Relentless monsoon rains have left at least 30 people dead, triggered floods and landslides across southeastern Bangladesh, cut off transport links, stranded thousands and prompted authorities to warn that the situation could deteriorate further as another 48 to 72 hours of heavy rainfall loom.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across all eight divisions over the next two days, warning of fresh landslides in Chittagong's hill districts and temporary waterlogging in Dhaka and Chittagong metropolitan areas.
Maritime ports at Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep Local Cautionary Signal No 3 hoisted, while fishing boats have been asked to remain close to shore.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu told parliament that 30 people have died over the past few days in Chittagong, the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox's Bazar due to landslides and other rain-related incidents.
The deaths include 19 in Cox's Bazar, five in Chittagong, five in Bandarban and one in Rangamati.
The worst tragedy struck the Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhiya, where a rain-soaked hillside collapsed onto a madrasa during Quran classes, killing eight children and teachers and injuring several others.
Flood warnings have expanded well beyond the southeast.
The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said heavy rainfall in Bangladesh and upstream Indian states could push rivers above danger level over the next three days, threatening Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Khagrachhari, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Netrokona, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur with flash floods. Low-lying parts of Lakshmipur and Noakhali are also at risk.
Several key rivers, including the Sangu, Matamuhuri, Teesta, Manu, Khowai, Someshwari and Jadukata, are forecast to rise rapidly, with some expected to cross danger levels if rainfall continues.
The prolonged rains have severely disrupted transport.
Road communication with Bandarban has been cut off after landslides buried sections of highways, while flooding has closed parts of the Bandarban-Thanchi road and disrupted travel on routes linking Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.
Rail services to Cox's Bazar remain suspended after floodwater submerged sections of the railway line.
In Rangamati, 561 tourists became stranded in Sajek Valley after roads went underwater.
The Bangladesh Army rescued the first group of 150 tourists by ferrying them across flooded stretches, while more than 400 remained in the hill resort awaiting evacuation.
Floodwaters have also inundated coastal Hatia in Noakhali, where tidal surges submerged homes, roads, crop fields and fish ponds, leaving many families unable to cook for days.
In Moulvibazar's Kamalganj, nearly 10,000 people were trapped after a breached embankment on the Dhalai River flooded at least 25 villages, cutting road links and inundating schools and farmland.
Authorities have intensified evacuation efforts across vulnerable hill districts.
Chittagong has deployed executive magistrates, land officials and around 150 volunteers to relocate residents from 26 identified high-risk hills, while Rangamati has opened 19 shelters covering 39 landslide-prone locations.
Similar evacuation drives are under way in Khagrachhari and Bandarban, where officials have warned residents not to ignore relocation orders.
The government says hundreds of shelters have been opened across the affected districts, with food, drinking water and emergency relief being distributed.
According to the disaster management ministry, each district has also received emergency allocations from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, with additional support promised if conditions worsen.
Forecasters say the monsoon is expected to remain active for at least the next two days, keeping the threat of fresh floods, landslides and waterlogging high across much of the country.