Image @ BBC
At least 51 individuals have lost their lives, and over a million have been impacted by intense rainfall in Bangladesh over the past few days.
Numerous residents have been displaced as flash floods and landslides wreak havoc across various regions, including the capital city, Dhaka.
The majority of fatalities, totaling 28, have been reported in Cox’s Bazar, which hosts a significant population of Rohingya refugees.
Tragically, last week, several students and a teacher perished when floodwaters inundated their school in this district.
Bangladesh, characterized by its low-lying terrain and numerous rivers, frequently experiences heavy precipitation and flooding during the annual monsoon season.
However, experts caution that climate change has intensified both the frequency and severity of rainfall events.
The deluge began over a week ago and escalated in recent days, prompting authorities to issue alerts regarding potential floods and landslides.
Families residing in high-risk zones were evacuated, and student examinations were postponed as a precautionary measure.
Currently, thousands are taking refuge in government-provided shelters.
As of Sunday, officials report that more than 1 million people have been affected by the relentless rain.
In Dhaka, traffic has come to a standstill as residents navigate flooded streets, with water levels reaching knee height in certain areas, according to reports from BBC Bangla.
Local media outlets have raised concerns regarding the government’s previous attempts to improve the drainage infrastructure in Dhaka.
Sarder Udoy Raihan from the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre informed AFP that conditions in the southeast are expected to improve shortly.
However, with the monsoon still impacting the northeastern and northern regions of Bangladesh, he warned of the potential for additional flooding.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong