Heavy and continuous monsoon rains have caused widespread disruptions across Bangladesh, inundating low-lying areas, triggering severe waterlogging, and raising the risk of flashfloods—especially in southeastern districts.
In the capital Dhaka, light rain since morning on Tuesday led to flooded roads and muddy conditions in several areas, making daily commutes difficult. A total of 24mm of rainfall was recorded in the city in 24 hours till 6pm, UNB reports.
The southeastern district of Feni bore the brunt of the downpour, recording this season’s highest rainfall of 440mm in just 24 hours. Many parts of Feni town were submerged, forcing schools to close and disrupting electricity and traffic flow in key areas.
Major roads including Shahid Shahidullah Kaiser Road, Rampur Shaheen Academy area, Nazir Road, and Petrobangla were submerged under knee- to waist-deep water. Many vehicles broke down after water entered their engines, stranding commuters since early morning.
Residents compared the situation to last year’s devastating floods. “Too much rain! Exactly like what happened during the 2024 flood. May Allah stand by us,” a local woman wrote on social media alongside a video of a flooded street.
In nearby Fulgazi upazila, a portion of the dam along the Muhuri River collapsed due to continuous rainfall, damaging shops and cutting off vehicular movement along the Nilaksmhi-Gabtala Road.
Although the Muhuri River was still flowing below danger level, authorities warned that further rainfall and upstream water may escalate the situation. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) noted that the river may cross danger levels within the next 24 hours, increasing the risk of flashfloods.
The water levels of other rivers, including the Feni, Halda, Sangu, and Matamuhuri, are also rising and are expected to remain high for the next day before beginning to stabilize.
Meanwhile, parts of Feni town remained without power throughout the day. Some schools held examinations despite the flooding, with students wading through water or taking rickshaws to reach their exam centers.
In Patuakhali, 215.1mm of rainfall was recorded till 9am on Tuesday, causing significant waterlogging in the municipality, including areas like Sabuj Bagh, Natun Bazar, and Titash Mor. Numerous fish enclosures and ponds in rural regions were also submerged.
The Bay of Bengal turned rough near Kuakata, with high waves crashing ashore. Due to the squally weather, maritime ports such as Payra were advised to hoist Local Cautionary Signal No. 3, and fishermen were instructed to remain in safe shelters. River ports in Patuakhali, Barishal, Khulna, Cumilla, Noakhali, Chattogram, and Cox’s Bazar were advised to hoist Local Cautionary Signal No. 1.
The current rainfall is being driven by a low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining regions, combined with an active southwest monsoon. One of the monsoon troughs extends into the North Bay, further roughening sea conditions.
According to the latest forecasts, light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely in most parts of Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, and in many parts of Rangpur division. Moderately heavy to very heavy rain is expected in parts of Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, and Chattogram in the coming days.
Officials have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert, as authorities continue to monitor river levels and prepare for potential emergency response.
