Record-breaking rainfall brings Cox’s Bazar to its knees, traps tourists

Cox’s Bazar has been battered by 501 mm of rainfall within 24 hours in the final days of the Bengali month of Bhadra, marking the heaviest downpour in two decades across Bangladesh.

The torrential rains triggered landslides that claimed the lives of six people from two families.

The heavy rainfall has submerged the tourist city’s hotels and motels, leaving around 100 villages across the district waterlogged.

Meteorologist Shahinul Islam told that from 3pm on Thursday to 3pm on Friday, Cox’s Bazar recorded 501 mm of rainfall.

The previous highest rainfall in two decades was set on Jun 14, 2001, when 590 mm of rain was recorded in Sandwip, Chattogram.

The second-highest rainfall of 476 mm occurred in Nikli, Kishoreganj on Oct 6, 2023.

In a weather alert issued on Friday morning, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department warned of a well-marked low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, which, according to meteorologist Kazi Zebunnessa, turned into a depression by 3pm.

“This is causing the heavy rain, which is expected to subside [Saturday],” she said.

The rainfall has caused waterlogging in 90 percent of Cox’s Bazar resort town.

The rainwater has submerged 50 sub-roads, including the main road. Water has entered many business establishments, damaging goods and residents are facing severe hardships as their homes are inundated.

The tourist zone of Kolatoli is submerged, including all roads, beachside areas and markets. Around 20 sub-roads connecting to more than 500 hotels along Kolatoli Road are also submerged, leaving several thousand tourists trapped in their rooms.

Abul Kashem Sikder, president of the Cox’s Bazar Hotel Motel Guest House Owners Association, said: “The hotel-motel zone is completely submerged. Kolatoli Road, sub- roads, the beachside Chata Market, the area from Hotel Laboni to Sugandha, all are underwater.”

Major areas such as Bazarghata, Borobazar, Fish Market, Anderson Road, Tekpara, Peshkarpara, Burmese Market, Buddhist Temple Road and several others have also been inundated.

Nearly 500,000 people are affected in these areas.

Akhtar Kamal, councillor of ward No. 1 of the municipality, said: “If heavy rainfall continues, 10,000 houses in this ward will be submerged. Around 80,000 working-class people live here.”