Heavy rain paralyses Chattogram, disrupts port, flight operations

Residents are facing severe hardship as three consecutive days of heavy rainfall have inundated large parts of Chattogram, leaving roads submerged, disrupting transport and port operations and prompting fresh fears of landslides. 

The Patenga met office recorded 330.58mm of rainfall in the 24 hours to 9am today (7 July), triggered by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. It advised Chattogram Port to keep Local Cautionary Signal No 3 hoisted. 

Weather forecaster Biswajit Chowdhury said the rainfall is likely to continue for the next five days. 

Low-lying areas of the city went underwater, with rainwater entering homes, educational institutions and business establishments. 

Office-goers, students, patients and other commuters faced hardship as transport shortages and traffic gridlock brought civic life almost to a standstill. 

The worst-affected areas included Muradpur, Bahaddarhat, Gate No 2, Wasa Circle, Halishahar, Patenga, Chandgaon, Bakalia, Chawkbazar, Kapasgola, Katalganj, Rahmatganj, Shulkabahar, Agrabad and Hamjarbagh. 

Flooding worsened after tidal water entered several neighbourhoods, including Halishahar, Agrabad, Kattali, Bandartila, Goshaildanga, Saltgola Crossing, Chaktai, Khatunganj, Patenga and Bandar. 

Photo: TBS

Chattogram City Corporation faces backlash

The situation triggered widespread criticism after Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) claimed in a Facebook post yesterday that "due to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's monitoring, Chattogram did not experience any significant waterlogging despite two consecutive days of rainfall." 

Many locals said the claim does not reflect the situation on the ground.

Hamjarbagh resident Zahid Islam said, "Even a small amount of rain causes water to accumulate on the roads and the ground floor of our homes. This is nothing new."

Hefazutul Islam, an office worker from Bahaddarhat, said, "It is extremely difficult to find a rickshaw when the roads are knee-deep in water, and those that are available are charging double the usual fare. Escaping waterlogging now feels like a matter of luck."

The city corporation's post also drew criticism on social media.

One Facebook user, Mohammad Rafi, wrote, "Because the canal excavation work remains unfinished, water has inundated the Kazirhat and Kaptai Road junction areas. 

"I am posting this comment while still sitting in floodwater. Please complete the canal work as soon as possible."

Residents said that despite several drainage and flood mitigation projects implemented over the years, many parts of Chattogram continue to suffer severe waterlogging during heavy rainfall and high tide, causing the same disruption every monsoon.

Port, flights

Heavy rain and rough seas also disrupted operations at Chattogram Port. 

Cargo handling from 43 vessels at the outer anchorage was suspended due to rough sea conditions, although container handling at the port's terminals continues, said Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Refayet Hamim.

"We are maintaining close communication with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Once the warning signal is lowered below Signal No 3, port operations will gradually return to normal," he added. 

"We are maintaining close communication with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Once the warning signal is lowered below Signal No. 3, port operations will gradually return to normal," he said.

Adverse weather at Chattogram's Shah Amanat International Airport disrupted flight operations, forcing two international flights to divert to Dhaka while a domestic Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight returned to the capital after an unsuccessful landing attempt.

Airport authorities said US-Bangla Airlines flight BS350 from Abu Dhabi and Air Arabia flight G9-526 from Sharjah were both diverted to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after they were unable to land safely in Chattogram due to poor weather.

Meanwhile, Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG121, operating from Dhaka to Chattogram, turned back and returned to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after failing to land because of the adverse conditions.

Nearly all arriving and departing flights at the airport today are experiencing delays of between 30 minutes and one hour, officials said. 

Risk of landslides 

The district administration said around 6,555 people living on 26 vulnerable hill slopes have been asked to evacuate as the risk of landslides increased amid the continued rainfall. 

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah said 30 families have already been relocated from high-risk hill slopes. 

"We have provided them food and are continuing announcements by loudspeaker, asking people to move to safe shelters to avoid any casualties," he added. 

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said rainfall is likely to continue across the Chattogram region under the influence of the low-pressure system and advised residents to remain alert due to the risk of further waterlogging and landslides.