The situation has worsened for traders of the Khatunganj market, the country’s biggest wholesale hub for commodities, as incessant rains for the past couple of days in Chattogram have left most of it inundated, resulting in a Tk 1200 crore down daily in trade.
Apart from the inundation in the port city, flooding has also impacted all the upazilas. The heavy rainfall and landslides have led to approximately 6,35,000 individuals in the district being affected by waterlogging, sources said.
With the exception of Fatikchhari, all upazilas are grappling with varying degrees of flooding, which has severed communication systems.
General Secretary of Khatunganj Business Association Md Sagir Ahmed told The Business Post that although the water level did not rise in Chaktai-Khatunganj and Asadganj areas, the daily turnover of Khatunganj market has decreased by around Tk 1200 crore due to waterlogging in the city and upazilas. Previously, the daily trade turnover in Khatunganj amounted to Tk 2,000 crore, but now, it has reduced to Tk 800 crore per day.
Meanwhile, relief and rehabilitation center has been assessed as a loss of Tk 135 crore.
Speaking to The Business Post, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Md Saifullah Majumdar said, “As the up0azilas are flooded, the amount of damage has not been ascertained so far. To address the situation, a total of 1,193 shelter centers have been established, accommodating 6,753 individuals.
However, we have made an initial damage estimation of Tk 135 crore 15 lakh. Already, 60 tonnes of rice and Tk 3.5 lakh have been sanctioned for Satkania upazila, 45 tonnes of food and Tk 2.5 lakh for Chandanish upazila, 50 tonnes of rice and Tk 3.5 lakh for Lohagara upazila, and 35 tonnes of rice and Tk 1 lakh for Banshkhali upazila.”
Beginning on Thursday afternoon, Chittagong experienced intense rainfall, coupled with high tide. This resulted in waterlogging across multiple sections of the port city by Friday, which persisted into Saturday. Subsequently, water levels began to rise in various upazilas of Chattogram. By Sunday, additional parts of the city became inundated, extending to several regions including Sitakunda, Mirsarai, Patia, Raujan, and Rangunia.
Meanwhile, Tuesday saw flooding in different areas of the port city. Nevertheless, starting from Monday morning, water levels began to increase at various locations along the Chittagong-Hathazari road and the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar road. It was seen that peoples engaged in fishing activities using nets along the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar road.
According to Patenga Met office, heavy rains have been accompanied by landslides. The water levels of Sangu, Matamuhuri, Karnaphuli and Halda rivers have shown a daily rise.
Among the 15 upazilas of Chattogram—Satkania, Banshkhali, Patia and Anwara in the south and Raujan, Rangunia, Sitakunda, Mirsharai, Hathazari and Fatikchari in the north have been submerged in water.
Chattogram District Commissioner Abul Bashar Mohammed Fakhruzzaman said, “Nearly all upazilas, with the exception of Fatikchhari, have been subjected to varying degrees of inundation. Among these, the upazilas most severely impacted are--Satkania and Lohagara. Furthermore, the flooding has encompassed every union within the Satkania upazila.”
Abdul Halim, a resident of Satkania said, “Though there have been many floods before, I have never seen so much water before. Ground floors of most of the houses in our area are inundated. All tubewell-motors are underwater… Now we are facing shortages of foods and water. The ground floors of shops are also inundated. The mobile network is also not working properly in the area while there is no electricity for the last three days.”
Additionally, agricultural fields, vegetable crops, poultry operations, and livestock farms across diverse regions within the Chattogram district, including the renowned Gumai Bill, a significant grain-producing area in Rangunia, have all been engulfed by the floodwaters.
