Authorities have temporarily closed the Bholaganj Sada Pathar tourist center in Sylhet after upstream flash floods and adverse weather pushed water levels above the danger mark, suspending tourist boat operations and leaving dozens of small businesses submerged.
The popular tourist destination in Companiganj upazila was shut for safety reasons as floodwater rushed down from upstream areas. Although nearby residential areas had not been submerged, officials barred visitors from entering the site.
Tourists continued arriving at the area, but the district administration and Tourist Police stopped them from proceeding to the main tourist spot. Boats at the docks, normally used to ferry visitors, were suspended.
“Basically, the current situation is due to the flash floods coming down from upstream,” Somoy TV reporter Opu Bonik said in a live report from the scene. “The boats at every dock that take tourists to the main spot are currently suspended.”
Bonik said local officials told him the closure would remain in place while bad weather continues.
“Due to the ongoing adverse weather, it has actually been closed temporarily,” Bonik said, paraphrasing the upazila administration’s position. “Because of security measures, this tourist spot is currently closed. However, once the weather normalizes, the tourist spot will be reopened.”
Sylhet recorded 39.6 millimeters of rain in the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m., according to the report.
The flooding also hit local vendors at Tinmukhi point, where about 60 to 70 mobile shops were completely submerged. Many shopkeepers were caught off guard when floodwater rose suddenly at night and were unable to move their goods to safety.
“Because the upstream flood came down suddenly and they were unprepared, they have suffered damages, though we have not yet been able to determine the exact amount of the loss,” Bonik reported.
Authorities have not released an estimate of the financial damage.