Bandarban, Feni and Cox's Bazar floating on water 

Rain and onrush of water from upstream caused the flooding to worsen in the hilly district of Bandarban, and Feni and Cox's Bazar yesterday.

This is the second time floods have affected these places this year.

Around 40,000 people in Bandarban were marooned and road communications between the district and other parts of the country remained snapped for the second consecutive day yesterday, reports our correspondent there citing local public representatives.

Tourists have been stranded and there is no electricity at many places in the district since Saturday night.

Locals said low lying areas of Lama, Thanchi, Ruma, Rowangchhari, Alikadom, Naikkhangchhari of the district have gone under six to eight feet of water.

Wapda Bridge, Bus Station, Army Para, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Islampur, Member Para, Officer's Club, and Hafezghona in Bandarban municipality area have also gone under water.

Many flood affected people have taken refuge in schools and cyclone shelters.

Abul Kalam Azad, sub-divisional engineer for Bangladesh Water Development Board, said the Matamuhuri was flowing 72cm above the danger level near Lama while the Sangu 65cm in the town.

Flash floods due to excessive rain, elevation of the river bed due to earth filling, and encroachment of river banks contributed to the flooding, he said.

Mizanul Haque Choudhury, deputy commissioner of Bandarban, said the administration opened eight relief centres in the town and Lama to give people dry food, water, medicines and other necessities.

Quoting Deputy Commissioner Ali Hossain, our Cox's Bazar correspondent said hundreds of houses have gone under flood water in 14 unions of Chakaria and Pekua upazilas.

Over 50,000 inhabitants in the two upazilas have been marooned.

Zahirul Islam of Pekua said they had taken shelter on high ground with their livestock and valuables.

Chakaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahedul Islam said Bomubilchhari, Manikpur, Kakara, Lakhyarchar, Chiringa, Boroitoli, Shaharbil and Konakhali of the upazila, which had suffered in the previous flooding in June, have gone under water again.

The Met office recorded 131mm of rain in Cox's Bazar between yesterday morning and 3:00pm.