Bandarban extends tourist sites closure until 12 July amid heavy rain, landslide risks
The district administration has extended the closure of all tourist sites by two more days as persistent heavy rainfall continues to raise the risk of landslides and flooding.
Highlights
- Bandarban extends tourist site closure until 12 July.
- Travel to waterfalls, trails and remote areas remains prohibited.
- Heavy rain pushes Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers above danger level.
- Authorities warn of landslides and further heavy rainfall.
The Bandarban district administration has extended the closure of all tourist sites until 12 July as persistent heavy rainfall continues to create hazardous conditions across the hill district.
The decision was announced in a public notice issued today (8 July) and signed by Deputy Commissioner Md Saniul Ferdous.
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According to the notice, continuous heavy rainfall has increased the risk of disruption to transport networks and other weather-related hazards in different parts of the district. Considering the prevailing conditions and to ensure the safety of tourists and residents, the administration has extended the closure of all tourist destinations until 12 July.
The ban covers all tourist spots, waterfalls, hill trails, waterways, remote areas and other vulnerable locations. Tourists, tour operators and the general public have been prohibited from travelling to these places during the period.
The administration had earlier ordered the closure of all tourist sites from 6 to 10 July. The restriction has now been extended by two days due to the deteriorating weather.
Meanwhile, intermittent rainfall continued in Bandarban for a third consecutive day. Although conditions remained dry during the morning, light rain resumed after 10:00am on Wednesday.
The prolonged rainfall also disrupted normal activities in the district town, with the weekly Marma market in the Madhyam Para area remaining closed and few buyers or sellers seen throughout the day.
No major landslides have been reported outside the town so far. Road communication between Bandarban and Dhaka, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati and the upazilas remains normal.
However, traffic on the Bandarban-Ruma road via Rowangchhari has been suspended after a Bailey bridge in the Kalaghata area went underwater. Motorcycles are still crossing the area despite the risks.
Sanatan Kumar Mondal, an official at the Bandarban Weather Observatory, said the district recorded 210 millimetres of rainfall in the 24 hours until 6:00pm on Wednesday, classifying it as heavy rainfall.
He said active monsoon conditions are likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions during the next 48 hours.
He also warned that heavy rainfall could trigger temporary waterlogging in parts of Chattogram city and increase the risk of landslides in the hilly areas of Chattogram Division.
Bandarban Executive Engineer Apu Dev said the danger levels for the Matamuhuri and Sangu rivers are 11.80 metres and 14.80 metres respectively.
As of Wednesday evening, the Matamuhuri River was flowing at 11.98 metres, while the Sangu River had risen to 16.06 metres, both above their respective danger levels.
