Despite continuous heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides disrupting communication in Bandarban, law enforcement agencies and various government and non-government organizations are continuing awareness campaigns to ensure the safety of affected residents. Teams from the Bangladesh Army, Fire Service and Civil Defense, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, municipal authorities, and several NGOs are conducting public announcements and direct outreach in disaster-hit areas.

The campaigns focus on urging people living on risky hillsides, steep slopes, and low-lying areas near rivers and canals to move to safer locations. Authorities are encouraging residents to take shelter in temporary centers established by the administration. Field officials report that some residents remain reluctant to leave their homes, prompting repeated appeals to highlight potential dangers and the importance of relocation.

According to the district administration, the awareness activities will continue until weather conditions improve. The coordinated efforts of government and private organizations are playing a key role in motivating local residents to seek safety during this ongoing disaster.

Continuous heavy rainfall has flooded several low-lying areas in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachhari, disrupting road connections with Baghaichhari, Sajek, and Longadu in Rangamati. As a result, more than 450 tourists have been stranded in the hill resort town of Sajek. The flooding began on Wednesday morning when parts of the Dighinala–Sajek road, particularly the Kabakhali section, went underwater, halting all vehicular movement.

In Merung union, roads and multiple villages were submerged, cutting off direct road communication with Longadu. Rising water levels in the Maini River have started flooding nearby lowlands, raising concerns among residents. The upazila administration has opened 20 shelters to assist affected people, while the district administration has opened 135 shelters and arranged dry food and other relief measures.

According to the Sajek Cottage and Resort Owners Association, stranded tourists are being accommodated with utility bill-based lodging and discounted meals at local restaurants as authorities continue to monitor the situation.

Continuous rainfall over the past three days has inundated more than a hundred homes in Eidgaon upazila of Cox’s Bazar, leaving over twenty villages waterlogged. Poor drainage has worsened the situation, while heavy downpours have raised fears of landslides and bridge collapses in several areas, including key roads and residential zones. Local residents warned that without prompt administrative action, lives could be at risk.

Union Parishad chairmen from Eidgaon, Jalalabad, Islampur, Islamabad, and Pokkhali reported widespread flooding, with some areas facing severe waterlogging and erosion threats. The Himchhari Bridge on the Eidgaon–Eidgar–Baishari road, a vital link for around two lakh people, has developed a large cavity due to hill runoff, prompting fears of a total collapse. Local officials confirmed awareness of the issue and said emergency measures were underway.

The upazila administration stated that while water has receded in some areas, drainage work continues in others. Concerned citizens urged swift action to prevent waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and dengue if stagnant water persists.

A landslide in the Khajurtala area of Jungle Salimpur, Sitakunda, Chattogram, killed a 10-month-old child and injured his mother on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. when a portion of a nearby hill collapsed onto the house of local resident Mohin Uddin, destroying the dwelling and burying the family under debris. The deceased child was identified as Ashraful Islam Tanvir, son of Mohin Uddin. The injured mother received initial medical treatment following the accident.

Local sources reported that the landslide struck suddenly, leaving little time for the family to react. In response to the incident, authorities have urged residents living in vulnerable hillside areas to relocate to safer locations to prevent further casualties. Attempts to contact the in-charge of the Faujdarhat police outpost, Md. Rubel, for additional information were unsuccessful.

The event highlights ongoing risks faced by communities residing near unstable slopes in the region, prompting renewed calls for precautionary measures and relocation efforts.

Six fishermen from Patuakhali’s Galachipa upazila remain missing three days after their fishing trawler capsized in the Bay of Bengal. The incident occurred on the night of July 5, about 60 kilometers south of Maudubi in Rangabali upazila, when the vessel was struck by a sudden storm. Five crew members were rescued alive, two of whom are receiving treatment at Galachipa Upazila Health Complex. The Coast Guard and local fishermen have continued search operations, but no trace of the missing men has been found as of Wednesday afternoon.

The missing fishermen are residents of Gazalia, Panpatti, and Sadar unions, while the rescued include trawler owner Imadul Sikder and four others. According to Sikder, the trawler overturned suddenly, trapping three men inside the cabin. The survivors clung to floating debris and buoys for hours before being rescued by another fishing boat early Monday. A general diary has been filed with Galachipa Police Station regarding the incident.

Local authorities have sought assistance from the Navy to support the ongoing rescue efforts.

A landslide in Renchang village of Dangchang County, located in China's northwestern Gansu province, has killed 21 people. The incident occurred at 6:56 a.m. on Tuesday, when 33 people were buried under debris. Rescue teams quickly arrived at the site and launched an operation, which has now concluded, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.

Following the disaster, the Chinese government allocated 30 million yuan for reconstruction in the affected area. On the same day, severe storms and heavy rainfall in southern and central China killed about 17 people and injured hundreds. In Guangxi, flooding occurred in around 40 rivers and waterways, and a reservoir dam collapsed under water pressure, forcing thousands to evacuate.

President Xi Jinping has instructed authorities to make maximum efforts in rescue and relief operations, as multiple regions continue to face extreme weather conditions.

A 22-kilometer-long traffic jam has formed on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, stretching from the World Road roundabout in Sarail, Brahmanbaria, to Budhanti in Bijoynagar upazila. The congestion began on Tuesday evening and worsened by Wednesday morning after two cargo trucks broke down near Shahbazpur Bridge and Islamabad areas, causing severe suffering for thousands of passengers and transport workers.

According to police and local sources, the gridlock started when a lorry and a covered van collided head-on in heavy rain at Baishamura in Sarail upazila. Although highway police and fire service personnel removed the damaged vehicles after about an hour, the traffic backlog had already built up. Continuous rain overnight left potholes filled with water, further worsening road conditions.

Only one lane toward Sylhet remains open at the World Road intersection, as development work has closed two other lanes. Highway police are working continuously to ease the situation and restore normal traffic flow as soon as possible.

Chattogram experienced its highest rainfall in 43 years, with 394 millimeters recorded in 24 hours on Tuesday, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The previous record was 407 millimeters on July 5, 1983. The heavy and continuous downpour submerged large parts of the city, including major roads and low-lying areas, causing severe disruption for residents. Authorities have warned people living near hills to move to safer places due to landslide risks.

Other regions also saw significant rainfall, including Bandarban with 176 millimeters, Sitakunda 170, Hatiya 143, Khepupara 106, and Teknaf 94. Even Dhaka experienced waterlogging after 46 millimeters of rain. The weather office stated that rainfall above 88 millimeters in 24 hours is considered very heavy. A warning signed by meteorologist A.K.M. Nazmul Haque said heavy to very heavy rain may continue in several divisions over the next 48 hours.

The Bangladesh Weather Observatory Team reported that a strong monsoon belt has entered the country and may remain active until July 13, with risks of flash floods and landslides in Sylhet and the Chattogram Hill Tracts.

Train operations between Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar were disrupted as four scheduled services were canceled due to waterlogging on the railway line. Two trains, the Prabal Express from Chattogram and the Saikat Express from Cox’s Bazar, had their entire journeys canceled. The remaining two, Cox’s Bazar Express and Parjotok Express, suspended only the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar leg, with alternative arrangements made to transport passengers to their destinations. Ticket refunds began Wednesday morning for affected passengers.

According to railway officials, the cancellations were caused by flooding that submerged about two feet of track between Soloshahar and Janalihut in Chattogram city. The Cox’s Bazar Express could not depart for Cox’s Bazar but was rescheduled to leave for Dhaka at 4 p.m. Passengers holding tickets for the canceled route who wished to travel to Dhaka were allowed to use the same tickets for the rescheduled train.

Railway authorities stated that refunds were being processed at ticket counters and that operations would resume once water levels recede.

The Sahati River in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur is facing a severe existential crisis due to encroachment and pollution. Local residents report that influential individuals have occupied large portions of the riverbanks, planting trees and converting the land for private use. They are demanding immediate government intervention to reclaim the occupied areas, dredge the river, and construct embankments on both sides to prevent further damage.

Residents of Chapajhora village say the river is a key drainage route for hill runoff in northern Jhenaigati, but water flow has deteriorated drastically. The absence of embankments causes annual flooding, damaging homes and farmland. Over the past two years, about 40–50 feet of land along the northern bank has turned into sand, threatening 100–150 acres of cropland.

Officials from the Sherpur Water Development Board stated that a proposal has been sent to higher authorities for excavation and drainage improvement. They emphasized the river’s importance to local agriculture and pledged to expedite necessary work.

Continuous heavy rainfall has caused severe waterlogging across low-lying areas of Chattogram, disrupting daily life and transport. Streets have gone underwater, slowing vehicle movement and forcing residents to wade through water to reach destinations. The city recorded 237.5 millimeters of rain in 24 hours until Wednesday morning, following 412 millimeters the previous day. Despite city corporation claims of improved drainage, incidents such as a wall collapse in East Nasirabad killing one person and road damage near Patenga have highlighted the impact.

Transport and port operations have been severely affected. Train services on the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar route remain suspended, and several flights failed to land at Shah Amanat International Airport due to adverse weather. The district administration has issued warning signal number three, citing increased landslide risks. Evacuation drives are underway in 26 risky hill areas, with schools and mosques prepared as temporary shelters.

Meteorologists attribute the heavy rain to active monsoon winds and moisture from the Bay of Bengal. Forecasts warn of continued heavy rainfall and potential flash floods in Chattogram and nearby districts over the next 48 to 72 hours, with gradual improvement expected after July 11.

Train movement on the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar route has been suspended after a section of the railway line went underwater due to continuous bad weather, heavy rainfall, and hill torrents. Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at Chattogram station since early Wednesday, July 8, 2026, according to a notice from Bangladesh Railway’s Public Relations Director Anisur Rahman.

The notice stated that the tracks between Janalihat and Soloshohor stations are submerged under about two feet of water, prompting authorities to halt train operations for safety reasons. The Tourist Express from Dhaka, which reached Chattogram on Tuesday, could not continue to Cox’s Bazar and was sent back to Dhaka. Similarly, the Cox’s Bazar Express from Dhaka has been waiting at Chattogram station since early morning.

Bangladesh Railway said passengers wishing to cancel their trips can receive refunds at the Chattogram station counter, while those returning to Dhaka can travel back on the same train at 4 p.m. The railway authority expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the sudden natural disaster.

The High Court has issued a rule questioning why the failure to prevent severe air pollution caused by a fire at the Matuail landfill, the largest waste disposal site under Dhaka South City Corporation, should not be declared illegal. The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice A.F.M. Saiful Karim issued the rule following a preliminary hearing on a related writ petition.

The court asked why the inaction or failure to control toxic smoke and air pollution from waste burning under the Matuail Sanitary Landfill Expansion Project should not be deemed unlawful. It also sought explanations for the absence of preventive measures through law enforcement and implementation of the project’s master plan. The secretaries of the Local Government and Environment ministries, the CEO of Dhaka South City Corporation, the director of the Department of Environment in Dhaka, the project director of the landfill expansion, and the district commissioner were directed to respond.

Lawyer Abul Kalam Azad, who represented the petitioner, argued that open dumping and burning of waste are prohibited under air pollution control regulations, yet the city corporation’s own project has become a major pollution source.

Authorities in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram have imposed a three-day ban on tourist entry to all hilly waterfalls under the Baraidala Range due to adverse weather conditions. The Chattogram North Forest Division and the upazila administration announced the restriction through a notice signed by Range Officer Md Ashraful Alam on Monday afternoon. The ban will remain effective from July 7 to July 10, during which no tickets will be sold and visitors will not be allowed to enter the waterfalls within Baraidala National Park.

Officials said the decision was taken to ensure tourist safety amid heavy rainfall that has increased the risk of flash floods, landslides, and strong water currents in the waterfalls. Leaseholders have been instructed to prevent tourist access and suspend ticket sales during the closure period.

Mirsarai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Somaia Akter stated that the water flow in the waterfalls has risen sharply, making visits extremely risky. Similar precautionary measures are taken every monsoon to prevent accidents caused by heavy rain and hill torrents in the area.

The Sajek Valley tourism center in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati has been temporarily closed following continuous rainfall and adverse weather conditions. According to an emergency notice issued by the district administration, the closure took effect from Tuesday evening, July 7, and will remain in force until further notice. The decision was made to ensure the safety of tourists and residents amid potential risks caused by the current weather.

The notice, signed by Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, stated that all tourist sites, waterfalls, hill trails, remote areas, and risky locations within Sajek Valley will remain off-limits to tourists, tour operators, and the general public during this period. The administration also urged everyone to exercise caution while traveling in different parts of the district and to follow official instructions.

The announcement comes as heavy rainfall continues across the region, prompting local authorities to prioritize public safety and restrict movement in vulnerable areas until conditions improve.