Death toll rises to 39 as floods leave one million stranded

The death toll from the ongoing floods across Bangladesh has climbed to at least 39, with district officials reporting casualties from flooding and landslides in several southeastern districts.

The fatalities include Rohingya refugees who were killed in landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.

The highest number of deaths was recorded in Cox's Bazar with 23, followed by Chattogram with 10, Bandarban with five, and Rangamati with one.

The floods have severely disrupted daily life and economic activities across the effected regions, with widespread waterlogging bringing transport, businesses, and other essential services to a halt. Rising water levels have inundated residential areas and major urban centres, leaving hundreds of thousands of people stranded.

In Chattogram district alone, more than 750,000 people have been stranded, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Shorif Uddin told Daily Waada.

The number is higher than 1,50,000 in Cox’s Bazar district, as officials said.

Tragedy included the lives of three children in separate drowning incidents on Friday. Among them, Mohammad Ashik, 8, and Mohammad Miraj, 6, drowned in floodwaters in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram, while Hasnatul Jannat Jhorna, 14, drowned in Chakaria upazila of Cox's Bazar.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Army evacuated 461 among the 561 tourists stranded in Sajek Valley in Rangamati due to heavy rain, landslides and severed communication.

The remaining around 100 tourists will also be evacuated in phases.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Friday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of the country over the next 24 hours, warning that the downpour could trigger landslides in the hilly areas of Chattogram division and cause temporary waterlogging in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas.

The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal No 3 as a well-marked low over central Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas persists.