Panic has gripped the island communities of Charfesson upazila in Bhola district as Cyclone ‘Shakti’ bears down on Bangladesh’s southern coast, leaving more than 50,000 residents stranded with limited shelter and no access to evacuation routes.
Remote islands such as Dhal Char, Kukri-Mukri, and Mujibnagar are facing extreme vulnerability as heavy rains and rising tides batter the region. River transport has been suspended since Thursday afternoon, cutting off all communication and evacuation options from these low-lying coastal areas.
The situation continues to worsen, with the Meghna and Tetulia rivers swelling 3 to 4 feet above normal during high tide. Many areas were already inundated by floodwaters on Wednesday night, and further surges are expected, increasing fears among the population.
In response, the Charfesson upazila administration held an emergency disaster management meeting and opened 265 schools as makeshift shelters. Dry food supplies have been stockpiled and distribution has begun through local Union Parishads.
Around 2,400 trained volunteers from the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) are on high alert, urging people to take shelter. However, the region’s inadequate infrastructure is alarming. Dhal Char, home to 15,000 people, has only one cyclone shelter for 500 individuals. Kukri-Mukri and Mujibnagar, with a combined population of over 35,000, also lack sufficient shelter space.
Fishermen have begun returning to shore, but some remain unaccounted for in deeper waters, raising additional safety concerns. With relentless rainfall, flooding, and limited options for evacuation, residents are bracing for the worst as Cyclone ‘Shakti’ approaches.
