Chattogram Flooded: 650mm Rain Postpones Exams, Heightens Landslide Risk

Chattogram, Bangladesh, is grappling with severe flooding after experiencing over 650mm of rain in just 48 hours, inundating large parts of the city and surrounding upazilas. The downpour, the third-highest 24-hour rainfall in the Chattogram Meteorological Office's history, has submerged roads and low-lying neighborhoods, disrupting transport and leaving thousands stranded.

Public transport ground to a halt, with commuters struggling to find rickshaws or any form of transport. Rainwater flooded the ground floors of shops and businesses, forcing many to close. While the Chattogram City Corporation claimed rapid water recession in some areas due to cleared canals, many neighborhoods remained underwater.

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I have been waiting for 20 minutes but cannot find an empty rickshaw.

The adverse weather also significantly impacted education. The ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations under the Chattogram Education Board were postponed, and the University of Chittagong suspended all classes and examinations for the day. Many primary and secondary schools also declared unscheduled holidays.

Beyond the city, continuous rainfall and runoff from hills flooded 16 unions in Anwara and Karnaphuli upazilas, affecting thousands. Power infrastructure damage in Anwara led to prolonged electricity outages, hindering exam preparation for students like HSC candidate Aklima Sharmin. Local authorities are monitoring the situation, preparing emergency shelters, and working to restore power, while also warning of heightened landslide risks in hilly areas.

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I cannot prepare properly for my examination because of the prolonged power outage.