Bangladesh floods: Millions affected, India blamed

DHAKA: Catastrophic floods in Bangladesh displaced around 3.6 million people and resulted in two deaths on Thursday.

The floodwaters ravaged millions of homes, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted transportation routes, complicating relief efforts in the politically troubled country.

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The worst-affected areas are Feni, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Cumilla and Chittagong.

According to the Bangladesh’s Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), the affected regions are experiencing significant damage due to relentless rain and flooding.

In Dhaka, protests erupted as students accused India of worsening the crisis by discharging water from the Dumboor Dam on the Gomati river, which they claim has exacerbated the floods in Bangladesh.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the allegations, stating the dam’s water release did not impact the flooding.

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The Indian ministry said that shared river basin floods were a recurring issue that demanded cooperative solutions between the two countries.

Bangladesh’s interim government is forced to grapple with floods during a politically precarious time. Nationwide protests that started in July over the quota reform protests brought down the govemrent of Sheikh Hasina, who soon fled to India.

The July Revolution was sparked by university students opposing the reintroduced 30 per cent quota for government positions, previously suspended in 2018. The unrest quickly spread across the country 173 million.

The situation intensified when the government responded with severe repression, deploying armed forces against peaceful protests. Hasina’s government’s brutal response led to the deaths of at least 215 people.

The government also responded with imposing a nationwide curfew, cutting off internet access, and blocking social media platforms.

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The protests then expanded into a broader movement demanding government accountability and the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Faced with mounting pressure and with the military refusing to side with her, Hasina was forced resigned. She then fled to India along with her sister on August 4.