PM Orders Emergency Aid as Chattogram Floods Claim 30 Lives

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered immediate and coordinated relief operations for victims of the devastating floods and landslides in the Chattogram division. The disaster, triggered by incessant rainfall, has claimed at least 30 lives and left thousands of people marooned across five districts.

Under the government’s General Relief (GR) programme, Tk2.15 crore in cash and 3,450 tonnes of rice have been promptly delivered to Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban. The Prime Minister directed civil administrations, the Armed Forces, the Coast Guard, and ruling party activists to work together to ensure no one is left behind.

Field-level reports indicate that safe drinking water, sanitation, and medical services are being prioritized. The Army and law enforcement agencies are currently leading rescue missions in hilly areas where communication is disrupted. Tragically, two children, aged 6 and 11, were swept away by powerful currents in Banshkhali today, further highlighting the peril facing the region.

Infrastructure has also been heavily impacted. Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations in the affected areas are postponed. To mitigate future risks, the government has launched a tender to raise the 47-km Chattogram-Dohazari railway line by five feet to prevent waterlogging. Families living in landslide-prone zones will be relocated to safe housing.