Flood toll climbs to 39 as 9.28 lakh affected across five districts in Ctg
According to the Chattogram district administration, 1,88,648 families have been affected in 16 upazilas, including Chattogram city, following days of torrential rain, hill runoff and landslides.
Highlights:
- Flood death toll climbs to 39 across four districts
- More than 928,000 people affected by floods
- Satkania, Banshkhali remain worst-hit with 500,000 stranded
- PM orders intensified rescue and relief operations
- Landslide warning remains until 12 July
The death toll from floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain in Chattogram division has risen to 39, with 9.28 lakh people affected across five districts as swollen rivers, flash floods and hill runoff continue to submerge vast areas and disrupt normal life.
According to the latest situation report released by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief yesterday, Cox's Bazar recorded the highest number of fatalities with 23 deaths, including 13 Rohingyas, followed by Chattogram with eight, Bandarban with six and Rangamati with two.
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According to the Chattogram district administration, 1,88,648 families have been affected in 16 upazilas, including Chattogram city, following days of torrential rain, hill runoff and landslides.
A total of 176 unions and municipalities have been hit, prompting authorities to open 673 shelters, where 23,853 people have taken refuge.
The government has allocated 700 tonnes of rice and Tk6 crore in cash assistance for flood victims. So far, 300 tonnes of rice, Tk4.3 crore, 22,250 packets of dry food and 18,330 cooked meals have been distributed. Another 400 tonnes of rice and Tk1.7 crore remain available for further relief operations.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded 154mm of rainfall in Chattogram during the 24 hours until 3pm yesterday and warned that heavy rain could continue until 12 July. Local Warning Signal No 3 remains in force for Chattogram seaport.
Satkania, Banshkhali worst hit
The flood situation has deteriorated sharply in Satkania and Banshkhali, where more than 5,00,000 people remain marooned.
Two children – Ashik, 11, and Miraj, 6 – died in Banshkhali's Baharchhara union after being swept away by flash floodwaters yesterday.
Residents say relief has yet to reach many remote coastal unions, while prolonged power cuts and mobile network outages have made communication and damage assessment difficult.
Part of the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway near Satkania has remained submerged since Thursday. Although traffic is still moving, locals fear the road link could be severed if water levels rise further.
In Satkania, swelling waters of the Sangu and Dolu rivers, combined with hill runoff, have inundated vast areas of Bajalia, Keochia, Chadaha, Kaliaish, Dharmapur, Khagaria, Amilaish, Dhemsha, Nalua, Charti and Purangar unions.
Homes, cropland, fish farms, markets and village roads have gone underwater, leaving boats as the only means of transport in several areas. Residents are also facing shortages of drinking water and food.
Chadaha Union Chairman Md Morshedur Rahman said at least five wards in his union had been completely submerged.
"There is waist- to neck-deep water in many places. Around 1,500 families have been affected. We received one tonne of rice from the upazila administration, but it could not be transported because of the floodwaters," he told TBS.
Satkania Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khandaker Mahmudul Hasan said more than 4,00,000 people remain stranded.
"Nearly half of the agricultural land has been destroyed, while damage to fisheries is yet to be assessed. The biggest challenge is reaching remote areas where road communication and mobile networks remain disrupted," he said, adding that the Army is preparing to use speedboats to deliver relief.
In neighbouring Banshkhali, floodwaters have inundated all 14 unions, with conditions worsening in Khankhanabad, Katharia, Baharchhara, Gondamara, Sheikh-er-Khil, Saral, Chhanua and Gunagari as tidal water entered residential areas.
Residents said thousands of mud houses had collapsed and many areas have remained without electricity for three days. Shortages of drinking water, baby food and medicines are also growing.
Baharchhara resident Shahed Hossain said government relief had yet to reach several remote unions.
Banshkhali UNO Md Ruhul Amin said nearly half the upazila remains underwater, affecting more than 1,00,000 people.
"We have distributed 46 tonnes of rice, 5,000 dry food packets and 6,000 cooked meals. Some areas remain inaccessible because of high water and disrupted communication," he said.
Floodwaters have also inundated low-lying areas of Fatikchhari, Raozan, Hathazari, Mirsharai and Anwara, damaging homes, cropland and fish farms.
In Cox's Bazar an estimated 5,00,000 people are hit by flooding.
Chakaria and Matamuhuri have suffered the worst damage, with around 3,00,000 people stranded after floodwaters submerged 18 unions and one municipality, severely disrupting transport and daily life.
Residents said the biggest challenge was the acute shortage of safe drinking water after thousands of tube wells went underwater. Many families have been unable to cook as floodwaters, reaching waist to chest height in some homes, have submerged kitchens.
In Rangamati, the Bangladesh Army evacuated 461 stranded tourists from Sajek Valley after heavy rain, landslides and damaged roads cut off the popular hill destination. Tourists were assisted across flooded sections by boat before continuing their journey by road.
The Bandarban district administration has extended the closure of all tourist attractions by another three days, keeping them shut until 15 July, as persistent heavy rainfall continues to pose safety risks.
According to a special landslide warning bulletin jointly issued by the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall until 12 July due to an active monsoon over the Bay of Bengal and a well-marked low-pressure system over northwest Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas in India.
The bulletin identifies all five districts as high-risk zones for landslides. Chattogram recorded the highest rainfall among the affected districts in the 24 hours until 6pm on 9 July, with 223mm, followed by Teknaf with 169mm, Rangamati with 106mm and Cox's Bazar with 89mm.
Meanwhile, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu told Parliament on Thursday that 30 people have died in recent floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in five districts under Chattogram Division.
30,000 marooned after Khowai embankment breach in Habiganj
Around 30,000 people across four unions in three upazilas of Habiganj have been marooned after incessant rain and upstream hill runoff breached the Khowai River embankment, triggering widespread flooding.
According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the river protection embankment collapsed in the Kaliganj area of Laskarpur union in Sadar upazila on Thursday evening.
The breach inundated villages in Laskarpur and Poil unions of Sadar upazila, Lamatashi union in Bahubal, and Makrampur union in Baniachang. Many families have moved to safer places with their livestock and essential belongings.
Floodwaters also overtopped the Radhapur embankment in Baniachang, spreading rapidly into surrounding haor areas, while the town protection embankment at Machulia Point remains at risk. Local residents have been working to reinforce the vulnerable section.
Parts of Habiganj town, including Kamrapur and Danialpur, have also gone underwater. Rising water has submerged sections of the Habiganj-Mirpur road, severely disrupting traffic.
Residents have called for urgent erosion-control measures, adequate relief and safe shelter as water levels continue to rise, raising fears of further flooding.
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall also caused waterlogging in Bagerhat, where low-lying areas and several roads went underwater, disrupting daily life and affecting businesses. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department kept Local Cautionary Signal No 3 in force for Mongla seaport as rain persisted across the coastal district.
PM orders intensified relief
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to strengthen rescue and relief operations across flood-hit areas, particularly in Chattogram division.
Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibly said the premier is monitoring the situation around the clock and remains in constant contact with district administrations.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman visited flood-hit areas in Satkania and Banshkhali yesterday, distributed relief and urged the government to accelerate rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.
