Chittagong Bureau

Chattogram has recorded its highest rainfall of the season, prompting the district administration to begin loudspeaker announcements to evacuate residents from landslide-prone areas.

Triggered by a deep depression, heavy rain began across the port city from Thursday morning and continued through Friday.

The Patenga Meteorological Office reported 229mm of rainfall in the 24 hours to 6pm on Friday--the highest recorded in the city this season.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued landslide alerts for hilly regions in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, and the three hill districts--Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban--due to extremely heavy rain.

It has also warned of temporary waterlogging in parts of Dhaka and Chattogram.

Chattogram district authorities began public announcements over loudspeakers in vulnerable areas from Thursday night, warning residents to evacuate from unauthorised settlements on hillsides.

Shelters across the city have been readied.

Nezarat Deputy Collector (NDC) of Chattogram Md Al Amin Hossain told,

Volunteers under district administration supervision are relocating families from dangerous hillside homes to safety.

“Shelters are prepared and those staying there will be provided with meals,” he added.

Among the shelters opened are Feroz Shah Government Primary School, B Block Government Primary School and Lalkhan Bazar Government Primary School.Met Office forecaster Md Zahirul Islam told,

heavy rainfall was likely again overnight Friday, raising fresh concerns over landslides and localised tidal surges.

“Rain will continue intermittently on Saturday, but the intensity should ease. From Sunday, the overall rainfall will begin to decline,” he said.

According to the weather bulletin issued on Friday, under the influence of the low pressure system, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely across many areas in Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions over the 24 hours following 6pm Friday.

A 2023 survey by the Chattogram district administration listed 6,558 illegal structures on 26 hills in the city, both public and privately owned.

Of these, 6,175 families were living on 16 hills under government agencies, while 383 families were residing on 10 hills under private ownership.

On Jun 11, 2007, 127 people were killed in landslides in Chattogram and its surrounding areas following torrential rain.

Since then, numerous deaths have been reported in the city due to landslides over the past 19 years.