All official leaves cancelled in Chattogram due to continuous rain

All types of leave, including weekly holidays, for all officials and employees under the Chattogram district administration have been cancelled to tackle the ongoing severe flood situation triggered by relentless heavy rainfall.

The announcement was made by Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Jahidul Islam Miah during an exchange of views with reporters at the DC office on Thursday (July 9).

He stated that continuous heavy downpours over the past five days have resulted in the highest rainfall recorded in Chattogram in the last four decades. Consequently, at least 450,000 people across the district have been marooned due to mountain torrents and severe waterlogging.

The Deputy Commissioner highlighted that Satkania upazila is the worst hit, with nearly 70 percent of its area submerged under water. Vast swathes of land in Chandanaish, Lohagara, Banshkhali, and Boalkhali upazilas have also been inundated.

To handle the crisis, 24-hour control rooms have been opened in every upazila as well as at the DC office. Rescue operations, relief distribution, and the overall situation are being actively monitored through these hubs.

Stressing that saving human lives is the administration's top priority during this disaster, the Deputy Commissioner urged residents in vulnerable zones to move to safe shelters without delay.

He added that updated reports on the situation are being sent regularly to the Prime Minister's Office, and necessary directives are being received from there.

Regarding relief distribution, the Deputy Commissioner noted that the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has allocated 200 metric tonnes of rice and BDT 1 million. Additionally, financial assistance of BDT 2 million has been received from the Prime Minister's relief fund.