1 dead, thousands displaced as flood water levels continue to rise in Feni

Hundreds of thousands of residents in three upazilas of Feni are grappling with severe flooding that has caused widespread destruction to crops and fisheries, with many forced to abandon their homes in search of shelter.

The flooding has claimed the life of a young man in Fulgazi upazila, who was swept away by the strong currents, while another person remains missing, reports UNB. 

Over 400 people have been rescued from flood-stricken areas.

Entire communities are now in desperate need of shelter, as their homes and roads have been inundated. The local administration, overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster, has sought assistance from the Bangladesh Army and the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) to evacuate those trapped by the rising waters.

The three major rivers of Feni—Muhuri, Kohua, and Silonia—are flowing well above their danger levels, exacerbating the crisis. In Fulgazi, more than 40 villages under Sadar, Anondapur, Munshihat, and Amjadhat unions are submerged. On Monday night, Raju, the son of Mizanur Rahman from the Dakshin Sreepur Paschimmatha area of Fulgazi Sadar union, went fishing with friends at a breached embankment when he was swept away by strong currents. Although locals managed to rescue him, he was declared dead upon arrival at Fulgazi Upazila Health Complex.

In Parshuram upazila, over 45 villages under Mirzanghar, Chithalia, Boxmahmud, and the municipal town, are under water. Meanwhile, several villages in Chhagalnaiya’s Pathan Nagar, Radhanagar, and Shubhapur unions have also been affected.

Floodwaters have engulfed roads, ponds, farmlands, and in some cases, have risen to the rooftops of homes. Displaced residents are now seeking shelter as local authorities and volunteer organizations distribute relief supplies.

The flooding follows recent breaches in 15 spots along the Muhuri, Kohua, and Silonia rivers. Despite repairs, an additional 12 breaches have occurred, marking the third flood in just six weeks. Over 100 villages have been impacted, with damage to infrastructure, crops, and fisheries estimated at over Tk 30 crore.

Habib Swapan, a resident of Parshuram’s Salia area, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that boats and speedboats are now more critical than relief supplies. Many residents were caught unprepared, with no means of transportation, and have been left without power, food, or water since Monday night.

Parshuram Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Afroza Habib Shapla described the current flood as the worst in living memory, affecting most villages in the municipality and three unions. With the help of fire service members and student volunteers, two boats have been used to evacuate around 100 people to safety. One person remains missing, and 500 packets of dry food have been distributed, with an additional 500 packets and 50 tons of rice in reserve.

Fulgazi UNO Tania Bhuiyan reported that nearly all villages under the upazila‍‍`s six unions are flooded. Since Tuesday night, two boats have been deployed, evacuating around 300 people. The army and coast guard have initiated rescue operations, and 500 packets of dry food have been distributed, with more supplies on standby. Water levels continue to rise, with one death confirmed.

Feni Deputy Commissioner Musammat Shahina Akter said that the administration is fully engaged in relief and rescue operations.

Abul Kashem, sub-divisional engineer of the Water Development Board, confirmed that the Muhuri River is flowing 86 centimeters above the danger level. Meanwhile, Munir Hossain, a meteorological observer at the Feni Weather Office, reported 97 millimeters of rainfall in the past 24 hours.