Massive floods maroon more than 1 million people in Bangladesh’s northeastern region

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladesh’s northeastern border district of Sylhet has been inundated by massive floods in less than one month, marooning more than 1 million people and causing property damage, according to officials.

All 13 sub-districts of the tourist-hub region, famous for tea gardening, have been flooded from days-long heavy rain and an onrush from the upstream neighboring state of India.

But there have been no casualties to date and authorities have taken necessary support to relieve residents.

While residents are still fighting to recover from losses experienced last month in the worst floods in 18 years, the new disaster leaves them in serious plights.

Tens of thousands have left their homes and taken shelter at government-run shelters and other concrete structures amid an acute crisis of food, drinking water and sanitation.

Cattle and domestic animals have been kept on the highways with a high risk of being washed away. Agriculture, communication, fisheries and other economic activities in the region have been seriously affected.

Residents demanded a proper dredging of the main two rivers so that the onrush upstream and rainwater can be absorbed.