Bay depression suspends Hatiya naval communication, strands thousands amid heavy rain

Naval communication with Hatiya, an isolated island upazila in Noakhali, has been cut off for four days. A depression in the Bay of Bengal has made the Meghna River turbulent, leading to the suspension of all vessel operations since Sunday morning.

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The four-day continuous rain has caused severe waterlogging, submerging Aman rice seedbeds under two to three feet of water.

Thousands of passengers and hundreds of vehicles remain stranded at Hatiya's ferry ghats, unable to travel to the Noakhali district headquarters or other parts of the country. The halt in services has disrupted daily life and commerce for the island's residents.

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As ferry services have been suspended since Sunday, hundreds of goods-laden vehicles are stuck at both Chairman Ghat and Nalchira Ghat.

Adding to the disruption, continuous heavy rainfall has caused widespread waterlogging. Low-lying areas in Hatiya and Subarnachar upazilas, as well as parts of the district town, are submerged. Hatiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rashed Iqbal confirmed the severity of the situation.

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Approximately 57 mm of rainfall was recorded in the district town over 24 hours.

Noakhali town recorded approximately 57 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, while Hatiya experienced a much higher 200 mm. The torrential rain is expected to persist until July 12, with a full return to normalcy potentially taking another three to four days. The waterlogging has submerged Aman rice seedbeds under two to three feet of water, threatening agricultural livelihoods.

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200 mm of rainfall was recorded in Hatiya over 24 hours.