The flooded eastern and central Dhaka saw further recession of waters yesterday and the trend may continue for the next 72 hours.

"At the rate of recession till yesterday, water levels of the three rivers (Shitalakhya, Balu and Meghna) are unlikely to recede below the danger level in another week," said Selim Bhuiyan, executive engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC).

Meteorological department forecast rains in the second week of this month, raising fears of deterioration of the flood situation in Dhaka if waters do not recede quickly now.

Yesterday, the Shitalakhya was flowing 89cm above the danger level, Balu 167cm and Meghna 54cm.

The FFWC however said although the other rivers around Dhaka were still flowing above the red mark, their quick recession indicated water levels would fall below the red mark in the next few days.

The Buriganga was flowing 23 cm above the red mark yesterday, Turag 81 cm and Dhaleswari 17 cm.

"We cannot say now if the flood situation will deteriorate or not as the strength of monsoon is still unclear," said Bhuiyan. A 'substantive forecast' is likely to be made around August 10, he added.

"Usually floods occur in Bangladesh during August and September as monsoon rains are at their peak," Bhuiyan said.

Diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases are spreading fast in many of the flood-hit city areas. Mosquito menace has also posed serious health hazards and cases of dengue fever are on the rise.