The flood situation in the country has been becoming normal as the rainfall in last two days was receded. The floods in districts like Chatrtogram, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari is improving than its previous stage as the flood-water is being drained out. However, huge damages resulted from the floods are being visible after the flood water is reduced, albeit the authority concerned didn’t calculate the total amount of loss yet.

With the subsidence of the flood water, vehicle movement has started to return to normal on regional and local roads including Chittagong-Cox's Bazar highway, Chittagong-Rangamati highway and on Keranihat-Bandarban. Meanwhile, bodies of 10 people including children have been recovered in different areas. The bodies of five people, including four children, were recovered in Chakaria and Pekua upazilas of Cox's Bazar from morning to noon yesterday. Among them, three bodies were found in Pekua upazila and two bodies, including an unidentified one, were found in Chakaria upazila.

News sent by our own correspondents and district representatives—

Chittagong: With the flood water receding, traffic has started to return to normal on regional and local roads including Chittagong-Cox's Bazar highway, Chittagong-Rangamati highway, Keranihat-Bandarban. Army, BGB, local administration and many others have personally stood by the victims. Tourists from various tourist centers including Sajek in Bandarban, Khagrachari have started going to their destinations. Although the situation has improved in the headquarters of the three hill districts, the total damage of the remote upazilas is not yet known. Bandarban District Commissioner Shah Mojahid Uddin said eight people have died in Bandarban due to landslides. However, their detailed identity was not found. Besides, two people are missing and 17 people are injured. But the situation has started to normalize. Water has gone down from Bandarban Sadar and Lama. Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers-waters have dropped below the danger level. However, road communications with Rowanchari, Ruma and Thanchi was not normal. Electricity and mobile network are remaining so. Roads in various areas have suffered several damages including large potholes. On the other hand, seven people have been reported dead in Chandnaish, Lohagara, Hathazari of Chittagong due to continuous rain. Apart from this, seven people are still missing. The bodies of Mohammad Anis (12) and Abu Syed (81) from Dohazari were recovered from Patalipool in Chakaria last Wednesday (August 9) afternoon. These two are grandparents who lived in a rented house in Chandnaish. Two days ago they were swept away by the flood waters.

Cox's Bazar: There was no heavy rain in Cox's Bazar from last Tuesday evening till Wednesday morning. Although there was light rain in the morning and afternoon, it did not last long. However, even though the water has started to recede, new fears have arisen among the people back home. There is no environment to cook and eat there as well as an acute shortage of fresh water. On Wednesday morning in Chakaria upazila, the intensity of erosion was visible on some roads submerged in water. At least 50 places were broken in the 3 km area of Kakra-Minabazar road. The road has already become impassable. The bodies of four children were recovered in Pekua and Chakaria from Thursday morning to noon. Among them, three bodies were found in Pekua upazila and one in Chakaria upazila. The four children are – Son of Md Emran, resident of Chakria Badarkhali Union Ward No. 7 Veruakhalipara,  Zeeshan (9), Tahida Begum (10) daughter of Nurul Alam of Uzantia Union of Pekua Upazila and son of Amir Hoshain (7) and their close relative Humaira Begum (8) daughter of Chhaber Ahmad. Meanwhile, Pekua Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Purvita Chakma has confirmed the fact that the bodies of three children were recovered from the Sahebkhali Canal in Ferasingapara of Uzantia Union of Pekua on Thursday at around 8 am.

Chakaria (Cox's Bazar): 10 people died in Chakria of Cox's Bazar due to continuous rain and flood from upstream. These deaths occurred in different areas of the upazila. Last Monday, a young man named Shahalam (35) went missing after jumping into the river at the target point of Matamuhuri river. The body of a person named Anwar Hossain (70) who drowned in flood water was recovered from Manikpur area around 9 am on Wednesday. Anwar was missing since the previous morning. On the same day at around 10 pm, three persons, including a father and two sons, died while cleaning a septic tank submerged in flood water in North Bahaddarkata area of BMchar Union. On the other hand, in Ward No. 3 of East Bara Veola Union in Haji Roshan Ali Para area, a child named Asif (12) jumped from the culvert of the railway line and disappeared into the flood water. He has not been found yet. Meanwhile, at around 12 o'clock on Thursday, from Goakhali area of Badarkhali Union, The body of a child named Md Jihan (12) was found floating in the flood water. Apart from this, police recovered the floating body of an unknown person from Khutakhali area.

Khagrachari: The water of Chengi and Maini rivers in Khagrachari is rising due to rain again. As there was no rain for a day last Wednesday, the affected people returned to their homes. However, due to heavy rains since yesterday morning, the affected people are once again in fear of flooding. The flood-affected families have been left alone in the mud in the hilly alluvium. Many of the flood-affected families of Khagrachari Sadar left the shelter and returned to their homes. But as the rainfall has increased again, Chengi was under tension of drowning in the river-water. However, the water level of Maini river in Dighinala upazila has not decreased much yet.

Bandarban: After six days of deadlock, the overall flood situation in Bandarban is improving since yesterday morning. The water receded from the flooded areas by 10 am. However, no one was seen going home from the shelters until Thursdsay evening as there was no environment to go home. According to Bandarban district administration sources, a total of 252 shelter centers have been opened in the district, including 46 shelter centers in the district sadar. Cooked food and clean water are being distributed to the flood victims in these shelters.

Feni: In Fulgazi and Parashuram of Feni, the speed of water entering the localities has reduced, but now there is water in various roads and localities. Due to the lack of rain in the last two days, the velocity of upstream water entering the locality has reduced a lot. However, since the rain started again on Thursday afternoon, the residents here are worried. Although the velocity of water entering the localities from upstream through the broken dams of Muhuri and Kahua rivers has decreased, there is still water in 10 villages of the two upazilas. The Feni to Parashuram road is under water for the fourth day. However, the water has reduced a little from the main road. Another child named Juni Chakma (7) died after drowning in Hirarchar area of Khedarmara Union of Baghaichari.

Lalmonirhat: River water at Teesta barrage point is once again touching the danger limit due to upstream surge and rainfall. Teesta water is flowing 7 cm below the boundary line. The authorities have opened 44 gates of the barrage to control the water. Residents on the banks of the river fear of floods again. At 9 am on Thursday at Doani Point of Teesta Barrage, the country's largest irrigation project, the Teesta water flow was recorded at 52.8 cm, which is flowing 7 cm below the danger line.

Warning to river ports of 12 regions: Rain with thunder may occur over 12 regions of the country including Dhaka. Therefore, warning signal number 1 has been raised in the river ports of these areas. Yesterday, the Meteorological Office made such a forecast. Meteorologist Md. Mizanur Rahman said temporary rain or gusty wind with a speed of 45-60 km per hour from south/south-east over Mymensingh, Dhaka, Faridpur, Madaripur, Khulna, Barisal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Comilla, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Sylhet regions might be visible. There may be rain with thunder. The number 1 signal has been asked to hoist at the seaports in these areas.

@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on August 11 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque