Floodwater recedes, hardship lingers in Bandarban

BANDARBAN, July 13: Floodwaters have started receding in Bandarban after days of heavy rain and flash floods triggered by upstream runoff, but thousands of residents continue to grapple with the aftermath as they return to damaged homes and disrupted livelihoods.

From Monday morning, many people began leaving emergency shelters and returning to their houses as the flood situation improved, although extensive damage and thick layers of mud have made normal life difficult.

According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB), both the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers were flowing below the danger level as of 9am on Monday.

Executive Engineer Apu Dev said the water level of the Sangu River had fallen to 12.80 metres, while the Matamuhuri River stood at 11.16 metres. He expressed hope that water levels would continue to decline if rainfall did not intensify.

Acting district meteorological officer Sanatan Kumar Mondal said 113 millimetres of rainfall had been recorded in the district in the 24 hours until 9am on Monday, qualifying as very heavy rainfall. However, reduced rainfall in upstream areas has contributed to the falling river levels, he added.

A visit to several parts of the Bandarban municipality, including Army Para, Islampur, Catchingghata, Member Para, Balaghata Bazar and Kalaghata, found that floodwaters had largely drained from roads, leaving behind thick mud, clogged drains and piles of waste.

Many flood-affected residents were seen cleaning their homes and salvaging belongings. Furniture, books, food items and household goods damaged by floodwater were lying outside homes, with many already beginning to rot and emit foul odours.

Municipal officials said cleaning crews had begun clearing roads and public spaces as soon as the water receded, with waste collection vehicles deployed across the town.

Bandarban Municipality Conservancy Inspector Didarul Haque Chowdhury said relief distribution in flood-hit areas and shelters was continuing, but waste removal had been delayed because of manpower and logistical constraints.

"We are trying to remove all waste from the municipality as quickly as possible," he said.

Saiful Alam, a resident of Army Para, said he had spent five days in a shelter before returning home.

"The water has gone, but the entire house is covered in mud. Many household items have been completely destroyed," he said.

Jamal Hossain of Islampur said boats had been used in his neighbourhood until Sunday, but the water had finally receded on Monday morning.

"My family stayed at a shelter during the flooding. We returned home today, but the house is still filthy and there is a bad smell everywhere," he said.

Nurul Alam, General Secretary of the Bandarban District Bus Owners' Association, said water had receded from most roads connecting different upazilas, although landslides had deposited earth on several stretches, preventing the full resumption of transport services.

He said bus services were expected to resume on Tuesday if road clearance continued. However, services on the Bandarban-Chandraghona-Rangamati route would remain suspended until the washed-away Bailey bridge over the Shilk Khal is rebuilt.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) SM Hasan said relief operations were ongoing and around 3,500 people had so far received government assistance.

Deputy Commissioner Md Saniul Ferdous said people were gradually returning from shelters as floodwaters receded, adding that the district administration continued to provide food and safe drinking water to affected families.

Meanwhile, Bandarban MP Sachingpru Jery began distributing cooked meals to flood victims from Monday afternoon, while the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) continued distributing dry food in different parts of the district.