At least three people have died, and two others went missing as severe flooding intensifies across northeastern and eastern Bangladesh, driven by torrential rains and water surges from upstream.
The bodies were recovered in Cox’s Bazar’s Ramu upazila, Feni, and Brahmanbaria, while two individuals remain missing in Ramu, according to media reports. The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief reported two confirmed deaths—one in Feni and another in Brahmanbaria—by Thursday evening.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued a heavy rainfall warning for southern regions, including Dhaka and Mymensingh, as the flood situation continues to deteriorate.
So far, the floods have affected at least 36.45 lakh people across ten districts, including Cumilla, Feni, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, and Sylhet. A total of 495 Unions in 65 Upazilas are now impacted by the ongoing disaster.
The government has opened 2,246 flood shelters nationwide, providing refuge to 82,700 people. Army and Navy personnel have been deployed to rescue those trapped by rising waters, with Border Guard Bangladesh bringing in water transports to aid the efforts. In Feni alone, 160 army personnel with 40 salvage vessels and 71 Navy personnel with eight vessels have been dispatched to flood-hit areas.
The floodwaters have also caused severe damage to power lines, resulting in a complete blackout in Parshuram, Fulgazi, and Chhagalnaiya upazilas since Tuesday. The lack of electricity, combined with disrupted mobile network coverage, has worsened the crisis, leaving many residents stranded and cut off from any communication.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief KM Ali Reza briefed the media about the overall flood situation of the country at the secretariat on Thursday where he said that the water level of major rivers in the northeastern and eastern parts of the country is rising. According to the weather agencies, the trend of heavy rains may decrease in the northern, eastern and adjoining upstream areas of the country in the next 24 hours.
“The flood situation in the low-lying areas of Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts along the Manu, Khowai and Dholai rivers may initially remain stable and improve later,” he said.
Quoting weather offices, Ali Reza said that in the next 24 hours, the trend of heavy rains may decrease in the southeast, eastern and adjoining upstream areas of the country.
“The flood situation in the low-lying areas of Feni, Cumilla and Chattogram districts along the rivers Muhuri, Feni, Gumti, Halda may initially remain stable but may improve later,” he added.
Besides, adequate relief materials have been stocked in all districts of the country, he said, adding that necessary instructions have been directed towards the deputy commissioners in the flood-affected districts to work in coordination with the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, army, medical team and other volunteers.
A full-time control room has been opened at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief with the number 02-55101115 for contact, the secretary added.
Mohammad Nazmul Abedin, joint secretary of the ministry, informed that a total of Tk 1.82 crore has been allocated for eight flood-hit districts. On the other hand, some 13,650 tonnes of rice have been allocated as relief with 11,000 pieces of dry and other food packets.
Meanwhile, Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the advisers of the interim government will visit all the flood-affected areas to help mitigate the plights of flood victims.
"We have decided that the advisers will visit all the flood affected districts," she said while briefing reporters in front of the chief adviser's office here after a meeting of the council of advisers on Thursday.
During the meeting, she emphasised the critical importance of addressing the country's flood situation. Discussions focused on what the government can do for the flood victims, how to coordinate efforts with relevant agencies, and understanding the underlying causes of the flooding. They also explored strategies for future flood prevention. Additionally, Bangladesh plans to engage with India to assess the flash flood early warning system, evaluate its effectiveness, and identify potential measures to mitigate future flooding, according to officials.
Addressing the worsening flood situation, Information and Broadcasting Affairs Adviser Md Nahid Islam on Thursday accused India of failing to cooperate with Bangladesh. He urged India to abandon what he described as an "anti-people policy" to better protect citizens in both countries.
“The dam was opened without any prior warning, leaving us no time to prepare,” Islam told reporters after the advisory council's meeting at state guesthouse Jamuna, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
In response to the floods affecting several districts, the interim government has taken what it describes as "adequate preparations" to manage the crisis. “We are fully prepared,” Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam assured reporters on Wednesday.
He noted that Chattogram, Noakhali, and Feni are among the hardest-hit areas, with residents already relocating to safe shelters. Alam added that sufficient supplies of medicine and dry food are being distributed to those in need.
Quoting weather officials, Alam warned that the heavy rainfall, which has already caused severe flooding, may continue until August 26, with no immediate improvement in sight.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Railway (BR) has suspended the operation of 26 trains after flash floods damaged tracks at several points in BR's east zone. The affected routes include Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Cox's Bazar, Chattogram-Sylhet, Chattogram-Jamalpur, and Chattogram-Bhuyapur.
