DHAKA, Bangladesh — Monsoon floods and landslides have killed at least 51 people and affected more than one million people across Bangladesh, according to the country’s Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. Early tallies from different outlets vary slightly as floodwaters begin to recede.
The ministry said the disaster has affected 1,022,963 people and injured 39 others, with 267,918 families remaining marooned in flood-hit areas. Relief efforts are underway, with 44,457 people currently sheltering in designated relief centers, according to the reports.
Cox’s Bazar reported the highest death toll with 28 fatalities, followed by Chattogram with 13, Bandarban with six, Rangamati with three and Moulvibazar with one, according to local media reports. The worst-affected districts include Rangamati, Bandarban, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Khagrachhari, Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram, where floods have impacted 58 sub-districts, 386 unions and 12 municipalities.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday directed all relevant government agencies and field-level authorities to remain on maximum alert and work in close coordination to safeguard lives and property, during a virtual meeting with senior officials from all eight divisions of the country.
The Norwegian Refugee Council said the monsoon has hit the fragile shelters of Cox’s Bazar, home to nearly one million Rohingya refugees, turning the rainy season into “another life-threatening emergency.” The group’s country director, Dipankar Datta, said families who fled violence now fear that heavy rain could wash away the safety they have rebuilt.
The death toll could still rise: some people remain missing, and authorities warn that continued rainfall could worsen the situation in the coming days.
