Office asked to maintain cautionary signal No 3 at all seaports.

All vessels —passenger-laden launches, speedboats and goods-laden vessels — under 65 feet would be under the suspension, said the transport authority public relations officer Mobarak Hossain Mazumder.

The suspension came into effect at about 4:00pm on Thursday for these vessels playing on inland waterways and at coastal areas, he said, adding that vessels above 65 feet would continue to run.

Big launches on routes like Dhaka-Barishal and Dhaka-Patuakhali and ferries on Shimulia-Kathalbari and Paturia-Daulatdia water channels would continue to run, he further clarified.

Mobarak also said that the suspension order would remain until further notice.

New Age correspondents in districts reported that people continued to suffer for flood as they remained marooned for a long time while communication got disrupted on Shimulia-Kathalbari and Dauladia-Paturia terminals and in other areas.

Movement of launch and speedboat between Shimulia and Kathalbari route remained suspended for high tide and bad weather in the River Padma, reported our Manikganj correspondent.

Shimulia ferry terminal marine manager Mohammad Ali said that signal No 1 declared on the river route.

For high tide and the increase of water level in the Padma, launch and speedboat movement remained suspended on the river route while ferries were taking a long time to cross the river, reported New Age correspondent in Manikganj.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority assistant director (traffic) Faridur Rahman said that due to rise in water level and high tide movement of vessels became risky in the river.

Witnesses said that hundreds of vehicles including buses and trucks waited for ferry to cross the river since morning.

Our correspondent in Barishal reported that the flood situation worsened in the district as major rivers in southern Barishal region have overflowed, crossing danger level and flooding the lowlands, habitats, crop fields, shelters of domestic animals.

Bangladesh Water Development Board officials in Barishal confirmed that the water levels have been increasing since the last 72 hours due to huge rainfall in this region.

Local weather office sources said that in the last 24-hours more than 32 millimeters rain fall was recorded till 3:00pm on Thursday.

The BWDB said that the major rivers under Barishal division including Kirtankhola river in Barishal city, Meghna, Kalabadar, Arial Kha, Maskata, Burishawr in different points of Barishal, Patuakhali and Bhola, Meghna in Daulatkhan of Bhola, Payra in Mirjaganj of Patuakhali, Bishkhali in Jhalakathi and Barguna and Kacha, Baleshwar in Pirojpur already flowing from  four to 68 centimeters above the danger level.

Total 16 out of 17 unions in Mehendiganj upazila of Barisal district have been submerged, confirmed Pijush Chandra Dey, Mehendiganj Upazila nirbahi officer.

Met Office said that attraction of full and new moon is only deteriorating the situation.

Agriculture minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Wednesday said that the ongoing flooding caused extensive damages to crops, including aman, aush, jute and many vegetables, worth about Tk 13.23 billion of over 1.2 million farmers in 37 districts between June 25 and August 12.

He said that the flood inundated 2, 57,148 hectares of cropland and damaged over two dozen crops on 1,58,814 hectares of the inundated lands.

The minister said that the government had taken agro-rehabilitation programme worth Tk 17.54 crore to help 2, 39,631 farmers grow vegetables with free seeds.