Arfin Negar
Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The ongoing catastrophic floods sweeping across Bangladesh, particularly in eight eastern districts including Feni have left millions stranded, compounded by severe infrastructural damage.
The financial losses continue to soar as vital transportation routes, homes, and public services are submerged, exacerbating the economic impact of this devastating natural disaster.
As embankments along major rivers like Muhuri, Kahua, and Silonia collapse under the pressure of relentless floodwaters, the country is grappling with an escalating financial crisis.
The destruction of power lines, roads, and essential services has not only disrupted daily life but also incurred significant economic losses, with estimates suggesting a severe impact on both local and national economies.
The ongoing crisis is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by Bangladesh in the wake of natural disasters, exacerbating the financial strain on an already fragile economy.
The catastrophic conditions have already claimed the lives of at least five people—three in Cox’s Bazar, one in Feni and another in Brahmanbaria—while many others remain at risk as the floodwaters show no signs of receding.
The severe flooding in Bangladesh, triggered by heavy rainfall and water from upstream in India's Gumti River, has wreaked havoc, leaving more than 4.4 lakh families stranded in floodwaters.
The situation continues to deteriorate as incessant rainfall compounds the crisis, severely impacting Feni, Cumilla, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Lakshmipur and parts of Brahmanbaria and Chattogram.
The Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, a vital transportation route, has also been submerged, causing significant disruptions to communication and transport across the country.
In response to this escalating disaster, the government has opened 1,534 shelters, providing refuge to more than 75,000 people who have been forced to evacuate their homes.
Despite these efforts, nearly 18 lakh people across eight districts are still severely affected by the floods, and the number of those needing assistance continues to rise.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department issued a heavy rainfall warning today mainly in southern regions of the country including the capital and Mymensingh district in the midst of the current flood situation.
The notice said due to active monsoon, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at places, including Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions during next 48 hours.
As the country grapples with one of the worst flood situations in recent years, the government and various agencies continue to monitor the situation closely, striving to provide timely relief to those affected. However, with the weather showing little sign of improvement, the challenges ahead remain daunting.
FENI:
The eastern districts of Bangladesh, particularly Feni, are reeling from severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall and the overflow of multiple rivers, including the Muhuri, Kahua, and Silonia.
The broken embankments of these rivers have unleashed a torrent of floodwaters, submerging vast regions and leaving lakhs of people stranded without electricity or communication.
WIDESPREAD IMPACT AND POWER OUTAGES:
The situation in Feni has deteriorated rapidly since Monday night (August 19), when floodwaters damaged power lines, plunging most areas of Parshuram, Phulgazi, and Chhagalnaiya upazilas into darkness.
As the floodwaters continued to rise, the authorities were forced to cut off power entirely in these three upazilas and parts of Sonagazi and Dagonbhuiyan upazilas.
Additionally, heavy rainfall led to waterlogging in Feni town, resulting in a complete shutdown of electricity from noon until late at night.
A resident of Satkuchia in Parshuram, described the dire situation: “Our houses are submerged, and the strong currents make rescue operations difficult. The lack of electricity and mobile network has only added to our hardships.”
Sources at the Feni Rural Electrification Board, reported that over three lakh out of the district's four lakh customers are currently without electricity.
Similarly, sources close to Feni Power Development Board, noted that approximately 70% of their customers are affected. “There is no hope of restoring the power supply until the floodwaters recede,” he added, emphasizing that the situation is worsening by the hour.
RESCUE EFFORTS AND GOVERNMENT RESPONSE:
In response to the crisis, the Bangladesh Army has launched rescue operations using speedboats to evacuate those stranded in the flood-affected areas.
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and hundreds of volunteers from local organizations are also actively participating in rescue operations, providing food assistance to those in need.
The Feni district administration has called in additional support from the Bangladesh Coast Guard, which has joined the ongoing rescue efforts.
Six speedboats have already been deployed, with six more on their way to the region.
On the other hand, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) has canceled the leave of all officials and employees in the flood-hit districts, instructing them to remain at their respective posts.
A control room has been set up to monitor the flood situation, and the WDB has provided emergency contact numbers and email addresses for those in need of assistance.
FLOODING BEYOND FENI:
In Chattogram, the flood has disrupted rail communication, with sections of the rail tracks now submerged under floodwaters.
Additionally, the floodwaters have severely impacted traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, further complicating relief and rescue operations.
The flood crisis extends beyond Feni, with neighboring districts such as Cumilla, Akhaura, Khagrachhari, and Lakshmipur also severely affected.
In Cumilla, the Gumti River has risen 70cm above the danger level, leading to widespread flooding.
The army, district administration, and local volunteers are working to protect vulnerable embankments, while relief efforts are underway to assist those displaced by the floods.
Akhaura Upazila in Brahmanbaria district has also been hard-hit, with over 1,000 families in 40 villages living in inhumane conditions. The floodwaters have forced the closure of all primary schools and two secondary schools, which have been converted into shelters for the affected residents.
Despite the efforts of the local administration, many people are reluctant to leave their homes due to concerns for their livestock.
In Khagrachhari, ongoing heavy rainfall and runoff from the hills have worsened the flood situation, causing widespread inundation in towns, villages, and roads.
Nearly 9,000 people are stranded across the district, with roads submerged and communication with neighboring areas cut off.
The district administration has opened 99 shelters and is providing food to those taking refuge.
Lakshmipur district is also facing severe flooding, with six lakh people stranded due to waterlogging.
The district administration has prepared 189 shelters, though no one has yet sought refuge.
To alleviate the situation, the Water Development Board has opened all the sluice gates in the district, allowing rainwater to flow into the Meghna River.
MISINFORMATION AMID THE CRISIS:
As the flood crisis unfolds, misinformation has been circulating on social media platforms, adding to the confusion and distress of those affected.
Rumor Scanner, a Bangladeshi fact-checking organization, has debunked several viral posts that falsely depict the flooding in Bangladesh.
One widely shared image on Facebook, purportedly showing a man carrying his baby on a dish in Feni, was found to be from Tripura, India, as reported by the Times of India on August 20, 2024, before the flooding began in Bangladesh.
Similarly, another image claiming to show a man rescuing kittens from floodwaters was traced back to a stock photo from Orissa, India, uploaded in 2011.
False claims have also been made about the flooding in Noakhali, with images circulating on social media that were actually taken in Sylhet and Assam earlier this year.
Additionally, a video showing cattle being washed away in floodwaters, purportedly in Sylhet, was found to be from Mexico and Pakistan, not Bangladesh.
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND COOPERATION:
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has addressed concerns regarding the release of waters from the Dumbur dam upstream of the Gumti River in Tripura, which some in Bangladesh have blamed for the flooding.
The MEA clarified that the flooding is primarily due to heavy rainfall in the large catchment areas downstream of the dam.
The ministry emphasized the need for close cooperation between India and Bangladesh, which share 54 cross-border rivers, to manage such crises effectively.
As the floodwaters continue to rise, the situation in Feni and surrounding districts remains dire.
The relentless rainfall, coupled with the broken embankments, has left lakhs of people stranded, without electricity, and cut off from communication.
While rescue operations are underway, the challenges posed by the floodwaters, power outages, and misinformation highlight the need for continued vigilance and cooperation in managing this disaster.
Arfin Negar is the acting editor of Bangladesh Business News