DHAKA, Bangladesh: The death toll from recent floods in Bangladesh has increased to eight, with over two million people affected as major rivers overflowed due to heavy rains. The South Asian country, home to 170 million people, frequently experiences floods, which have become more severe in recent decades due to climate change.
In Shahjadur, two teenage boys drowned when their boat capsized in the floodwaters, while seven others managed to swim to safety, according to local police chief Sabuj Rana. Additionally, three individuals were electrocuted in Kurigram after their boats encountered live electrical wires. Another three deaths occurred in various flood-related incidents across the country earlier in the week.
The government has responded by opening hundreds of shelters for those displaced and distributing food and relief supplies to the hardest-hit northern districts. Kamrul Hasan, the secretary of Bangladesh’s disaster management ministry, stated that 17 out of the country’s 64 districts have been affected, and the situation may worsen as the Brahmaputra River continues to flow above danger levels in some areas.
In Kurigram, the worst-hit district, eight out of nine rural towns have been submerged. Local disaster and relief official Abdul Hye highlighted the rapid rise of the Brahmaputra River, which increased by six to eight feet in just three days. Abdul Gafur, a local councillor, reported that over 80 percent of homes in his area are flooded, causing a critical shortage of drinking water despite efforts to distribute food and essential supplies.
Bangladesh is currently in the midst of the annual monsoon season, which accounts for 70-80 percent of South Asia’s annual rainfall. While the monsoon is essential for agriculture, it also brings about regular floods and landslides, leading to significant damage and loss of life. Scientists warn that climate change is making these weather patterns more unpredictable and intense, exacerbating the risks faced by vulnerable communities.
