Staff Reporter :
The mid-August flood in the eastern region of Bangladesh caused extensive damage across 11 districts, totaling approximately Tk 14,421.46 crore, or around $1.20 billion.
The highest financial losses were recorded in Noakhali district, with the private sector suffering more than the public sector.
This information was presented at a press conference titled “Damage and Rehabilitation Process from Recent Floods in the Eastern Region: CPD Analysis,” held at the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) office in Dhaka on Sunday.
Sectoral Breakdown of Damage
The CPD report revealed that 53% of the total damage occurred in the private sector, while 47% was in the public sector. The most severe losses were reported in Noakhali (29.07%), followed by Cumilla (23.51%), Feni (18.61%), and Chattogram (11.63%).
The flood damage represents 1.81% of the national budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 and accounts for 0.29% of the GDP for 2023-24, and 0.26% of the projected GDP for 2024-25.
Extent of Damage
The flood, triggered by continuous heavy rainfall and upstream water flow, began on August 19, 2024, affecting 11 districts, including Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Feni, Khagrachari, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla, Noakhali, Chittagong, Lakshmipur, and Brahmanbaria.
The agricultural and forestry sectors were hardest hit, suffering losses of Tk 5,169.71 crore, which constitutes 35.85% of the total damage. Infrastructure losses amounted to Tk 4,653.92 crore (32.27%), while housing losses totaled Tk 2,407.31 crore (16.69%).
CPD’s Recommendations
Khondkar Golam Moazzem, Research Director of CPD, emphasized that the private sector suffered significantly more damage than the public sector, with 53% of the losses in the private sector.
He warned that the private sector is likely to face even greater challenges in the future, calling for changes in the disaster assistance framework to address this growing concern.
Moazzem highlighted that this year’s flood was unique, as water levels remained elevated even after the flooding stopped.
Additionally, areas that typically do not experience flooding were inundated this time. He urged the government to recognize the increasing threat of future natural disasters and stressed the importance of organized and proactive disaster response efforts.
He further explained that the usual post-flood rehabilitation plan, funded by government credit, often focuses solely on the public sector.
Going forward, he recommended that the private sector also be included in these plans. He emphasized the need for scientific monitoring and proposed the formation of a specialized committee within the government to manage disaster recovery efforts effectively.
Coordination Issues in Aid Distribution
CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun also addressed the challenges caused by the floods, noting that the lack of coordination in aid distribution had led to unequal access to assistance. Some individuals received aid multiple times, while many others were left without any support.
Khatun reiterated that the agricultural and forestry sectors were the most affected, with losses amounting to Tk 5,169.7 crore. Infrastructure losses totaled Tk 4,653.9 crore, and housing suffered Tk 2,407.3 crore in damages. Noakhali district experienced the most damage, with Tk 4,191 crore in losses, followed by Cumilla with Tk 3,390 crore.