The flood situation in Chakaria and Pekua upazilas of Cox's Bazar has improved slightly.
Major parts of the two upazilas were inundated for the last few days due to torrential rains and water from upstream.
Since Tuesday night, floodwater has receded in some areas of Chakaria upazila, but new areas on the downstream side have been inundated by the water from upstream.
Although the floodwater has receded in some elevated areas of Chakaria, several settlements have been submerged in floodwater in coastal areas of Pekua upazila. At the same time, new flood water has entered five coastal unions of Chakaria upazila.
Road communication with Cox's Bazar and Bandarban districts of Chittagong division is still suspended as floodwater is flowing over the highway in Chandanaish.
All 25 unions of Chakaria and Pekua upazilas have been affected by flooding.
Hundreds of thousands of people in these areas are still marooned in water. However, due to less rainfall since Tuesday night, the water level of the Matamuhuri River has dropped, but it is still flowing above the danger level.
At least 15 embankments in the river have been breached due to landslides.
Due to this erosion, floodwater is entering the locality and new areas are being flooded.
Residents of the Matamuhuri River basin are said to be in dire straits.
In the last six days, seven people have died in Chakaria, Pekua, Ramu and Rohingya camps after being washed away by landslides and snakebites.
All educational institutions in the flood-affected areas of Chakaria and Pekua upazilas have been closed. These educational institutions have been declared shelters for flood-affected people.
Thousands of people took shelter in cyclone shelters in these two upazilas. Many of them have started returning home, said Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shahin Imran.
The DC said that all the unions of Chakaria and Pekua upazilas have been inundated the most in this flood. The administration has already given 50,000 tons of rice and Tk7 lakh in cash assistance to the flood-affected areas.
Apart from this, dry food has been given to the affected people, he said.
Navy, Coast Guard and Army personnel also carried out rescue operations and provided food aid to the flood-affected areas.
Locals complained that due to a lack of a sufficient number of culverts in various sluice gates and under-construction railway lines for the drainage of water in the coastal areas, water from upstream cannot be drained quickly.
Jamal Morshed, upazila officer at the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) for Chakaria upazila, said the Matamuhuri River is still flowing above the danger level.
He said cracks have developed in Kainyarkum, BM Char and Mehernama dykes due to the flow of the river.
Apart from this, there is a danger that the embankments of the BWDB will break in other areas anytime, added the official.