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Road communication between Bandarban and the rest of Bangladesh remained suspended on Sunday as seven days of heavy rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides, inundating key highways and leaving around 100,000 people stranded across the hill district.
The Bandarban-Keranihat road was submerged by floodwaters rushing down from the hills, while the Bandarban-Rangamati road was severed after a section near Bridgeghata collapsed beside a bridge and was washed away.
Although rainfall eased from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning, allowing floodwaters to recede slightly, many roads, homes and low-lying areas remained under water.
Heavy downpours have also disrupted transport between upazilas, with connecting roads in Lama, Alikadam, Naikhongchhari, Ruma, Thanchi and Rowangchhari submerged, making travel difficult.
In Bandarban Sadar, floodwaters inundated several neighbourhoods, including Army Para, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, the WAPDA Bridge area, Banani Sawmill area, Islampur, Brigade area, the banks of the Sangu River and Catchingghata.
Many residents from affected areas have taken shelter in government-designated centres, where the municipality and district administration are distributing khichuri and dry food.
The Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have also distributed relief supplies and medicines among flood-hit residents in Bandarban Sadar, Alikadam and Naikhongchhari.
Authorities said that although water levels in the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers have declined slightly, both rivers are still flowing above the danger level. The district administration continues to warn residents living in landslide-prone hill slopes and low-lying areas through loudspeaker announcements, urging them to move to safer locations.
Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Md Saniul Ferdous said 220 emergency shelters have been opened across the district’s seven upazilas, including schools and other public facilities.
More than 10,000 people have taken refuge in the shelters, where cooked meals and dry food are being provided, he said, adding that the Army, police and Fire Service are working jointly to respond to the disaster.