At least 15 villages have been flooded and thousands of residents displaced after a defence embankment of the Khowai River breached in Habiganj on Thursday evening.
The breach occurred in the Kaliganj area of Laskaripur Union under Habiganj Sadar Upazila following days of heavy rainfall and upstream water flow from India. As the river swelled dangerously, floodwaters quickly entered nearby residential areas, submerging homes, roads and large areas of farmland.
Local residents said water levels rose rapidly after the embankment gave way, with floodwaters reaching waist height in many houses within a short time. Many families were forced to leave their homes with livestock, furniture and valuables, taking shelter at local educational institutions, shelters and relatives’ houses.
The flooding has also disrupted road communication in the area. Several sections of the Habiganj-Mirpur road have gone under water, hampering vehicle movement. Residents fear that continued rise in water levels could completely cut off the route, disrupting connectivity between Habiganj Sadar and Mirpur and nearby areas.
Following the breach, Additional District Commissioner (General) Moinul Islam and Habiganj Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdullah Abu Zaher visited the affected areas to assess the situation and coordinate relief efforts with local representatives.
Authorities used loudspeakers at a local madrasa to urge residents to move to safer places immediately. They advised people to give priority to the safety of children, women, elderly people and those who are ill.
“The flood situation is being monitored constantly,” UNO Abdullah Abu Zaher said, adding that preparations for rescue and relief operations were already underway.
He urged affected residents to move to designated shelter centres as water levels continued to rise.
Meanwhile, panic has spread among residents as they fear more areas could be inundated if the river’s flow does not decrease. Locals have demanded urgent repairs to the damaged embankment and adequate relief support for families forced to leave their homes.
