54 dead, over 6 lakh affected

The humanitarian toll from widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides continued to mount on Monday, with the death toll rising to 54 and more than 609,000 people affected across seven districts, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

The ministry said 155,311 families remain marooned in 59 flood-affected upazilas, with 334 unions and 12 municipalities inundated.

Cox’s Bazar recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 31 deaths, including 13 Rohingyas.

Chattogram reported 13 deaths, followed by Bandarban with six, Rangamati with three and Moulvibazar with one. A further 39 people have been injured.

Authorities have opened 1,049 emergency shelters across the affected districts, where 38,422 people have taken refuge.

Chattogram remains one of the worst-hit districts, with partial flooding reported in 16 upazilas, including the metropolitan area.

Floodwaters have affected 122 unions, forcing 16,821 people to seek shelter in 415 centres.

The district has been allocated 1,200 tonnes of rice and Tk85 lakh in cash assistance.

Of this, 915 tonnes of rice, Tk70.75 lakh, 45,800 dry food packets and 19,950 cooked meals have already been distributed.

In Cox’s Bazar, flooding has affected all 10 upazilas, inundating 71 unions and four municipalities. The district has recorded 31 deaths and 24 injuries, while one person remains missing.

Relief allocations for the district include 405 tonnes of rice, Tk48.5 lakh in cash assistance and 450 dry food packets. So far, authorities have distributed 363 tonnes of rice, Tk33.2 lakh and 45 food packets.

Bandarban has reported six deaths and two injuries across seven flood-affected upazilas. A total of 5,134 people are currently staying in 220 shelters.

Relief distributed in the district includes 68 tonnes of rice, Tk2.4 lakh in cash assistance, 7,642 dry food packets and 875 packets of baby food.

Non-governmental organisations have supplied an additional 3,133 dry food packets.

In Rangamati, three people have died and 3,487 people have taken shelter in 47 centres across nine affected upazilas.

Authorities have distributed 295 tonnes of rice and Tk20 lakh in cash assistance.

Moulvibazar has reported one death, with 1,024 people staying in 14 shelters across three affected upazilas.

In neighbouring Habiganj, flooding has affected three upazilas, where authorities have distributed 10 tonnes of rice, Tk1.2 lakh in cash assistance and 1,417 food packets.

The ministry said that since 7 July it has allocated a total of Tk4.6 crore in cash assistance and 8,950 tonnes of rice for all 64 districts, including additional relief for the seven worst-affected districts.

Among the affected districts, Chattogram received the largest allocation, comprising 1,200 tonnes of rice and Tk65 lakh in cash assistance, followed by Rangamati with 500 tonnes of rice and Tk25 lakh, Cox’s Bazar with 450 tonnes and Tk30 lakh, and Bandarban with 400 tonnes and Tk20 lakh.