Akhtar Hossain of the Flood Warning and Forecasting Centre speaks to the BBC

Most of the flooding has taken place in the south-eastern Comilla district where some 70,000 people have been evacuated to drier land. Many others are reported to be still stranded in their submerged homes.

Reports quote officials as saying more than 1,700 kms of roads and over 120,000 acres of rice paddies have been damaged in the district .

Meteorologists say 366 millimetres (over 14 inches) of rain fell in the northern areas of Bangladesh earlier this week, causing many of the country's rivers to overflow.

Earthquake strikes

To add to the misery, an earthquake struck Maheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal.

Reports said at least three people were killed, and hundreds injured when the quake struck at about 1700 local time.

Tremors were felt in Cox's Bazar, about 35 kilometres from the island.

More rain likely

The weather forecast over the next few days predicts more rain - and continued misery for people in the hundreds of affected villages.

"Water levels in all major rivers are rising with incessant rain falling all across the country," said Akhtar Hossain of Bangladesh's Flood Forecast and Warning Centre.

Villagers on a banana raft navigate flood waters

"It seems we are going to have another major flooding this month," he added.

Earlier this month, a breach in the overflowing Gomti river inundated homes in hundreds of villages in Comilla.

It is now being reported that cracks in the Gomti embankment have widened.

(Click here to see a map of the area)

"Water is still pouring through the broken sections of the 174 km (108 m) embankment and it looks impossible to seal the holes unless the water level in the Gomti drops sharply," an official told Reuters.

On Wednesday, Bangladesh Army Chief Lt-Gen Mustafizur Rahman visited the area where soldiers were trying to plug the gaps.

Relief Operations

With the prediction of more rain relief and medical supplies are being rushed to the area.

Flood affected girls return home after collecting drinking water

Volunteers are taking medicine, water purification tablets and food to people trapped in their homes or settled in relief camps.

Weather officials say the floods have worsened due to water rushing down from hills in neighbouring India.

Last year, devastating floods killed at least 1,200 people in Bangladesh and left millions homeless. The economic cost has been estimated at more than $1bn.

Floods in Bangladesh are common each year and caused by changing weather patterns and other environmental factors such as deforestation.

Parts of eastern India have also been similarly affected this year.

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