'We lost everything': Bangladesh flood victims struggle to rebuild devastated lives

By Faisal Mahmud

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) — After seeking shelter in a school building for over a week, Sirajul Islam returned home this Monday to find his corrugated tin dwelling drenched in mud and covered in water hyacinth.

His home was one of countless others devastated by flash floods across swathes of eastern and southeastern Bangladesh.

"We lost everything ... The wooden bed and wardrobe are completely ruined, as the water reached chest-deep during the relentless rains and flooding of the past week," Islam told Anadolu. "Even the drum of rice we could not take with us is entirely spoiled from the water."

Floodwaters began to recede earlier this week in most areas, but in Domurua village, part of the Panchgachia union in Feni district where Islam lives, many homes have been reduced to ruins.

Relief efforts from both government and private organizations are scarce and have yet to reach remote areas like Domurua, which is about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from Feni's town. The narrow district roads connecting the union to the main town were submerged and damaged in many places, complicating relief distribution.

Since the floods began inundating roads and homes on Aug. 21, Feni residents have been fleeing to shelters. Despite this, large areas of the district have remained underwater for days, with no clear relief in sight.

Residents like Islam are still facing severe hardship in the shelters, compounded by the spread of waterborne diseases like diarrhea.

"My five-year-old son has been suffering from severe diarrhea for the past two days," said Halima Akter, a resident of Chhagalnaiya of Feni district, who has taken refuge in a flood shelter with hundreds of others.

"We were given some packets of saline, which I am feeding to my son, but our home is completely ruined and it's hard for us to maintain hygiene in the cramped condition," said Akter.

"I don't know when our ordeal will end," she added.

- Climate change, environmental degradation to blame

The floods in central, eastern, and southeastern Bangladesh have claimed 71 lives and impacted over 5.7 million people.

As the waters slowly recede, there is an urgent need for food, clean water, medicine, and dry clothing among those affected, particularly in remote areas where the situation remains especially dire.

Bangladesh, located on the world's largest delta, is deeply connected to waterways, with its rivers and floodplains shaping the landscape. Monsoon floods, especially in the northeast, happen regularly on a yearly basis. Residents have adapted by taking precautions and seeking shelter in the rainy season.

This year, however, the flooding, particularly in the southeast region — which has rarely experienced such events in the past century — took many by surprise.

In affected areas near the Indian border, such as Feni, Cumilla, and Lakshmipur, some have alleged that the release of water from India's Dumbur Dam triggered the unexpected flooding. New Delhi, however, denies the claims.

Speaking to Anadolu, Md. Khalequzzaman, a professor of geology at Lock Haven University in the US state of Pennsylvania, explained that this year's unprecedented and severe floods resulted from a combination of multiple factors.

These include heavy rainfall, disruptions in river flow in both India and Bangladesh, loss of natural drainage systems, riverbed siltation, and surface flow obstructions caused by roads, houses, and embankments.

Khalequzzaman also warned that climate change has likely played a significant role in the unusual volume of rainfall. "The nature of rainfall is clearly linked to climate change. Unfortunately, such instances of intense rainfall are expected to increase in the future."

- Ongoing relief efforts

About 284,000 people remain in 3,612 flood shelters across the affected districts across eastern Bangladesh.

The floods have caused extensive damage to homes, highways, roads, educational institutions, and other infrastructure in these areas.

This year's floods have wreaked havoc, particularly on agriculture, severely damaging crops and livestock. Submerged fields, ruined gardens, and lost poultry have left many farmers in distress.

Experts are calling on agriculture, fisheries, and livestock authorities to stay focused on rehabilitation efforts to support community recovery.

Agriculture specialists recommend prioritizing crops that thrive in muddy conditions, providing immediate access to rice and vegetable seeds in flood-affected areas.

The emphasis is on prompt action, rather than waiting for ideal conditions. Md. Mojdar Hossain, a senior official at the Department of Agricultural Extension, told Anadolu that they have approved the distribution of 400 metric tons of rice seeds and will soon approve seeds for vegetables and other crops.

On Aug. 24, Farida Akhtar, advisor on fisheries and livestock of the country's interim government, held a news conference at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and announced that the floods in the northeastern and eastern regions of the country had caused damage amounting to 20 billion Bangladeshi takas ($180 million) to fisheries and livestock.

The Bangladesh government has sought $300 million in budget support from the Asian Development Bank to aid in the rehabilitation of flood-hit areas.

Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of the interim government, has initiated efforts to mobilize funds from non-governmental organizations and donors within the country, targeting a budget of about $835,500 for flood recovery efforts.