The flood situation in Bandarban improved on Friday as water levels receded following several days of heavy rainfall, although road communication across parts of the district remained disrupted.
According to locals, floodwaters had receded by up to three feet by Friday afternoon in several areas of Bandarban Sadar upazila, including Kalaghata, Kashempara, Memberpara, Islampur, and Noapara.
However, water levels in the Sangu, Matamuhuri and Bakkhali rivers remain above the danger level, keeping river transport suspended.
Road communication between Bandarban and Chittagong, which had remained cut off for the past two days, partially resumed on Friday morning as floodwaters receded, allowing a limited number of small vehicles to operate. However, road links with Rangamati remain suspended.
Flooding and landslides have also disrupted road communication in many parts of the district's seven upazilas, leading to a rise in the prices of essential commodities. Power supply, mobile network and internet services have also been disrupted in several upazilas.
Sujan Chowdhury, a resident of Alikadam, said road communication between Lama and Alikadam has remained cut off for the past three days due to flooding, while electricity and internet services have yet to return to normal.
Amid fears of flooding and landslides triggered by rising water levels in the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers following days of heavy rainfall, authorities have opened 220 shelters across the district's seven upazilas.
Official figures show that 2,173 people had taken shelter at the centres as of Thursday.
Considering the prevailing weather conditions and potential risks, authorities have suspended all tourist visits to Bandarban until July 12 to ensure visitor safety, leaving the hill district virtually free of tourists.
Bandarban Municipality Administrator SM Manjurul Haque said residents staying at municipal shelters are being provided with dry food, cooked meals, water purification tablets and mosquito coils.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Bandarban recorded 131mm of rainfall in the 24 hours between 6am Thursday and 6am Friday, classified as very heavy rainfall.
The district received a total of 891mm of rainfall over the 120-hour period from 6am on July 5 to 6am on Thursday.
