The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a high-alert weather warning predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall across four southeastern districts over the next 48 hours, raising fears of landslides in vulnerable hill areas.
In a special advisory released Tuesday afternoon, the Met Office confirmed that a distinct low-pressure system has formed over the northeast and east-central Bay of Bengal, near the coasts of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The system is expected to move north-northwestward along the Myanmar-Bangladesh coastline, intensifying rainfall in its path.
From 4:00 pm Tuesday, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, and Chattogram districts are forecast to receive heavy rainfall (44-88 mm in 24 hours), with some areas likely to experience very heavy downpours exceeding 188 mm in 24 hours.
Of particular concern are the hilly terrains of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where authorities warn that sustained intense rainfall could trigger landslides.
Residents in landslide-prone zones – especially in Bandarban, Rangamati, and parts of Cox’s Bazar – are urged to remain vigilant and follow local disaster management advisories.
Additionally, from 5:00 pm today through 12:00 noon Wednesday, moderate to heavy thundershowers are expected across Chittagong and the broader Hill Tracts region.
Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari face a heightened risk of very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms.
The low-pressure system originated in the southeast Bay of Bengal, off Myanmar’s Rakhine coast, and has rapidly drawn moist monsoonal currents toward Bangladesh’s southeastern flank.
The Department of Disaster Management and local district administrations have been placed on high alert. Residents in low-lying and hilly areas are advised to avoid unnecessary travel, secure property, and monitor official weather updates closely.
The Met Office will continue to issue hourly bulletins as the system evolves.