Flash floods triggered by heavy rains and a surge of water from upstream have caught millions off guard across the Chattogram and Sylhet divisions over the past two days, leaving residents with little time to evacuate.
At least five people have drowned, and ten others are missing as rivers overflowed, submerging vast areas of land. Railway services in both divisions were suspended yesterday, with 26 trains canceled due to the floods.
The situation is especially concerning in Cumilla, Noakhali, and Feni, where the Muhuri and Feni rivers continued to swell. Major rivers in the northeastern and eastern regions have overflowed, leading to severe flooding in at least 12 districts across the Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. More than 364,000 people are stranded in 495 flood-affected unions. The Met Office has predicted continued rain in the Mymensingh, Dhaka, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, with a possible decrease tomorrow.
The other affected districts include Laxmipur, Brahmanbaria, Chattogram, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sylhet, and Cox's Bazar. According to Sarkar Udoy Raihan, executive engineer at the flood forecasting center, water levels may start to recede in the coming days.
More than 3.64 million people have been trapped by the floods, according to the Chief Adviser's Press Wing. In Ramu, Cox's Bazar, three people drowned, with one death each reported in Feni and Brahmanbaria yesterday. The victims in Ramu have been identified as Amjad Hossain, 22; Rabiul Alam, 35; and Coching Rakhine, 50.
In Feni, over 300,000 people are stranded as floodwaters have made roads inaccessible. "I have never seen floodwaters rise this high. The water has reached up to the first floor of my house," said Alam Manik, a resident of Feni town.
Government data shows that 154,661 people are stranded in 12 upazilas of Cumilla and 184,900 people in eight upazilas of Noakhali. Severe flooding has also impacted nine upazilas in Chattogram, seven in Moulvibazar, eight in Khagrachhari, five in Habiganj, two in Brahmanbaria, and three in Sylhet, leaving a total of 1.22 million people stranded.
In Burichang upazila of Cumilla, an embankment along the Gumti river was washed away last night, potentially worsening the flood situation in Burichang and Brahmanpara upazilas. The government has deployed 492 medical teams and opened 2,246 shelters, where 82,694 people and 7,755 cattle have taken refuge.
Over 13,000 people are stranded in Rangamati and 80,000 in Cox's Bazar. The disaster management ministry has allocated Tk 3.32 crore, 19,650 tonnes of rice, and 15,000 packs of food to assist those affected.
Traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway has been disrupted after parts of Cumilla's Chauddagram were submerged. Out of 6,986 cell phone towers in the affected districts, 1,510 are out of order, leaving thousands without phone signals. The Department of Posts and Telecommunications has sent V-Sat units to improve telecommunications in the affected areas.
Deputy commissioners have been instructed to coordinate relief efforts with student organizers, the army, medics, and volunteers. The disaster management ministry has also opened a hotline (0255101115) to provide information and assistance.
More than 160 army personnel with 40 rescue vehicles, 71 navy personnel with eight rescue vehicles, and boats from the border guards have been deployed to Feni, where a water treatment plant has been set up.
