Lalmonirhat, Sept. 15 -- Authorities have opened all 44 sluicegates of the Teesta Barrage to control the swelling river as heavy rainfall and upstream onrush of water pushed its level above the danger mark.

At 6am on Monday, the water level at Dalia Point in Hatibandha upazila was recorded at 52.18 cm, which is three cm above the danger level, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

It warned that Teesta water may continue to rise over the next 24 hours threatening to inundate low-lying and char areas of Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Gaibandha districts.

Several char and low-lying areas in Patgram, Hatibandha, Kaliganj, Aditmari and Sadar upazilas of Lalmonirhat have already been affected.

Water ...