Heavy rain has triggered flash flood vast areas in Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Khulna and Sylhet districts of the country.
In Noakhali, vast low-lying areas of Hatiya upazila in Noakhali have been inundated following days of incessant rainfall and unusually high tides, disrupting public life and threatening widespread damage to crops and fisheries, said our Noakhali correspondent on Thursday.
Residents say floodwater has submerged low-lying areas across seven unions, with Tamaraddi, Sukhchar, Jahajmara and Nalchira among the worst affected. Houses, kitchens, courtyards, roads and fish enclosures have been inundated, while many daily wage earners have been unable to work.
Nijhum Island has also been extensively flooded. Tidal water has entered several remote char areas, including Damarchar, Dhalchar, Chargasia, Naler Char, Boyar Char, Char Ataur and Moulvir Char, many of which are isolated from the mainland.
"We are trapped between heavy rainfall and tidal flooding," said Sana Ullah, a resident of Charking Union. "Many families have not been able to cook for the past two days because water has entered their kitchens."
He added that residents were still waiting for assistance from the local administration.
The District Meteorological Office said Hatiya recorded 110mm (4.3 inches) of rainfall in the 24 hours to 06:00 local time on Thursday.
Hatiya Upazila Executive Officer Russell Iqbal said low-lying areas had been flooded by high tides, while heavy rainfall had caused waterlogging elsewhere.
He said emergency shelters had been prepared for residents if needed, and geobags had been placed along vulnerable embankments to reduce the risk of further flooding and erosion.
Authorities have yet to provide an estimate of the total damage, but local farmers fear significant losses to crops and fisheries if floodwaters persist.
In Moulvibazar, at least 25 villages in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar have been inundated following continuous heavy rainfall and a surge of water from upstream, leaving around 10,000 people stranded as the Dhalai River continues to flow above the danger level, according to reports of our Moulvibazar correspondent.
The flood situation worsened after the Dhalai River breached its embankment on Wednesday night, submerging large parts of Islampur, Adampur and Madhabpur unions. According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the river is flowing 33 centimetres above the danger level, increasing the risk of flooding in additional low-lying areas.
On-the-ground reports on Thursday showed that major sections of the embankment in the Mokabil and Ganganagar areas had collapsed, allowing floodwaters to rush into nearby villages. Road communication has been severely disrupted as the Islampur–Adampur main road remains underwater.
Residents of at least 25 villages, including Mokabil, Bhandarigaon, Ganganagar, Konagaon, Berigaon and Sreepur, have been marooned by the flooding. Thousands of acres of paddy fields have been submerged under three to four feet of water, while at least eight educational institutions, including Bhandarigaon High School, have suspended classes and ongoing examinations after floodwater entered their premises.
Locals blamed the BWDB for failing to repair the vulnerable Mokabil embankment in time. However, BWDB Executive Engineer Khaled Bin Walid said repair work had begun but could not be completed because of obstruction by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF). He added that the repaired section was eventually washed away by the strong current.
Kamalganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Asaduzzaman said the administration has started evacuating stranded residents to safe shelters and distributing dry food and emergency relief. Authorities warned that continued upstream inflows could worsen flooding in the Manu and Kushiyara river basins in the coming days.
In Khulna, Heavy overnight rainfall has once again exposed Khulna city’s persistent waterlogging problem, with major roads and low-lying areas submerged despite an Tk 823 crore drainage improvement project, reports Khulna correspondent.
The Khulna Meteorological Office recorded 78 millimeters of rainfall until 6am on Thursday. The rain caused severe disruption as water entered homes, shops and streets across the city. Students reached schools in soaked uniforms, office-goers struggled through flooded roads, and easy bikes and rickshaws broke down in several areas.
Low-lying areas including Khulna Specialized Hospital intersection, Royal intersection, Khan Jahan Ali Road, Chanmari, Tutpara, Bastuhara and Rupsha New Market were among the worst affected.
Residents blamed poor canal management and inadequate drainage maintenance. Mozammel Haque said water from areas such as Daulatpur, Khalishpur and Boyra should flow into the Mayur River through the Kargipara Canal, but the canal’s poor condition has restricted water flow.
The city’s Tk 823 crore waterlogging reduction project, approved to address the crisis, includes the construction of more than 200 drains and excavation of seven canals. Although around Tk 750 crore has already been spent, residents say the expected benefits are yet to appear.
Khulna City Corporation Chief Engineer Moshiuzzaman Khan said some important works, including repairs to pump stations and sluice gates, remain incomplete. Once finished, the project will provide better results, he said.
Experts, however, believe a permanent solution requires restoring the city’s canals, improving river connections and stopping illegal occupation of waterways.
In Sylhet , water levels in the rivers of Sylhet are rising rapidly due to continuous rainfall and water flowing down from the hills of Meghalaya, India, raising fears of flash floods in border areas, according to reports of our Sylhet correspondent.
Although the Surma and Kushiyara rivers have not yet crossed their danger levels, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has warned that flash floods may occur if heavy rainfall continues for the next three to four days. The risk of landslides has also increased due to persistent rain, while the Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in eight divisions, including Sylhet.
The district administration has taken precautionary measures, preparing 537 shelters to handle any emergency. Residents of 160 risky hill areas are being alerted through loudspeaker announcements, and evacuation plans have been prepared if the situation worsens.
According to the BWDB, heavy rainfall in Meghalaya over the next few days may cause further rises in Sylhet’s rivers. The Surma River was flowing below the danger level at Kanaighat and Sylhet Point, while the Kushiyara River was also below the danger mark at Amalsid and Sheola points.
Officials said the possibility of prolonged flooding remains low as upstream water is expected to recede quickly into the Meghna basin. However, residents of low-lying areas have been advised to remain alert.
Meteorologists said rainfall may continue across Sylhet division for the next 72 hours. Authorities have also warned of increased landslide risks, with hundreds of families still living in vulnerable hill areas.
City and district officials said emergency preparations, including shelters, dry food supplies and drainage management, are in place to respond to any disaster.
