US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3247

UNCLAS DHAKA 003247 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
DCHA/OFDA FOR ROBERT THAYER 
AID/W FOR CHRIS LA FARGUE, ANE/SAA (A) DESK OFFICER 
STATE/W FOR SA/PB 
DCHA/FFP FOR MATTHEW NIMS AND LAUREN LANDIS 
ROME FOR FODAG 
BANGKOK FOR TOM DOLAN 
KATHMANDU FOR BILL BERGER, REBECCA SCHEURER 
 
E.O. 12958 
TAGS: EAID, BG, IT, TH, NP, IN 
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH 2005 FLOOD CONDITION REPORT NO. 1 
 
1.  Summary.  July and August are peak monsoon months 
in Bangladesh.  The monsoon was moderately active 
during the first week of July.  Currently there is no 
flooding in the country and the last five days have 
passed without measurable rainfall.  All the rivers in 
the four river basins of Bangladesh were flowing below 
their respective danger levels as of July 9, 2005.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.  Rainfall. According to the GOB Flood Forecasting 
and Warning Center (FFWC) only light to moderate 
localized rainfall was recorded during the past three 
days over the Ganges, the Meghna, and the South Eastern 
Hill basins. Rainfall was insignificant in the same 
period in the Brahmaputra basin. 
 
3.  General Rivers Condition.  Yesterday, the FFWC 
water level monitoring stations' records, available 
from 76 reporting stations (out of the total 86 
stations), indicated 32 stations rising, 42 stations 
falling and 2 stations remaining steady during the last 
24 hours.  The Brahmaputra-Jamuna started falling at 
upstream points while the Ganges-Padma continued 
further rise at all but Bagyakul (near the Munshiganj 
district) points.  The rivers in the Meghna basin 
continued further rise at 7 points and started falling 
in the remaining 8 points.  The rivers in the South 
Eastern Hill basin registered falling levels at all 
points. 
 
4.  Rainfall/Flood Prediction.  Rainfall predictions by 
the Bangladesh Meteorological Department are normal for 
the next two weeks of July and above normal during the 
end of July and first half of August.  A heavier 
monsoon at the end of July is likely to cause moderate 
flooding in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Meghna 
basins. 
 
5.  Mission Strategy.  The Mission continues to closely 
monitor the monsoon condition through its NGO partners 
and the Disaster Emergency Response local consultative 
sub-group, consisting of BDG, donors and implementing 
partner representatives. 
 
CHAMMAS