Torrential rain since Monday night has caused severe waterlogging in Feni and Noakhali, with the low-lying areas of both districts now submerged. According to the Meteorological Department, Feni recorded 233 millimetres of rainfall in 24 hours — the highest single-day downpour in the country this monsoon. The rainfall was recorded between 9:00am on Monday and 9:00am on Tuesday.
Persistent rainfall has left knee-deep water across several major roads in Feni town, including Rampur, Shaheen Academy Road, Pathanbari, Nazir Road, Petro Bangla area, and Shahid Shahidullah Kaiser Road. The disruption has caused immense suffering for school and college students, office-goers, and daily wage workers.
In particular, HSC candidates faced immense difficulties in reaching their exam centres. Most rickshaws and auto-rickshaws were off the streets, and public transport was limited, resulting in severe traffic congestion in areas like Nazir Road, Pathanbari Mor, Shahidullah Road, and Mizan Road. In many cases, commuters were forced to pay double fares due to the conditions.
In Fulgazi upazila, river erosion added to the damage. On Tuesday morning, two roadside shops were washed away as the embankment of the Muhuri River collapsed near the Sripur Road area.
Md Abul Kashem, sub-divisional engineer of the Feni Water Development Board, said water levels in the border rivers — Muhuri, Kohua, and Silonia — are rising, though they remain below danger levels for now.
Meanwhile, Noakhali recorded 126 millimetres of rainfall over the same 24-hour period. The Met Office has warned that heavy rainfall is likely to persist for another four to five days.
Due to the continuous downpour, many areas in Noakhali town are now inundated. Floodwater has entered homes in several low-lying areas, causing severe hardship for residents.
Waterlogging has been reported in the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court area, Noakhali Press Club, Judge Court area, Noakhali Public College, Kazi Colony, Al Farooq Academy, and Lawyers’ Colony. Victims blamed unregulated sand extraction for riverbank erosion and alleged that repeated demands for embankment protection had gone unaddressed by the authorities.