Bandarban plans to resume HSC exams, reopen tourist spots from 16 July if weather improves
About 70% of the district was inundated during the recent floods, affecting 12,500 families and triggering 47 landslides.
The Bandarban district administration is planning to resume suspended Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations and reopen the district's tourist attractions from 16 July, provided weather conditions improve and the flood situation returns to normal.
The decision will depend on further improvements in the weather and the overall flood situation, Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Saniul Ferdous said at a press conference today (14 July).
He said this year's floods inundated around 70% of the district, affecting 12,500 families and claiming seven lives in landslides.
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"A total of 47 landslides have been recorded across the district so far, including 11 major incidents. Landslides and fallen trees disrupted road communication at 21 locations, although most routes have now been reopened with the assistance of the Roads and Highways Department, the Fire Service and the Bangladesh Army," the DC added.
He said residents from vulnerable areas had been evacuated to shelters. At present, 2,582 people are staying in flood shelters, while around 12,500 families remain marooned.
Lama municipality and Bandarban Sadar upazila have been the worst-hit areas, he added.
According to the district administration, Bandarban recorded 518 millimetres of rainfall between 6 and 13 July.
The floods have also caused significant damage to agriculture, affecting 2,104 hectares of cropland and orchards. Crops on 368 hectares have been completely destroyed, leaving 5,323 farmers affected.
On the relief front, the deputy commissioner said the Department of Disaster Management has allocated 400 tonnes of rice and Tk20 lakh in cash for the district. An additional Tk20 lakh has been provided from the Chief Adviser's Relief Fund.
"So far, 8,560 relief packages and 875 packets of baby food have been distributed. The municipality has also served cooked meals to around 80,500 flood-affected people. In addition, Tk300,000 has been distributed in cash, while another 3,000 relief packages remain in reserve," he said.
On 6 July, following continuous heavy rainfall, flash floods from upstream hills, the risk of landslides and concerns over public safety, the district administration advised tourists not to visit any tourist destinations in Bandarban until 10 July.
As the flood situation worsened, the restriction was extended through a second notice issued on 8 July, suspending tourist visits until 15 July.
