Sylhet, Jun 03 (V7N) – Sylhet has witnessed an unprecedented surge in rainfall, with this May recording 235 percent more precipitation than the monthly average—the highest in the last 70 years, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

While the region typically sees 570 millimeters of rainfall in May, this year’s total soared to 1,907.6 millimeters over 24 rainy days. The previous record for May rainfall was set in 1988, with 1,139 millimeters.

Single-Day Record Also Broken

Adding to the alarming statistics, 404.8 millimeters of rainfall were recorded in a 24-hour period on May 31, setting a new single-day rainfall record for Sylhet over the past seven decades.

Sayeed Ahmed Chowdhury, former head of the Climate Change Department at the Meteorological Office and now a visiting researcher at Japan’s Kagawa University, confirmed that such rainfall levels are unprecedented since data collection began in 1956.

“There has never been any record of 405 millimeters of rainfall in a single day in Sylhet,” Chowdhury said.

Previously, Sylhet's highest single-day rainfall was 362.4 millimeters on June 12, 2000, breaking an earlier record of 336 millimeters on June 20, 1958. Other notable events include:

  • 302 mm in August 1987

  • 303 mm on June 18, 2022

  • 307 mm on August 2, 2023

Waterlogging Crisis in Sylhet City

The intense and sustained rainfall has resulted in severe waterlogging across Sylhet city. Roads, homes, commercial establishments, and emergency healthcare facilities have been submerged, causing widespread disruption and hardship for residents.

Experts warn that climate variability and extreme weather patterns are becoming more common and call for urgent infrastructure upgrades and adaptive planning to mitigate future crises.

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