Flash floods have wreaked havoc across Bangladesh as the nation, still recovering from recent political upheaval, grapples with a rising death toll and widespread devastation.
At least 15 people have died, and millions more are caught in the deluge, with rescue operations underway in the worst-hit areas.
Bangladesh, a country of 170 million, has seen frequent floods due to its river-laden landscape, but climate change is exacerbating these extreme weather events. "It's a catastrophic situation here," said rescue volunteer Zahed Hossain Bhuiya from the severely impacted city of Feni.
Monsoon rains have caused widespread destruction, submerging homes and displacing nearly 190,000 people to emergency relief shelters. The disaster management ministry reported that 4.5 million people have been affected in some way, with significant damage reported in Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, and areas near the Tripura border.
Many people in at least 12 districts remain stranded while water levels are receding in some areas, they are rising in most, with several rivers overflowing their banks.
Many residents are still awaiting rescue, trapped by the disruption of communication lines. Numerous people have sought refuge in makeshift shelters, including local schools, colleges, mosques, and madrasas, where there is a severe shortage of food and clean water.
Relief efforts are ongoing, with volunteers, including Army and Navy personnel, the Fire Service, and the Red Crescent, conducting rescue operations and distributing aid.
Feni and Cumilla are among the worst-affected districts. A widespread power outage has cut off telecommunications, particularly in Feni, where 90 per cent of the district's mobile towers are down, leaving residents completely isolated. The disruption has also hampered rescue and relief operations by law enforcement and volunteers.
Chief of Army Staff, General Waqar-uz-Zaman, directed ongoing humanitarian efforts, visiting flood-stricken areas and overseeing operations. Meanwhile, meteorologists have warned of continued severe weather, with gusty winds and heavy rains forecasted in several regions.
Diplomatic tensions escalate
The floods have also sparked diplomatic tensions with India. Less than three weeks after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted, her successor, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is facing growing challenges. Asif Mahmud, a leader of the student protests that led to Hasina's ouster and now a member of Yunus' interim government, accused India of "creating a flood" by releasing water from dams without warning.
India's foreign ministry rejected these claims, citing its own heavy rainfall as the cause of the increased water flow downstream. However, the accusation has fueled anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh, with protests erupting in Dhaka against what is perceived as India's "water aggression."
On the Indian side, Tripura state has been severely affected, with 23 deaths reported, mostly due to landslides and drowning. Relief efforts are ongoing, with the state's chief minister describing the situation as "still concerning."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who supported Hasina's administration, has offered his backing to the new Yunus-led government, but the floods have strained relations between the two countries. As the floodwaters continue to rise, the political and humanitarian crisis in the region deepens.