At least five people have died and more than 100,000 others are stranded as devastating floods, triggered by heavy rains and torrents upstream, continue to ravage northern Bangladesh, authorities said on Sunday.
In Sherpur, one of the hardest-hit northern districts, the levels of major rivers soared, submerging new areas and displacing thousands of families.
Local authorities fear that agriculture will suffer considerable damage, with crops and farmland, particularly rice fields, at risk of devastation. Many homes and roads are under several meters of water, cutting off villages and leaving residents in desperate need of rescue.
“I have never seen such floods in my life,” said Abu Taher, a resident of the district.
Army personnel, using boats and helicopters, joined the rescue efforts, bringing in emergency supplies and evacuating people trapped by the floods.
Bridges have collapsed and roads have been submerged, making it difficult for local authorities to access affected areas.
“Our priority is to evacuate people to safe shelters and provide them with basic necessities,” said Sherpur district administrator Torofdar Mahmudur Rahman.
He added that another decomposed body, believed to have floated from India, had been found.
This low-lying country of 170 million people has experienced numerous floods this year, highlighting its vulnerability to climate change. According to a 2015 analysis by the World Bank Institute, 3.5 million people in Bangladesh are at risk of annual river flooding, a risk that scientists say is worsening due to global climate change. .
As water levels continue to rise, concerns are growing about the long-term impact on the region’s agriculture, particularly rice crops. If floodwaters do not recede quickly, the economic toll for farmers could be severe.
Adding to concerns, the weather bureau has forecast further rain in the coming days, raising fears of worsening flooding.
August floods in eastern Bangladesh, which killed more than 70 people, caused an estimated $1.20 billion in damage, according to a study by the Center for Policy Dialogue, a leading think tank.
The United Nations and its partners have launched a humanitarian appeal for $134 million to provide emergency assistance and support to communities affected by the ongoing floods and cyclones in Bangladesh.
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