Persistent Monsoon Rains Trigger Landslide Alerts Across Chittagong

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Persistent monsoon rains have triggered significant concerns in Chittagong, as the port city faces a prolonged spell of downpours that has inundated low-lying areas and elevated the risk of catastrophic landslides. Residents have seen little sunlight over the past several days, with meteorological experts warning that the inclement weather is unlikely to subside in the immediate future.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the active southwest monsoon, coupled with moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal, has created ideal conditions for continuous, heavy precipitation. Although a recent monsoon depression has migrated toward the Indian states of Jharkhand and Odisha, the department forecasts that the heavy rainfall will likely persist across the southeastern region, including Chittagong, for at least another week.

Mohammad Abdur Rahman Khan, deputy director of the Weather and Geophysical Center in Chittagong, attributed the intensity of the current weather pattern to the seasonal convergence of moisture and active monsoon winds. Data from the Ambagan weather station confirms the severity of the situation, recording 115 millimeters of rainfall in the 24-hour period ending Monday evening—a volume classified by authorities as heavy rain.

In response to the mounting threat of landslides, the district administration has intensified safety measures. Officials have deployed teams led by six assistant commissioners to conduct emergency public announcements, urging residents in vulnerable hillside and coastal zones to relocate to safer grounds immediately.

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Local authorities have designated a network of storm shelters, including schools, colleges, mosques, and madrasas, to accommodate displaced citizens. Public warnings have been broadcast throughout high-risk areas, including Akbar Shah, Bijoynagar, Shantinagar, Motijhorna, and the riverbanks of Bakalia.

District Commissioner Mohammad Jahidul Islam Mia stated that the issuance of local warning signal number 3 has heightened the necessity for caution. He confirmed that the district administration is maintaining continuous surveillance of the region, ensuring that shelter facilities remain operational and ready to serve those in need as the heavy rainfall continues to compromise the stability of the hilly terrain.