.webp)
A devastating flood sweeping through the eastern part of the country has claimed the lives of 15 people, including two women, and left nearly 48,69,299 residents stranded in rising waters.
The disaster, which has impacted 11 districts, has prompted the deployment of thousands of shelter centres and medical teams to provide urgent relief as of Friday, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR).
The affected regions include Cumilla, Feni, Chattogram, and Cox's Bazar, with fatalities reported across multiple districts. Among the 15 dead, four died in Cumilla, one in Feni, four in Chattogram, one in Noakhali, one in Brahmanbaria, one in Lakshmipur and three in Cox's Bazar districts, states MoDMR.
The flooding, which began on August 20, continues to displace families and threaten lives as authorities scramble to manage the ongoing crisis. Almost 1,95,030 people and 18,096 domestic animals were given refuge to 3,176 shelter centres. Additionally, 639 medical teams have been deployed to provide essential healthcare services to the flood-affected regions.
Much of Bangladesh is made up of deltas where Himalayan rivers, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, wind towards the sea after coursing through India. All major tributaries of the two transnational rivers were overflowing, according to local media reports.
To aid those affected by the disaster, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has distributed Tk 3.52 crore in cash, some 20,150 tonnes of rice, and 15,000 food packets. The MoDMR has assured that ample relief supplies are on hand across all districts to effectively respond to the crisis.
Rescue efforts are being carried out by a coordinated team that includes the army, navy, coast guard, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), fire service, and police, along with volunteers from the anti-discrimination student movement. For those in need of assistance, the hotline 0255101115 has been made available.
The government is also urging donations to the Chief Adviser’s Relief and Welfare Fund to support the flood-affected communities.
Early warnings from India
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Water Resources, has criticised India for not providing prior notice before releasing water from upstream dams, which has worsened the flooding in Bangladesh. During a visit to flood-hit areas in Sadar Upazila of Habiganj, Rizwana stated that the government is working tirelessly to address the crisis.
She announced that Bangladesh has requested early warnings from India for future water releases to avoid similar situations, with the Chief Advisor already communicating this to the Indian embassy. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs is also involved in preventing future incidents.
Rizwana commended the rapid rescue operations, especially in remote areas, and expressed gratitude to the students and volunteers aiding the government. She pledged to manage silt deposits and repair embankments to mitigate future flood risks, with strict action promised against illegal dredging.
In her visit, Hasan urged local government officials to involve the community in flood management efforts. She also held meetings with local administration, media, and civil society at Habiganj Circuit House to discuss the ongoing situation. After inspecting river erosion-affected areas, she addressed officials and representatives at the Chunarughat Upazila Parishad meeting hall.
Network towers’ haywire
Amid the ongoing floods, the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) reported that as of 3pm on Friday, 11 per cent of mobile towers in 10 affected districts went out of order. Of the total towers in these areas, 1,461 became non-functional.
Feni has been hit hardest, with over 90 per cent of its towers, 590 out of 656, disrupted, according to BTRC Engineering and Operations Director General Brig Gen Kazi Mostafizur Rahman.
