Dhaka: At least 20 people have died and over 5.2 million have been impacted by severe flooding in Bangladesh caused by relentless monsoon rains and overflowing rivers, officials reported on Sunday.
The floods have isolated many individuals, creating urgent needs for food, clean water, medicine, and dry clothing, particularly in remote areas where blocked roads are obstructing rescue and relief efforts.
Government Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus, who is leading the interim government following the recent departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid a student-led uprising, assured in a televised address that all necessary measures are being taken to restore normalcy for flood victims.
Abdul Halim, a 65-year-old farmer from Comilla district, described the devastation as floodwaters swept away his mud hut during the night. “There are no goods and no water. Relief aid is scarce deep inside the villages; you must go close to the main road to get it,” he told Reuters television.
There are allegations from some Bangladeshi citizens that the floods were exacerbated by the opening of dam sluice gates in neighboring India, a claim New Delhi has denied. Yunus stated that discussions with neighboring countries are underway to prevent future flood situations.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has warned that flooding conditions could persist if the monsoon rains continue, with water levels receding very slowly.
More than 400,000 people have sought refuge in approximately 3,500 shelters across the 11 affected districts. Nearly 750 medical teams are providing aid, and the army, air force, navy, and Border Guard Bangladesh are involved in rescue operations.
According to a 2015 World Bank Institute analysis, 3.5 million people in Bangladesh, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, are at risk of annual river flooding. Scientists link the intensification of such catastrophic events to climate change.
Kabita Bose, Country Director of Plan International Bangladesh, remarked, “The impact of this year’s monsoon rains has been widespread and devastating. Entire communities are submerged, leaving millions, including children, in need of safe shelter and lifesaving humanitarian assistance.”
