Monsoon rains raise alarm nationwide
Staff Reporter :
At least 30 villages across Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas in Feni district have been inundated following the collapse of flood control embankments at 15 vulnerable points along the Muhuri, Kuhua, and Silonia rivers.
The flooding, triggered by relentless monsoon rainfall and a surge of upstream water from neighbouring India, has left thousands of residents stranded. Power outages, the closure of educational institutions, and an urgent need for relief assistance have intensified the crisis.
The situation worsened dramatically after embankment breaches in key areas such as Jungleghona, Olka, Shaldhar, Uttar Sreepur, Gadanagar, Derpara, Satkuchia, Berabari, and Daulatpur. River water quickly inundated low-lying areas, submerging homes, roads, and farmland. All educational institutions in the affected areas have been closed indefinitely.
Ongoing half-yearly examinations at higher secondary institutions in Feni have been postponed. In Noakhali, the authorities have suspended academic activities in approximately 1,800 schools and colleges due to the torrential rain and risk of flooding.
The Feni Meteorological Office recorded a staggering 439 mm of rainfall within 24 hours until Wednesday morning. According to the Water Development Board (WDB), the Muhuri River in Parshuram rose 6.92 metres in just 15 hours, reaching 1.57 metres above the danger level by midnight on Tuesday.
Residents have expressed frustration over recurring flood damage and what they perceive as official inaction. Masudur Rahman of Fulgazi said, “Water continues to pour in through the broken embankments. We’re also facing mobile network issues like last year. Nothing has changed.” Arif Hossain of Tulatoli added, “The roads are completely underwater. No transport is moving, and people are suffering.”
Electricity supply has been suspended in affected upazilas after water flooded substations and electric meters. Officials from the Feni Power Distribution Division and the Rural Electrification Board confirmed the shutdown as a safety precaution.
Zakia Akhter of Chitholia recounted how her family had to flee their flooded home: “We lost everything in last year’s flood, and now it’s happening again.”
Blame has been directed at the authorities for not securing known weak points. Rafiqul Islam of Mirzanagar criticised the WDB for failing to close a vulnerable section of the Ballamukha embankment in time.
Parshuram UNO Arifur Rahman said local authorities are monitoring the situation, though many residents are still unwilling to move to shelters. Fulgazi UNO Fahria Islam confirmed that four embankment points had collapsed, with more than 100 residents already relocated and food relief distributed.
Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam reported that 131 schools have been prepared as shelters, with 150 individuals already evacuated. Relief allocations include Tk 6.5 lakh and 400 food packets. A control room has been activated, and institutions have been directed to protect important equipment and documents. Over 2,500 trained volunteers are on standby.
Meanwhile, rain-related disruptions were reported in other parts of the country, including Dhaka, where major roads were waterlogged, causing severe traffic congestion.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has warned of continued heavy rainfall due to an active monsoon and a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. Ports in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been placed under Local Warning Signal No. 3, and fishermen have been advised to stay near the coast.
Assistant Meteorologist Kazi Zebunnesa has warned of possible landslides in the hilly districts of Chattogram, Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, and Cox’s Bazar.
BMD forecasts up to 188 mm of rain across Dhaka, Chattogram, Barishal, Khulna, Sylhet, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Rajshahi divisions in the next 72 hours. Bandarban recorded the highest rainfall at 271 mm, followed by 169 mm in Chattogram and 160 mm in Barishal. Dimla recorded the highest temperature at 34°C.
The active southwest monsoon is expected to continue, with persistent rainfall and little change in temperature expected in the coming days.