Bangladesh Floods Leave 5 Million Stranded as Death Toll Climbs

The recent floods in Bangladesh have become a significant crisis for the nation of 170 million people, leaving about five million stranded in low-lying regions as powerful currents eroded riverbanks.

The death toll has reached 15, with five major rivers experiencing the most severe flooding since 2018, impacting 11 districts across the country. These floods come on the heels of a series of deadly political protests and violence that have further destabilized the country. Earlier this month, an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took control after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled in response to a massive student-led uprising.

“This is the worst flooding we’ve seen in thirty years,” stated Liakath Ali, BRAC’s climate change director. He emphasized that the situation is likely to deteriorate as the rains persist, leaving people stranded across the nation.

In response, the government is urgently delivering food and medical aid to those trapped in the flood zones. Authorities have opened 3,176 shelters for flood victims and deployed 639 medical teams to provide assistance. However, rescue efforts are hampered by breakdowns in telecommunications, disrupted transportation, and submerged roads and highways.

“People had no warning,” Ali noted. “Entire villages, along with everything the residents owned—homes, livestock, farmland, and fisheries—have been completely washed away.”