Catastrophic Floods Ravage Bangladesh Amid Political Turmoil

Monsoon-triggered floods in Bangladesh and India have killed at least 13 people, affecting almost three million. Amid political upheaval and administrative challenges, the flooding has been exacerbated by El Nino and climate change. Relief efforts are hampered, and criticisms are mounting regarding the disaster management response.

Monsoon rains have triggered catastrophic floods in Bangladesh and upstream Indian regions, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people and affecting nearly three million more. This disaster poses significant challenges for the newly installed interim government, struggling to manage relief efforts amidst ongoing political transitions.

Bangladesh, characterized by its dense network of over 200 rivers, has faced severe flooding due to an unprecedented depression in the Bay of Bengal. Rivers in the Meghna Basin and the Chattrogram Hills Basin have surged above danger levels. Experts cite torrential rains, overflowing rivers, El Nino, and climate change as contributing factors to the widespread flooding.

Communications in several districts have been disrupted, with widespread power outages and infrastructure damage reported. The Ministry of Disaster Management is monitoring the situation from Dhaka, while local governments struggle to coordinate relief due to political turmoil. The Flood Warning and Forecasting Centre has faced criticism for failing to predict the deluge, blaming inadequate information from upstream regions.

(With inputs from agencies.)