13 Killed, 4.5M Affected by Devastating Floods in Bangladesh

AFP/APP

Bangladesh: At least 13 people have died and 4.5 million have been affected by severe flooding across Bangladesh, according to the disaster management and relief ministry. The floods, triggered by heavy monsoon rains, have wreaked havoc in the South Asian nation.

Bangladesh, with a population of 170 million and a network of hundreds of rivers, is highly vulnerable to flooding. The country has experienced frequent floods in recent decades, exacerbated by climate change which intensifies extreme weather events.

The disaster management bulletin reported that nearly 190,000 people have been relocated to emergency shelters, with 11 out of 64 districts affected by the floods. Feni, located about 100 kilometers northwest of Chittagong, has been hit hardest.

Zahed Hossain Bhuiya, a rescue volunteer in Feni, described the situation as “catastrophic,” emphasizing the ongoing efforts to rescue affected individuals. The floods have submerged homes and caused widespread destruction, with major tributaries of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers overflowing.

In addition to Feni, the disaster has impacted the southeastern coast, including Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, where around a million Rohingya refugees reside. The eastern regions near the capital Dhaka and the city of Comilla have also suffered significant damage.