Persistent heavy rain triggered by an active monsoon continued to batter the country on Tuesday, claiming lives in landslides, disrupting transport, inundating low-lying areas and raising fears of flash floods across several districts as authorities warned of more downpours in the coming days.
At least three people died in rain-related incidents during the day, including two in Cox's Bazar and one in Rangamati.
In Cox's Bazar, Nasima Akter, 27, was killed in a landslide in the Doriya Nagar area near the district town, while day labourer Mohammad Malek, 40, died after the wall of his house collapsed in Ukhiya upazila. The latest casualties raised the district's landslide death toll over the past two days to 12, officials said.
In Rangamati, 70-year-old Lakhi Bilash Chakma was killed after a tree trunk rolled down a hillside and struck him in Baghaichhari municipality.
Authorities have begun relocating residents from landslide-prone areas to safer locations. In Rangamati, 44 shelters, including 11 in the district town, have been kept ready.
Flooding also disrupted communication in several areas. Road links between Dighinala and Longadu in Khagrachhari were cut off after floodwater submerged the Banchha Merung Steel Bridge and adjoining roads. On St Martin's Island, heavy rain and unusually high tides inundated low-lying areas as rough seas and strong winds battered the coast.
In Bandarban, the Sangu River continued to flow above the danger level, inundating riverside areas and prompting fears of further flooding. Boat services on routes in Thanchi and Ruma upazilas remained suspended, leaving more than 100 tourists stranded at destinations including Tindu, Remakri, Nafakhum and Amiyakhum.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal had intensified into a land depression, creating rough weather over the northern Bay and adjoining coastal areas. Local Warning Signal No. 3 remained hoisted at Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra seaports.
The Weather and Flood Forecasting Centre warned that heavy rainfall over the next 24 to 72 hours could trigger flash floods and waterlogging in parts of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Feni, Khagrachhari, Noakhali and Lakshmipur, while temporary flooding is also likely in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Netrokona, Sherpur and Mymensingh districts.
Meanwhile, upstream rain pushes Teesta close to its danger level, forcing all 44 barrage gates open and raising the risk of short-term flooding, said BWDB.
The Teesta River could cross the danger level within the next 24 to 48 hours, putting low-lying areas in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha at risk of short-term flooding, it said.
At 6pm on Tuesday, the river was flowing 12cm below the danger mark at Dalia Point in Nilphamari, according to Amitabh Chowdhury, executive engineer of the BWDB's Dalia division.
All 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage on the Nilphamari-Lalmonirhat border have been opened to regulate the swelling river, while an orange alert remains in force, Amitabh said.
