The flood situation in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar District worsened again on July 12 after fresh heavy rainfall reversed earlier improvements, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents affected across several upazilas.
According to local officials, the worst-affected areas include Chakaria, Pekua, and the newly established Matamuhuri Upazila, where nearly 200,000 people are believed to remain stranded. Thousands of residents in parts of Eidgaon, Ramu, and Cox’s Bazar Sadar also continue to be marooned by floodwaters.
Although floodwaters had begun receding until Saturday noon, renewed heavy rain later in the day caused water levels to rise again, further delaying recovery efforts. The slow drainage of floodwater has disrupted road communication and brought normal daily life to a near standstill in many affected communities.
Local administrative officials, political leaders, and public representatives estimate that around 400,000 people across the district have been affected by the flooding. However, the Cox’s Bazar District Administration has officially reported that approximately 150,000 people remain stranded, with fewer than 50,000 families affected.
Shahidul Alam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of the Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner’s Office, said authorities had been receiving reports of improving conditions until midday before the weather deteriorated again.
Since July 5, continuous heavy rainfall and runoff from upstream hilly areas have flooded several upazilas in Cox’s Bazar, leaving thousands of families unable to return to their homes.
Among those affected is Safura Begum, a resident of Kakara Union in Chakaria, who said she and her family have remained stranded for the past seven days.
Ref: The Daily Star
