Electricity has been partially restored in Feni city, Bangladesh, following a significant receding of floodwaters, according to the Dhaka Tribune. Despite the partial restoration, the area continues to face issues with mobile network and internet connectivity, which remain sporadic as of Friday.
Residents reported that floodwaters have fully drained from Mohipal Road, and power is now available in parts of Feni city, including the DC Office and its immediate surroundings. However, rural areas of the district still lack access to fresh water and dry rations.
Mohammad Riazul Hasan, a local resident, informed the Dhaka Tribune, “The water level in the municipality area has significantly decreased. But I’ve heard that other areas are still submerged.” He noted that canals were still overflowing in the downstream area of Sonagazi.
Rescue efforts have been challenging due to prolonged exposure to water, which has caused foot fungus among volunteers. Abdullah Al Mamun, a volunteer, reported difficulties in reaching Sonagazi due to the lack of speedboats and issues with communication caused by power outages and unreliable mobile networks.
Mamun indicated that while the water level in other parts of the city has decreased by 5-6 inches, these conditions have hindered the rescue and relief efforts.
Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus urged cooperation among all parties to address health and food risks as floodwaters recede, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
In related news, the flood situation in Chittagong worsened on August 22, with nine upazilas submerged, affecting 45,916 families, or approximately 248,050 individuals. Saifulah Majumder, the Chittagong District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, announced that 800 tons of rice have been allocated for disaster relief, with 200 tons already distributed to affected areas.
Between August 19-21, over 350,000 people were stranded in Feni city due to flooding caused by breaches in water defenses, according to the Dhaka Tribune.