Floods in Bangladesh kill 44, leave over a million stranded

DHAKA: Floods and landslides triggered by days of ​torrential monsoon rain have killed at least 44 people in southeastern Bangladesh and ‌left over a million stranded as authorities raced on Saturday to deliver aid to devastated communities.

The disaster management ministry said on Saturday that flooding across seven districts — Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Habiganj — has ​disrupted daily life, isolated thousands of families, and stranded 267,918 households.

Many residents have ⁠been unable to cook for days as flood waters submerged their homes, while others are ​struggling after thick layers of mud covered kitchens and living spaces.

“There is still water inside our home ​and we have no way to cook. The dry food we had has run out, and we spend the nights in the dark with our children because there is no electricity,” said Nurul Islam, a resident of ​a flood-hit area in Chattogram.

Thousands of families are relying on dry food — flattened rice, puffed ​rice or biscuits that do not require cooking — and emergency relief. Washed-out roads and damaged bridges, however, have made ‌it ⁠difficult for aid workers to reach some of the hardest-hit communities.

Army and navy personnel are ferrying food, drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies by boat to isolated communities, as authorities step up relief efforts.

“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 in Chattogram.

The heavy rain also triggered landslides in Rohingya refugee ​camps in ⁠Cox’s Bazar earlier this week, killing 16 refugees, including women and children. More than one million Rohingya refugees live in the camps, where makeshift shelters on steep, deforested hillsides are especially vulnerable during the ⁠monsoon season.

We’ve lost lives, people have lost their jobs, their livelihoods, people have lost their properties, and it will take years for them to come back.

Bangladesh ​is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, with ​seasonal monsoon rains regularly causing floods, river erosion and landslides. Scientists say climate change is making extreme rainfall more frequent ​and intense, increasing the scale and severity of such disasters.