Vast areas of Bangladesh have been swamped by the unrelenting monsoon rains and flooding, causing damage to houses and infrastructure.
After days of catastrophic floods, river waters in Bangladesh’s low-lying areas are receding; however, 300,000 people remain in emergency shelters and need assistance, according to disaster officials on Sunday.
A new government that took charge this month following widespread student-led protests faces more difficulties in the wake of the devastating floods that killed at least 18 people in Bangladesh.
According to Disaster Management Minister Faruk-e-Azam, rescue teams, which include combined forces of the army, air force, and navy, are assisting those who have been forced from their houses and providing aid to those who have lost everything.
“Now that the floodwaters have begun to decrease, the flood situation is improving,” he stated.
According to the ministry, over 5.2 million people have been impacted by the floods, and over 307,000 individuals are in shelters.
“In order to provide relief food we are currently working to restore communication in the affected areas. We’re also taking action to stop the spread of infectious diseases.” Azam said.
The claim that the floods in Bangladesh were brought on by the opening of dam sluice gates in adjacent India has been denied by New Delhi.
It is “factually not correct,” according to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, to attribute the floods on water released from the Dumbur dam.
It said flooding in Bangladesh was “primarily” due to water flowing from large catchment areas on the Gumti River, downstream from the dam.
Rumours in Dhaka about Yunus summoning Indian envoy
The head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, received an introductory call from Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma on Thursday. During his meeting, Verma reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to working with Dhaka.
However the interaction was planned days before the floods in Bangladesh, a source informed TOI, adding that the word “summon” was a ploy for misinformation. Additionally, the source cautioned against supporting these “misplaced narratives,” calling them “unhelpful to bilateral ties.”
