Flood-hit families cry for drinking water

A severe shortage of safe drinking water has emerged in flood-hit areas of southern Bangladesh as thousands of people remain trapped by floodwaters following heavy rainfall, hill runoff and high tides.

Alongside the drinking water crisis, power outages, food shortages and damaged communication networks have made daily life increasingly difficult for hundreds of thousands of affected people. Many are spending their days and nights on rooftops and in elevated buildings, while others have taken shelter in temporary camps.

In Chattogram, although rainfall remained limited from morning to afternoon on Saturday, residents in many flood-affected areas continued to struggle to access clean drinking water as tube wells remained submerged or became unusable.

Locals said they were collecting water from WASA supplies and boiling it before consumption to reduce health risks.

The situation is particularly severe in Chakaria and Matamuhuri, where around 300,000 people have been stranded after floodwaters submerged 18 unions and one municipality, disrupting transport and normal activities.

A resident of the area, Makbul Ahmed, told The New Nation that floodwaters had entered homes, leaving many families without adequate food supplies.

“The drinking water crisis has become extremely severe,” he said.

The flood situation is also worsening in several parts of Chattogram district, including Satkania and Banshkhali upazilas. Large areas of Chandanaish, Lohagara, Boalkhali, Patiya and Anwara have also been inundated.

Many residents who have remained trapped for the past three days said they were yet to receive relief assistance from the government or private organisations.

Lohagara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharif Ullah said the administration was working to address the drinking water shortage.

“We are trying to resolve the issue. We have already distributed more than 1,000 packets of water purification tablets in the affected areas,” he told The New Nation.

Meanwhile, relief activities have continued in several flood-hit areas. Bangladesh Navy personnel distributed cooked food among affected families in Patenga areas of Chattogram on Saturday.

The Navy said heavy rainfall, water flowing down from hills and unusually high tides had caused flooding and waterlogging in several parts of the country, severely affecting low-lying communities.

A Navy team visited Bijoynagar, Akmal Ali Road, New Muring Madrasa, Narikel Tala and the Navy Hospital Gate areas under Patenga Police Station to assess the situation.

Later, the team distributed 2,000 packets of cooked food among families affected by waterlogging.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman visited flood-affected areas in Banshkhali on Friday morning. He met affected families, assessed the situation and later distributed dry food and financial assistance among victims.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said the government was preparing a list of farmers affected by the recent floods at union and ward levels.

He said necessary assistance would be provided to affected farmers after completion of the list.
The flood-hit communities are now facing mounting challenges as authorities race to ensure access to safe water, food and emergency support.