Incessant rainfall all through the day drenched the entire country yesterday, flooding many streets and neighbourhoods of the capital, and ushering tidal surges in coastal districts.
At least five people were killed in the coastal district of Barguna and the capital in accidents linked to the inclement weather caused by a depression in the Bay of Bengal that has been sweeping over the country for the last three days.
Thousands of people were marooned as many parts of the southern districts and Cox's Bazar were inundated, destroying numerous mud houses and standing crops, and washing away fish ponds and shrimp enclosures.
Numerous flood protection dams were breached by gushing rainwater in the southern districts. Many villages in last year's Aila affected areas were inundated anew. All over the country normal life was severely disrupted.The Met Office advised the maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, and Mongla to keep hoisted the cautionary signal number three.
The depression over the northwest bay and adjoining West Bengal-Bangladesh coast moved northeastwards and crossed the coast near Mongla at 6:00pm yesterday, and was lying over Barisal, Noakhali and the adjoining area as a land depression, said a special bulletin of the Met Office.
It is likely to move in a northeasterly direction further inland, and gradually weaken by giving precipitation. Squally weather may continue over the north bay and coastal areas, the bulletin added.
The low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Chandpur, Pirozpur, Jhalakathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their off shore islands and shoals are likely to be inundated by wind driven surges of heights 2 to 4 feet above normal astronomical tides, the bulletin cautioned.
All fishing boats and trawlers in the north bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelters till further notice.
"New moon and heavy rainfall with gusty wind triggered by the prevailing depression have unleashed the nature's fury on the low-lying coastal areas," said meteorologist SM Mahmudul Haque.
River communication between Dhaka and the coastal districts was partially disrupted as Bangladsh Inland Water Transportation Aauthority (BIWTA) decided not to allow operation of any launch smaller than 70 feet. Internal launch communication in Patuakhali also remained suspended till last night since Tuesday, due to the same reason.
Ferry communication on Mawa-Kawrakandi and Paturia-Daulatdia routes were also disrupted causing long traffic jams on both sides of the highways.
A teenage boy and a girl were killed in the capital's Kha Para of Khilkhet as a boundary wall collapsed on them due to heavy rain. The victims are Sumi Akter, 15, a garment factory worker; and Ratan, 13, a tea-stall worker, said Officer-in-charge of Khilkhet Police Station.
At least three people including a child were killed in Barguna, reported our Patuakhali correspondent.
The dead were identified as Sapin, 5, of Char Colony area of Barguna town; Minara, 28, of Atharogachhia village; and Noren, 30, of Tiakhali village of Amatali upazila.
Local residents said Sapin was washed away by a tidal surge around 9:00am as their house was being inundated. Later, family members recovered his body from nearby Khakdon canal.
Minara and Noren died in a separate incident when their mud house collapsed on them.
Road communication between Kuakata, a tourist spot in Patuakhali, and others parts of the country remained snapped till last night as gangways of four ferry terminals on Patuakhali-Barisal highway went under water.
Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of Barguna District Fishing Trawler Owners Association, said at least 50 fishermen of the area were missing since Wednesday with five trawlers. An unusual tidal surge occurred at the coast of the district yesterday.
Since Wednesday night 9,047 hectares of crop lands went under water in Patuakhali, 8,831 hectares of those had been newly planted with aman paddies, 150 hectares had been planted with vegetables, while 66 hectares had been betel leaf fields, according to the district's Relief and Rehabilitation Office.
Lowlands and more than 100 shoals in the 7 upazilas of the district were flooded in the last three days, inundating more than 100 villages as flood control dams were breached at 50 points.
Around 14,000 houses of 142 villages were inundated as 40 kilometres of embankment of different upazilas collapsed in Cox's Bazaar. Around two hundred shrimp enclosures was also washed away, reports a correspondent from Cox's Bazaar.
At least 15 villages in Padmapukur, an Aila affected union under Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district, were inundated as water entered into the areas collapsing embankment at two points on the river Kabodak due to violent tide on Thursday night, our Satkhira correspondent adds.
The embankment covering 120 yards at two points--Khutikata and the house of Daud Moral-- at village Padmapukur was devoured into the river caused by heavy pressure of water from the river due to high tide inundation.
Over 12,000 people of all most all the villages in Padmapukur union were marooned and again compelled to take shelter on high lands in the areas.
Due to heavy downpour and collapse of embankments at Aila affected Dakop and Koira upazilas of Khulna district, Sharankhola, Morrelganj and Mongla upazilas of Bagerhat district, over three lakh people were rendered homeless again, reports our correspondent from Khulna.
According to UNOs of Koira and Dakop upazilas, 74 villages have been submerged under five to six feet water after the embankments were washed away. All UNOs of Khulna and Bagerhat districts have been asked to remain standby to render their services to the marooned people.
Cargo handling at Mongla port remained suspended since Thursday due to hostile weather.
Six ships laden with imported food grains, fertiliser, clinker and exportable jute goods have been moved to safer place at Mongla port, said Harbour Master Inamul Huq.
Several lakhs of people in the low-lying areas in all the upazilas under Chandpur district, chars of Matlab and Haimchar were marooned due to the downpour.
Similar reports were received from Noakhali, Barisal, Chittagong, Feni, Bhola and other coastal areas.
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