Bangladesh Flood Death Toll Rises As More Than 1 Million Affected (Worthy News In-Depth)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

DHAKA (Worthy News) – Bangladesh was struggling Wednesday to cope with the aftermath of devastating floods and landslides caused by torrential monsoon rains that officials said have killed at least 51 people.

More than one million people have been affected by the severe weather that has gripped the South Asian nation since last week, according to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

Thousands have lost their homes as flash floods and landslides swept through large parts of the country, including areas surrounding the capital, Dhaka.

More than half of the reported deaths occurred in Cox’s Bazar, home to the world’s largest refugee settlement, where more than one million Rohingya refugees live in vulnerable hillside camps.

Last week, several students and a teacher were killed in Cox’s Bazar after floodwaters swept through their school, while landslides also claimed the lives of Rohingya refugees sheltering in makeshift camps.

ROHINGYA CAMPS DEVASTATED

Bangladesh is a low-lying country crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers and routinely experiences severe flooding during its annual monsoon season.

The heavy rain began more than a week ago and intensified in recent days, prompting authorities to issue flood and landslide warnings, evacuate families from high-risk areas, and postpone school examinations.

Thousands of people are now living in government shelters.

More than 44,000 people have taken refuge in over 1,100 government-run emergency shelters, while hundreds of thousands of families remain stranded across the worst-hit districts, officials said.

“The government is doing everything possible to support flood victims. Relief, safe drinking water and medical supplies are being distributed, and we urge people whose homes have been inundated to move to the nearest shelter,” Disaster Management and Relief Minister Iqbal Hossain said during a visit to affected areas.

RELIEF OPERATIONS EXPAND

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has also directed government agencies to intensify rescue, relief, medical assistance and rehabilitation efforts, with officials saying he has been monitoring the disaster closely.

Washed-out roads, damaged bridges and widespread power outages have complicated relief efforts, leaving many isolated communities dependent on emergency food, clean water and medical supplies delivered by the military and other rescue teams.

Authorities warned that additional rainfall could trigger fresh flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas, hampering relief operations and delaying the return of thousands of displaced families.

The disaster is the latest reminder of Bangladesh’s vulnerability to seasonal monsoon flooding, with officials saying recovery efforts are expected to continue well after the rains subside.

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