Heavy rains and flash floods in Bangladesh leave 51 dead
Heavy rains and flash floods in Bangladesh – Recent severe weather events in Bangladesh have caused widespread devastation, resulting in at least 51 fatalities and impacting over a million individuals. The deluge has led to flash floods and landslides across large regions of the country, including the capital, Dhaka. In some parts of the city, water levels have risen to knee height, disrupting daily life and causing significant damage.
Monsoon Season and Climate Change
Bangladesh, a low-lying nation with a dense network of rivers, frequently experiences heavy rainfall and flooding during its annual monsoon season. However, climate change has reportedly increased the intensity and frequency of these storms, exacerbating the situation. The downpours began more than a week ago, intensifying in recent days and prompting authorities to issue flood and landslide warnings.
Cox’s Bazar Crisis
Cox’s Bazar, which hosts over a million Rohingya refugees, has accounted for 28 of the 51 reported fatalities. The district was hit hard when floodwaters swept through a school, killing several students and a teacher last week. This highlights the vulnerability of the region’s population, particularly those living in makeshift shelters.
Government Response and Criticism
Authorities have evacuated families from high-risk zones and delayed student exams to ensure safety. Thousands of displaced individuals are now residing in government-run shelters. Despite these efforts, some local media outlets have raised concerns about previous failures to improve Dhaka’s drainage systems, which have worsened the impact of flooding in the city.
“The situation in the southeast is likely to improve soon,” said Sarder Udoy Raihan of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre. However, he warned that “there is a possibility of further inundation” in the northeastern and northern regions, where the monsoon continues to affect the country.
