Heavy Rain Warnings Issued for Bangladesh as Storms Threaten 20 Districts

An active monsoon over the Bay of Bengal has prompted the Bangladesh Meteorological Department to issue severe weather warnings across the country. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is anticipated nationwide, whilst intense squally storms are expected to batter at least 20 districts, including the capital city of Dhaka. The state weather agency released these critical updates in two separate official bulletins on Thursday morning, 9 July.

According to a specialised warning signed by meteorologist A.K.M. Nazmul, the active monsoon conditions will trigger widespread downpours for at least 48 hours, starting from 6:00 am on Thursday. All eight administrative divisions—Rangpur, Rajshahi, Maimansingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chattogram, and Sylhet—are highly likely to experience this severe weather. The meteorological office clarified that rainfall could range from heavy, measured between 44 mm and 88 mm, to very heavy, exceeding 88 mm within a 24-hour period.

Such torrential rain raises immediate concerns for urban centres and vulnerable terrains. Authorities warned that temporary waterlogging is highly probable in low-lying areas of Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan cities, which routinely struggle with drainage challenges during peak monsoon spells. Far more critically, the sustained deluge poses a severe risk of landslides in the hilly regions of the Chattogram division, endangering local communities residing on or near the slopes.

A separate riverine warning, effective from 5:00 am to 1:00 pm on Thursday, targeted internal river ports. Squalls originating from the south and south-east are expected to sweep across 20 distinct regions, bringing temporary gusts of 45 to 60 kilometres per hour alongside severe thunder activity.

The areas placed under this immediate storm watch include Rangpur, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Tangail, Maimansingh, Dhaka, Faridpur, Madaripur, Kushtia, Jashore, Khulna, Barisal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, and Sylhet. In response, river ports in these sectors have been advised to hoist Cautionary Signal Number 1. Small vessels and commuters travelling via inland waterways have been urged to exercise extreme caution as river conditions deteriorate rapidly under the influence of the gusty winds.