Bandarban plans to resume HSC exams, reopen tourist spots from Thursday

The administration says the move depends on weather and flood conditions improving

Bandarban's district administration is planning to resume suspended Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams and reopen tourist spots shut by flooding, targeting a Thursday restart.

The decision will only take effect if rain and overall flood conditions remain stable, Deputy Commissioner Md Saniul Ferdous said at a press conference at the DC's conference room on Tuesday.

"If weather and flood conditions remain favourable by the 16th of July, the suspended HSC exams will resume. At the same time, all the district's tourist spots that have been closed to visitors will reopen.”

The district administration first discouraged travel to all tourist destinations from Jul 6 to Jul 10 after heavy rain, flash floods, landslide risks and public safety concerns.

As the flooding worsened, it later extended the restriction until Jul 15 through another official order issued on Jul 8.

Seven consecutive days of heavy rain and flash floods inundated most parts of Bandarban, affecting 29 of the district's 34 unions and leaving more than 100,000 people stranded.

Road links were severed, educational institutions shut down and tourism activities suspended across the district.

With rainfall easing over the past few days and water levels in the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers beginning to recede, the overall situation is gradually returning to normal.

Authorities are now preparing to resume educational activities and revive the tourism sector.