Photo: BSS

   DHAKA, July 12, 2026 (BSS) – The disaster management and relief ministry today said they officially recorded 51 deaths caused by floods, heavy rainfall and related landslides since last week as rivers in two of the country’s four major river basins surpassed their danger levels.

   “As many as 1,022,963 people have been affected while 267918 families marooned in the flood hit 58 upazilas, 386 unions and 11 municipalities, the ministry said in a statement.

   It said the flood affected districts are Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Chattogram in Chattogram division and Moulvibazar and Habiganj in Sylhet division.

   The ministry said 44,457 people took makeshift refuge at 1,131 flood shelters in affected areas.

   The statement came as the Flood Forecast and Warning Centre (FFWC) said rivers in the northeastern Meghna Basin and southwestern Hill Basin surpassed their bank lines at several points while two rivers in Rangpur division in north and northwestern Brahmaputra Basin also started rising.

   A FFWC bulletin issued in the afternoon said during the next 24 to 48 hours, Sylhet, Rangpur and Mymensingh divisions and the adjoining Indian states of Meghalaya, Assam, and West Bengal are likely to witness “heavy to very heavy rainfall”.

   It said the downpour and gushing waters from the upstream regions could inflate the water levels in rivers in the regions in the next two days.

   The disaster management ministry said it allocated Tk 4.60 crore in cash and 8,950 tonnes of rice for humanitarian assistance across all 64 districts since July 7 to support people affected by floods, rains and other natural disasters.

   It said of the succour, Tk 1.75 crore and 3250 tonnes of rice were earmarked for the already flood-hit seven north-eastern and south-eastern districts in Sylhet and Chattagram divisions alongside northern Sherpur and north-western Kurigram.

   
   FFWC operates 127 monitoring stations across Bangladesh while the Centre said three rivers at five stations in five districts were now flowing above the danger level

   These are: The Sangu River in Bandarban and Dohazari of Chattogram; Kushiyara at Markuli of Sunamganj and Fenchuganj  of Sylhet; and Someswari at Khalmakanda of Netrokona station.

   BSS Chattogram bureau quoting divisional commissioner’s office reported approximately 80,000 homesteads, 344 educational institutions, 3,840 kilometers of roads, and 339 bridges and culverts were damaged by the deluge.

  According to the commissioner’s office, a total of 408 unions and municipalities across 11 districts in the division have been impacted by the flooding while 34,723 people took refuge in flood shelters out of the nationwide figure of 44,457.

   It said of the affected areas Chattogram district appeared to be worst hit district with 176 unions and municipalities.

    The flood affected 74 unions and municipalities in Cox's Bazar, 42 in Rangamati, 41 in Khagrachari, and 36 in Bandarban.

   Cox's Bazar has recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 28 deaths attributed to the floods and related landslides while the toll is 13 in Chattogram district.

   The government called out army troops alongside paramilitary forces like BGB for relief and rescue operations in affected areas alongside mobilising medical teams to treat the sick and wounded people.

   The UN World Food Programme (WFP), meanwhile, activated anticipatory humanitarian assistance in Bandarban, providing emergency cash support to more than 15,600 vulnerable households, benefiting around 75,000 people, ahead of the expected peak flooding.

   “The government will continue relief support as long it was required and take rehabilitation programmes once the situation returns to normalcy,” State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief M Iqbal Hossain said after visiting flood-hit areas in Rangamati and Khagrachhari. 

   Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, meanwhile, has tasked State Minister for energy Aninda Islam Amit to oversee the flood management in Chattogram division.

   The Meteorological Department today forecast widespread rainfall across most parts of the country over the next five days as the active monsoon continues and advised residents in flood and landslide-prone areas to remain alert in view of heavier downpours in the coming days.