Continuous heavy rainfall has virtually paralysed urban life in the port city of Chittagong. Waterlogging, ranging from knee-deep to waist-deep in some places, has occurred. This has led to water entering numerous shops and business establishments in low-lying areas, causing significant losses. The suffering has been compounded by the combination of rain, mountain runoff and tidal water from the Karnaphuli River. This situation has created a risk of landslides; residents in high-risk areas are consequently being urged through public announcements (mikings) to move to safer shelters.
The adverse weather has also impacted the country’s main seaport. While container and vessel handling operations remain normal at the Chittagong port jetties, the loading and unloading of goods on large ships at the outer anchorage have been disrupted. Due to extremely heavy rainfall, two international flights and one domestic flight were unable to land at the Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong.
The meteorology department recorded 330.8 millimetres of rainfall in Chittagong in the 24 hours leading up to 9:00 am today, which is the highest this season.
Mohammad Abdur Rahman Khan, deputy director of the Weather and Geophysical Center in Chittagong, stated that the intensity of the rain increased due to the influence of a recently formed seasonal depression. Although the depression has moved toward the Jharkhand and Odisha regions of India, the active monsoon winds may cause intermittent heavy to very heavy rainfall for at least another week.
The incessant rain has caused waterlogging in various areas, including Agrabad, Katalganj, Kapasgola, Faridar Para, Chandgaon, Chawkbazar’s Telpatti Lane, Kattali, Halishahar’s K-Block and L-Block, Rampur and Anandipur. Knee-deep water in Agrabad and Katalganj has disrupted traffic, causing extreme suffering for office-goers, students and general city dwellers.
Amidst the heavy rainfall, a bypass road in the Patenga area has collapsed. The road, which was built as an alternative during the construction of a flyover connecting to the Outer Ring Road, broke last night. Trees have also been uprooted in various parts of the city, disrupting traffic movement.
Airport Public Relations Officer Ibrahim Khalil stated that the US-Bangla Airlines flight BS-350 from Abu Dhabi to Chittagong and the Air Arabia flight G9-526 from Sharjah to Chittagong were unable to land in Chittagong and were diverted to Dhaka. Additionally, the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-121 from Dhaka to Chittagong returned to Dhaka due to unfavourable weather conditions.
The Department of Meteorology reported that the monsoon is active over Bangladesh and is strong over the North Bay of Bengal. The Chittagong division is consequently experiencing intermittent rain, with heavy to very heavy rainfall occurring in some areas.
To monitor the situation, Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Shahadat Hossain inspected various waterlogged areas this morning. He oversaw the water drainage process and provided necessary instructions to the concerned officials.
After inspecting the Katalganj residential area, the mayor told journalists that canal re-excavation and renovation work are ongoing in areas where water has accumulated due to the rain that began yesterday. The 34 Engineer Construction Brigade of the Bangladesh Army is specifically working on the Hijra Canal, Jamal Khan Canal, Ajab Bahar Canal and Gulzar Canal. Although some work remains, efforts are underway to complete it quickly; concurrently, the City Corporation has been cleaning the drains.
The continuous rainfall has also affected educational institutions. The semi-annual examinations of 48 secondary schools under the Chittagong City Corporation were postponed today, and several other educational institutions in the city have declared a holiday.
The persistent rain has meanwhile created a risk of landslides. Sakhawat Jamil Saikat, member secretary of the Chittagong Hill Management Committee and additional deputy commissioner (revenue), stated that since Sunday night, public announcements (mikings) have been made in risky hillside areas requesting people to move to safe shelters.
Deputy Commissioner Md Zahidul Islam Miah informed that at least 30 families have already been relocated to safe places from the slopes of risky hills. Necessary assistance, including food, has been arranged for them, and rescue and evacuation operations are continuing to prevent loss of life.
Approximately 6,555 people living on the slopes of 26 risky hills in the city have been instructed to move to safe locations immediately, according to the district administration.
Meanwhile, BDT 104.08 billion has been spent as of last March on four projects by the Chittagong City Corporation, Chittagong Development Authority and the Water Development Board to resolve long-standing waterlogging. Despite these projects having been underway for nearly a decade, the fact that vast areas of the city have once again become submerged due to extremely heavy rainfall has raised new questions regarding the effectiveness of these projects.