Bangladesh's Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Sunday (Aug&nbsp;25), urged China to move some of its solar panel factories to Bangladesh. The Nobel laureate, during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen at the State Guest House Jamuna, said that he believes this could boost Bangladesh's transition to a green economy and expand its export options.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:101,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1790}">China-Bangladesh ties</h2>

Chief Adviser Yunus highlighted the need for closer economic ties between China and Bangladesh.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:226,&quot;w&quot;:657,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1915}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-cracks-down-on-divorce-newly-proposed-rules-look-to-make-it-harder-to-split-easier-to-marry-753217">China cracks down on divorce: Newly proposed rules make it harder to split, easier to marry</a>

He also suggested that China increase imports of Bangladeshi goods. Yunus also called for technological transfer and increased collaboration in technology, disaster management, education, and farming.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:311,&quot;w&quot;:813,&quot;h&quot;:25,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2000}">China welcomes Bangladesh's interim government</h2>

Ambassador Wen welcomed the formation of the interim government. He also expressed China's willingness to share its development experiences with Bangladesh.

"The future of Bangladesh will be better and brighter under your leadership," he told the Bangladeshi Chief Adviser.

"No matter what changes have taken place in the domestic situation of Bangladesh, China's commitment to develop China-Bangladesh relations remains unchanged," he said.

The Ambassador said that the two nations have recently upgraded their relationship to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" and will celebrate their 50th year of diplomatic ties next year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-historic-haul-democratic-party-nominee-raises-over-540-million-mostly-from-first-time-donors-753234">Kamala Harris' historic haul: Democratic Party nominee raises over $540 million, mostly from first-time donors</a>

Ambassador Wen also addressed the Rohingya crisis, promising China's continued support for humanitarian efforts.&nbsp;

He announced a donation of $100,000 from the Chinese Red Cross for flood relief in Bangladesh as he handed over a $20,000 cheque to the Flood Relief Fund of the Chief Adviser from the embassy.

"China is committed to working with Bangladesh to organise and carry out activities for the 'China-Bangladesh Year of People-to-People Exchanges' in 2025," said the ambassador. He also extended an invitation for Yunus to visit China.

(With inputs from agencies)

Bangladesh's Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Sunday (Aug 25), urged China to move some of its solar panel factories to Bangladesh. The Nobel laureate, during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen at the State Guest House Jamuna, said that he believes this could boost Bangladesh's transition to a green economy and expand its export options.

Bangladesh's Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Sunday (Aug 25), urged China to move some of its solar panel factories to Bangladesh. The Nobel laureate, during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen at the State Guest House Jamuna, said that he believes this could boost Bangladesh's transition to a green economy and expand its export options. China-Bangladesh ties Chief Adviser Yunus highlighted the need for closer economic ties between China and Bangladesh. Also read | China cracks down on divorce: Newly proposed rules make it harder to split, easier to marry He also suggested that China increase imports of Bangladeshi goods. Yunus also called for technological transfer and increased collaboration in technology, disaster management, education, and farming. China welcomes Bangladesh's interim government Ambassador Wen welcomed the formation of the interim government. He also expressed China's willingness to share its development experiences with Bangladesh. "The future of Bangladesh will be better and brighter under your leadership," he told the Bangladeshi Chief Adviser. "No matter what changes have taken place in the domestic situation of Bangladesh, China's commitment to develop China-Bangladesh relations remains unchanged," he said. The Ambassador said that the two nations have recently upgraded their relationship to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" and will celebrate their 50th year of diplomatic ties next year. Also read | Kamala Harris' historic haul: Democratic Party nominee raises over $540 million, mostly from first-time donors Ambassador Wen also addressed the Rohingya crisis, promising China's continued support for humanitarian efforts. He announced a donation of $100,000 from the Chinese Red Cross for flood relief in Bangladesh as he handed over a $20,000 cheque to the Flood Relief Fund of the Chief Adviser from the embassy. "China is committed to working with Bangladesh to organise and carry out activities for the 'China-Bangladesh Year of People-to-People Exchanges' in 2025," said the ambassador. He also extended an invitation for Yunus to visit China. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese ambassador hands over $20,000 cheque to Bangladesh for flood relief

The death toll from floods in Bangladesh this week has risen to eight, leaving more than two million affected after heavy rains caused major rivers to burst their banks, officials confirmed Saturday.

The South Asian nation of 170 million people, crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers, has seen more frequent floods in recent decades.&nbsp;

Climate change has made rainfall more erratic and melting glaciers upstream in the Himalayan mountains.

Two teenage boys were killed when a boat capsized in flood waters in Shahjadur, the northern rural town's police chief Sabuj Rana told AFP.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-and-bangladesh-strengthen-maritime-ties-with-navy-chief-tripathis-visit-737508" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-and-bangladesh-strengthen-maritime-ties-with-navy-chief-tripathis-visit-737508&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjZlIz8tpKHAxV23zQHHQ_QArIQFnoECAAQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw2FkV0SmTuXLisk_ubePhcy&amp;arm=e&amp;fexp=72519171,72519168" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-and-bangladesh-strengthen-maritime-ties-with-navy-chief-tripathis-visit-737508" target="_blank">India and&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;strengthen maritime ties</a>

"There were nine people in the small boat. Seven swam to safety. Two boys did not know how to swim. They drowned," he said.

Bishwadeb Roy, a police chief in Kurigram, told AFP that three others had been killed in two separate electrocution incidents after their boats became entangled with live electricity wires in flood water.

Another three died in separate flood-related incidents around the country, officials told AFP earlier this week.

The government said it has opened hundreds of shelters for people displaced by the waters and sent food and relief to hard-hit districts in the country's north region.

"More than two million people have been affected by the floods. Seventeen of the country's 64 districts have been affected," Kamrul Hasan, the secretary of the country's disaster management ministry, told AFP.

Hasan said the flood situation may worsen in the north over the coming days with the Brahmaputra, one of Bangladesh's main waterways, flowing above danger levels in some areas.&nbsp;

In the worst-hit Kurigram district, eight out of nine rural towns have been marooned by flood water, local disaster and relief official Abdul Hye told AFP.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sheikh-hasina-india-visit-bangladesh-pm-receives-ceremonial-reception-at-rashtrapati-bhavan-734059" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sheikh-hasina-india-visit-bangladesh-pm-receives-ceremonial-reception-at-rashtrapati-bhavan-734059&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjZlIz8tpKHAxV23zQHHQ_QArIQFnoECAIQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw2cI8XSoZG4x0fB05_CAauR&amp;arm=e&amp;fexp=72519171,72519168" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sheikh-hasina-india-visit-bangladesh-pm-receives-ceremonial-reception-at-rashtrapati-bhavan-734059" target="_blank">New Delhi is our trusted friend, says Sheikh Hasina</a>

"We live with floods here. But this year the water was very high. In three days, Brahmaputra rose by six to eight feet (2-2.5 metres)," Abdul Gafur, a local councillor in the district, told AFP.&nbsp;

"Flood water has inundated more than 80 percent of homes in my area. We are trying to deliver food, especially rice and edible oil. But there is a drinking water crisis."

Bangladesh is in the middle of the annual summer monsoon, which brings South Asia 70-80 per cent of its annual rainfall, as well as regular deaths and destruction due to flooding and landslides.

The rainfall is hard to forecast and varies considerably, but scientists say climate change is making the monsoon stronger and more erratic.

The death toll from floods in Bangladesh this week has risen to eight, leaving more than two million affected after heavy rains caused major rivers to burst their banks, officials confirmed Saturday.

The death toll from floods in Bangladesh this week has risen to eight, leaving more than two million affected after heavy rains caused major rivers to burst their banks, officials confirmed Saturday. The South Asian nation of 170 million people, crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers, has seen more frequent floods in recent decades. Climate change has made rainfall more erratic and melting glaciers upstream in the Himalayan mountains. Two teenage boys were killed when a boat capsized in flood waters in Shahjadur, the northern rural town's police chief Sabuj Rana told AFP. Also read: India and Bangladesh strengthen maritime ties "There were nine people in the small boat. Seven swam to safety. Two boys did not know how to swim. They drowned," he said. Bishwadeb Roy, a police chief in Kurigram, told AFP that three others had been killed in two separate electrocution incidents after their boats became entangled with live electricity wires in flood water. Another three died in separate flood-related incidents around the country, officials told AFP earlier this week. The government said it has opened hundreds of shelters for people displaced by the waters and sent food and relief to hard-hit districts in the country's north region. "More than two million people have been affected by the floods. Seventeen of the country's 64 districts have been affected," Kamrul Hasan, the secretary of the country's disaster management ministry, told AFP. Hasan said the flood situation may worsen in the north over the coming days with the Brahmaputra, one of Bangladesh's main waterways, flowing above danger levels in some areas. In the worst-hit Kurigram district, eight out of nine rural towns have been marooned by flood water, local disaster and relief official Abdul Hye told AFP. Also read: New Delhi is our trusted friend, says Sheikh Hasina "We live with floods here. But this year the water was very high. In three days, Brahmaputra rose by six to eight feet (2-2.5 metres)," Abdul Gafur, a local councillor in the district, told AFP. "Flood water has inundated more than 80 percent of homes in my area. We are trying to deliver food, especially rice and edible oil. But there is a drinking water crisis." Bangladesh is in the middle of the annual summer monsoon, which brings South Asia 70-80 per cent of its annual rainfall, as well as regular deaths and destruction due to flooding and landslides. The rainfall is hard to forecast and varies considerably, but scientists say climate change is making the monsoon stronger and more erratic.

Bangladesh floods: At least eight killed, two million affected due to heavy rains

At least 55 people have been killed and more than a million affected by two weeks of torrential rains causing floods and landslides in southeast Bangladesh, officials said Sunday.

Administrators of four of the worst-hit districts said floods and landslides since August 1 killed 21 people in Cox's Bazar, 19 in Chittagong, 10 in Bandarban and five in Rangamati.

"These are some of the heaviest rains in recent years," Bangladesh Meteorological Department chief Azizur Rahman told AFP.

He said 312 millimetres (12 inches) of rainfall was recorded on August 7 alone.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fresh-cases-of-bubonic-plague-detected-in-china-625031">Fresh cases of bubonic plague detected in China</a>

Officials said heavy rains lashed the region until August 11, triggering flash floods that caused rivers to burst their banks and inundate hundreds of villages.

It was only possible to confirm how many were killed after the floodwaters began to recede.

The summer monsoon brings South Asia around 80 per cent of its annual rainfall, as well as death and destruction due to flooding and landslides.

The rainfall is hard to forecast and varies considerably but scientists say climate change is making the monsoon stronger and more erratic, while deforestation and building on hillsides has made flash floods worse.

"In Cox's Bazar some 600,000 people were affected by the floods," district administrator Shaheen Ibrahim told AFP.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maui-wildfires-death-toll-climbs-to-93-hundreds-still-missing-top-points-625038">Maui wildfires: Death toll climbs to 93, hundreds still missing | Top points</a>

Bangladesh is home to one million Rohingyas who fled a military crackdown in Myanmar and now live in some three dozen camps built on cleared forest and hill slopes in Cox's Bazar.

"At least 21 people were killed,"&nbsp;Ibrahim said.

Refugee commissioner Mizanur Rahman said four Rohingyas were killed, including a child and her mother who were buried under a landslide.

"We have relocated around 2,000 people to safe places who are at risk of landslides in the camps," he told AFP.

Hundreds of villages were swamped in Chittagong, Bangladesh's second-largest city and home to its biggest port, in what residents said was some of the heaviest flooding in decades.

WATCH |&nbsp;Pakistani senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is Pak's transitionary PM

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistani-senator-anwar-ul-haq-kakar-is-paks-transitionary-pm-625028/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"The flood damaged at least 5,000 thatched houses," district administrator Abul Bashar Mohammed Fakhruzzaman told AFP.

"At least 19 people have died from the floods. We recovered some bodies from the Sangu river after floodwater receded in the past few days. Some 450,000 people were affected by the floods."

Transport between Chittagong and Cox's Bazar was cut for a few days and newly laid railway tracks were damaged, he said.

The rains also triggered a major flash flood in the hill district of Bandarban, where administrator Shah Mujahid Uddin said at least 10 people were killed.

Five people were killed in the Rangamati hill district, where heavy rains cut off some 23,000 people, administrator Mosharraf Hossain said.

Bangladeshi authorities have sent food and relief to the worst-affected region, said Shahina Sultana, a senior government official in Chattogram region, the new name for Chittagong.

Five people were still missing, she said.

"The government is doing everything in its power to support people," she said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

At least 55 people have been killed and more than a million affected by two weeks of torrential rains causing floods and landslides in southeast Bangladesh, officials said Sunday.

At least 55 people have been killed and more than a million affected by two weeks of torrential rains causing floods and landslides in southeast Bangladesh, officials said Sunday. Administrators of four of the worst-hit districts said floods and landslides since August 1 killed 21 people in Cox's Bazar, 19 in Chittagong, 10 in Bandarban and five in Rangamati. "These are some of the heaviest rains in recent years," Bangladesh Meteorological Department chief Azizur Rahman told AFP. He said 312 millimetres (12 inches) of rainfall was recorded on August 7 alone. Also Read | Fresh cases of bubonic plague detected in China Officials said heavy rains lashed the region until August 11, triggering flash floods that caused rivers to burst their banks and inundate hundreds of villages. It was only possible to confirm how many were killed after the floodwaters began to recede. The summer monsoon brings South Asia around 80 per cent of its annual rainfall, as well as death and destruction due to flooding and landslides. The rainfall is hard to forecast and varies considerably but scientists say climate change is making the monsoon stronger and more erratic, while deforestation and building on hillsides has made flash floods worse. "In Cox's Bazar some 600,000 people were affected by the floods," district administrator Shaheen Ibrahim told AFP. Also Read | Maui wildfires: Death toll climbs to 93, hundreds still missing | Top points Bangladesh is home to one million Rohingyas who fled a military crackdown in Myanmar and now live in some three dozen camps built on cleared forest and hill slopes in Cox's Bazar. "At least 21 people were killed," Ibrahim said. Refugee commissioner Mizanur Rahman said four Rohingyas were killed, including a child and her mother who were buried under a landslide. "We have relocated around 2,000 people to safe places who are at risk of landslides in the camps," he told AFP. Hundreds of villages were swamped in Chittagong, Bangladesh's second-largest city and home to its biggest port, in what residents said was some of the heaviest flooding in decades. WATCH | Pakistani senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is Pak's transitionary PM × "The flood damaged at least 5,000 thatched houses," district administrator Abul Bashar Mohammed Fakhruzzaman told AFP. "At least 19 people have died from the floods. We recovered some bodies from the Sangu river after floodwater receded in the past few days. Some 450,000 people were affected by the floods." Transport between Chittagong and Cox's Bazar was cut for a few days and newly laid railway tracks were damaged, he said. The rains also triggered a major flash flood in the hill district of Bandarban, where administrator Shah Mujahid Uddin said at least 10 people were killed. Five people were killed in the Rangamati hill district, where heavy rains cut off some 23,000 people, administrator Mosharraf Hossain said. Bangladeshi authorities have sent food and relief to the worst-affected region, said Shahina Sultana, a senior government official in Chattogram region, the new name for Chittagong. Five people were still missing, she said. "The government is doing everything in its power to support people," she said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

At least 55 killed in Bangladesh floods in August

Flood continues to wreak havoc in Bangladesh with authorities struggling to ferry drinking water and dry food.

WION Climate Tracker: Climate change creates new crisis for Bangladesh

Bangladesh is facing its worst flooding in 20 years, at least 69 people have died so far and millions remain stranded. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina assesses flood aftermath.

Monsoon rains in Bangladesh cause record-breaking floods, millions displaced

The United Nations says that 4 million people have been impacted in Bangladesh by the worst floods in nearly two decades. Heavy tains swell two main border rivers in Bangladesh

Climate change makes floods ferocious in Bangladesh

Northeast Bangladesh has witnessed the worst floods in nearly two decades though the flood waters have started receding many are still marooned. At least 60 people have lost their lives, 4 million have been impacted

Bangladesh Floods: Flood water recedes, millions marooned

Bangladesh is witnessing the worst floods in 20 years. Rainfall has stopped for now, the authorities though say that they have started rebuilding the affected areas but residents say resources are scarce to help everyone in need

Low-lying Bangladesh witnesses worst flooding in 20 years

Bangladesh's flood-hit region struggles as millions uprooted

At least six Rohingya died on Tuesday and thousands have been relocated in refugee camps in Bangladesh’s southeast after monsoon rains triggered landslides and flash floods in the hilly settlements. The rescue operation is underway.

Bangladesh: At least 6 people killed after monsoon rains trigger landslides

In Bangladesh, over 161 people are said to lose their lives in the massive flooding. Over 1/3 of Bangladesh have been inundated. Watch report.

Over 161 people killed in Bangladesh floods: Major transportation links cut off

Nearly a quarter of Bangladesh has been inundated with floodwaters, according to the latest satellite images of the country captured by NASA recently. Watch report.

Bangladesh floods: NASA images reveal stark flood situation

Severe flooding in Bangladesh, which has killed at least 54 people and affected over 2.4 million people, could be the worst since 1988, the United Nations has said.

Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said on Tuesday&nbsp;that some 56,000 of those impacted already have been displaced and are taking refuge in government shelters.

"At least 54 people have reportedly been killed to date as a result," Dujarric told reporters at a regular briefing.

"The UN and our humanitarian partners are helping the government respond to the situation by providing food, water purification facilities, hygiene and dignity kits, as well as emergency shelter supplies," he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/millions-at-risk-in-bangladesh-as-monsoon-floods-add-to-coronavirus-worries-309937">Millions at risk in Bangladesh as monsoon floods add to coronavirus worries</a>

The UN Central Emergency Response Fund recently provided UN agencies with 5.2 million US dollars to help families most at risk, the spokesman said.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on its website, "The anticipatory funding has since July 11 allowed partners to reach communities early with key assistance, including the distribution of sealable drums to protect agricultural equipment, and hygiene, dignity and health kits, as well as cash assistance."

"Responding to the flood is complicated by the fact that these efforts are taking place as Bangladesh is also addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and recovering from Cyclone Amphan," Dujarric said.

Amphan, which hit Bangladesh in May, was the strongest storm in the Bay of Bengal, the American Red Cross said.The 1988 floods claimed the lives of about 500 people and left more than 25 million people homeless, as per the UN records.

Severe flooding in Bangladesh, which has killed at least 54 people and affected over 2.4 million people, could be the worst since 1988, the United Nations has said.

Severe flooding in Bangladesh, which has killed at least 54 people and affected over 2.4 million people, could be the worst since 1988, the United Nations has said. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said on Tuesday that some 56,000 of those impacted already have been displaced and are taking refuge in government shelters. "At least 54 people have reportedly been killed to date as a result," Dujarric told reporters at a regular briefing. "The UN and our humanitarian partners are helping the government respond to the situation by providing food, water purification facilities, hygiene and dignity kits, as well as emergency shelter supplies," he said. Also read: Millions at risk in Bangladesh as monsoon floods add to coronavirus worries The UN Central Emergency Response Fund recently provided UN agencies with 5.2 million US dollars to help families most at risk, the spokesman said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on its website, "The anticipatory funding has since July 11 allowed partners to reach communities early with key assistance, including the distribution of sealable drums to protect agricultural equipment, and hygiene, dignity and health kits, as well as cash assistance." "Responding to the flood is complicated by the fact that these efforts are taking place as Bangladesh is also addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and recovering from Cyclone Amphan," Dujarric said. Amphan, which hit Bangladesh in May, was the strongest storm in the Bay of Bengal, the American Red Cross said.The 1988 floods claimed the lives of about 500 people and left more than 25 million people homeless, as per the UN records.

Bangladesh floods claim 54 lives, affect 2.4 million people, says UN

Monsoon has arrived in South Asia and in Bangladesh it is spelling flood. The country has not seen such heavy rains in almost 10 years with one-third of Bangladesh already underwater.

At least 4 million people have been affected but the skies are not yet done. The village of Sunamganj is inundated and there is water as far the eye can see. The watery horizon mirrors the eyes of the distressed villagers.

"Both people and cattle are suffering... many people had to run to the shelters leaving their homes," Jamir Shikder, a villager, said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-one-third-of-bangladesh-submerged-by-floodwaters-313546/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The suffering is overflowing across Bangladesh. In Lalmornirhat, the villagers are trying to save whatever little remains of their rice and corn crops. The monsoon has rained over their hardwork and the the water has gushed into their homes.

"All our houses and furnitures went under water. We are really suffering," Abdul Monaf, a shopkeeper lamented.

The two main rivers flowing through Bangladesh are already swollen with the&nbsp;Brahmaputra almost 40 centimetres higher than normal even as the Ganga is roaring. It is only a matter of time before it bursts the banks, the water could flood 40 per cent of Bangladesh.&nbsp;Experts say this is the worst case scenario. So far, 15,000 people have fled severely-affected areas. It is the same scenario across the submerged border.

"The cooking ovens have been flooded. even our beds are underwater. How can we cook in this situation?" There is no easy answer to this question.

Floods have also displaced more than 2 million people in northeastern India with at least 77 people having lost their lives in Assam. Nepal too has been overwhelmed by the monsoon rains as floods and landslides have killed at least 50 people and 300 others have been displaced.

Floods are not uncommon in these parts of South Asia. Bangladesh alone is criss-crossed by 230 rivers. It shares 53 rivers with India and with the Wuhan virus already raining over the world, floods were the last thing the people of Bangladesh needed this year but the dark clouds have unleashed an omenous spell and officials say it is going to be the worst flood of the decade.

Monsoon has arrived in South Asia and in Bangladesh it is spelling flood. The country has not seen such heavy rains in almost 10 years with one-third of Bangladesh already underwater.

Monsoon has arrived in South Asia and in Bangladesh it is spelling flood. The country has not seen such heavy rains in almost 10 years with one-third of Bangladesh already underwater. At least 4 million people have been affected but the skies are not yet done. The village of Sunamganj is inundated and there is water as far the eye can see. The watery horizon mirrors the eyes of the distressed villagers. "Both people and cattle are suffering... many people had to run to the shelters leaving their homes," Jamir Shikder, a villager, said. The suffering is overflowing across Bangladesh. In Lalmornirhat, the villagers are trying to save whatever little remains of their rice and corn crops. The monsoon has rained over their hardwork and the the water has gushed into their homes. "All our houses and furnitures went under water. We are really suffering," Abdul Monaf, a shopkeeper lamented. The two main rivers flowing through Bangladesh are already swollen with the Brahmaputra almost 40 centimetres higher than normal even as the Ganga is roaring. It is only a matter of time before it bursts the banks, the water could flood 40 per cent of Bangladesh. Experts say this is the worst case scenario. So far, 15,000 people have fled severely-affected areas. It is the same scenario across the submerged border. "The cooking ovens have been flooded. even our beds are underwater. How can we cook in this situation?" There is no easy answer to this question. Floods have also displaced more than 2 million people in northeastern India with at least 77 people having lost their lives in Assam. Nepal too has been overwhelmed by the monsoon rains as floods and landslides have killed at least 50 people and 300 others have been displaced. Floods are not uncommon in these parts of South Asia. Bangladesh alone is criss-crossed by 230 rivers. It shares 53 rivers with India and with the Wuhan virus already raining over the world, floods were the last thing the people of Bangladesh needed this year but the dark clouds have unleashed an omenous spell and officials say it is going to be the worst flood of the decade.

Floods ravage Bangladesh as monsoon arrives in South Asia

Heavy floods are occurring in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India. The floods have killed scores of people, destroyed homes, drowned villages. Watch report.

South Asia hit hard by monsoon floods: Several villages drowned

The death toll from monsoon storms in Bangladesh rose above 100 Friday with flood levels still rising in many parts of the country, officials said.

About 30 people have been reported dead in the last three days, taking the toll to 114 -- making it one of the country's worst monsoons in years.

Most victims have drowned but some have been killed by landslides, snake bites and lightning strikes.

Five girls aged between six and 18 drowned when their boat capsized in a flood torrent in the northern district of Jamalpur on Thursday, district administrator Ahmed Kabir told AFP.

The Brahmaputra river, which flows out of the Himalayas, has risen dramatically since July 10 leaving 1.2 million people in Jamalpur without homes or affected by the floods.

The river last week was at its highest level since authorities started keeping records in 1975.

Six villages in Mymensingh district were flooded after waters breached an embankment and forced 2,000 people to flee their homes, district administrator Mizanur Rahman said.

Five million people have been affected by the floods since July 10, according to authorities. Several hundred thousand have been forced out of their homes.

The state-run Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said at least 26 of the country's 64 districts -- covering a third of the country -- have been flooded by heavy monsoon rains and a deluge from Himalayan rivers in India and Nepal.

The centre said water levels would remain high in many districts until Saturday. The floods were receding in other districts however, centre head Arifuzzaman Bhuyan told AFP.

Bangladesh is regularly flooded during the June-September monsoon as hundreds of rivers that feed into the Bay of Bengal burst their banks.

In 1998, during one of the nation's worst-ever floods, nearly 70 per cent of the country went underwater, leaving more than a thousand people dead and 30 million people affected.

The death toll from monsoon storms in Bangladesh rose above 100 Friday with flood levels still rising in many parts of the country, officials said. About 30 people have been reported dead in the last three days, taking the toll to 114 -- making it one of the country's worst monsoons in years.

The death toll from monsoon storms in Bangladesh rose above 100 Friday with flood levels still rising in many parts of the country, officials said. About 30 people have been reported dead in the last three days, taking the toll to 114 -- making it one of the country's worst monsoons in years. Most victims have drowned but some have been killed by landslides, snake bites and lightning strikes. Five girls aged between six and 18 drowned when their boat capsized in a flood torrent in the northern district of Jamalpur on Thursday, district administrator Ahmed Kabir told AFP. The Brahmaputra river, which flows out of the Himalayas, has risen dramatically since July 10 leaving 1.2 million people in Jamalpur without homes or affected by the floods. The river last week was at its highest level since authorities started keeping records in 1975. Six villages in Mymensingh district were flooded after waters breached an embankment and forced 2,000 people to flee their homes, district administrator Mizanur Rahman said. Five million people have been affected by the floods since July 10, according to authorities. Several hundred thousand have been forced out of their homes. The state-run Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said at least 26 of the country's 64 districts -- covering a third of the country -- have been flooded by heavy monsoon rains and a deluge from Himalayan rivers in India and Nepal. The centre said water levels would remain high in many districts until Saturday. The floods were receding in other districts however, centre head Arifuzzaman Bhuyan told AFP. Bangladesh is regularly flooded during the June-September monsoon as hundreds of rivers that feed into the Bay of Bengal burst their banks. In 1998, during one of the nation's worst-ever floods, nearly 70 per cent of the country went underwater, leaving more than a thousand people dead and 30 million people affected.

Bangladesh flood death toll surpasses 100

Floods and landslides in the northern and southeastern parts of Bangladesh are hampering the lives of millions. In Gaibhanda alone more than 66,000 have been houses destroyed, people complained of not having adequate places to take shelter, while some didn't even have boats to move around during the floods.

Bangladesh floods: More than 66,000 houses destroyed in Gaibandha

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-floods-worsen-after-breach-death-toll-nears-100-in-india-236883">Rain-swollen rivers in Bangladesh</a> broke through at least four embankments, submerging dozens of villages and doubling the number of people fleeing their homes overnight to 400,000 in one of the worst floods in recent years, officials said on Friday.

Heavy rains and overflowing rivers have swamped 23 districts in northern and northwestern Bangladesh, officials said.

At least 30 people have been killed since the floods began last week.&nbsp;

“The government has opened more than 1,000 temporary shelters but due to deep waters and lack of communications, many people aren`t able to reach them," Raihana Islam, an official in the flood-afflicted district of Bogra, told Reuters.

Islam said scores of people had instead camped on embankments, railway lines and highways, where traffic has come to a standstill.

Aside from concern over crops, authorities are also worried that rising flood waters could take a toll on livestock.

South Asia receives monsoon rains between June and October that often lead to floods later in the season, but the intensity of the deluge in Bangladesh is uncommon.

“The severity of the flood of this year is worse compared to recent years,” Ariful Islam, an executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board, said.

The floods worsened after three embankments on the Brahmaputra river, which flows down from the Himalayas, through northeastern India and into Bangladesh, gave way late on Thursday, said Mohammad Moniruzzaman, an official in the federal agriculture ministry.

"The onrush of water submerged a vast area along with several dozen villages,” he told Reuters.

In the neighbouring Indian state of Assam, floods on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries since last week displaced some 5.8 million people, but the situation has improved with waters receding, a state minister said.

"While some people have started going back to their homes, about 70% continue to remain in makeshift relief camps," Assam Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta said.

Water levels were also coming down in the northern Indian state of Bihar, where floods have killed at least 78 people.&nbsp;

"We are now taking measures to prevent outbreak of any disease,” Manish Kumar, the emergency officer at Bihar’s worst flood-hit district of Sitamarhi, told Reuters.

Two people died in Sri Lanka and five were missing due to heavy rain which had forced hundreds to flee their homes across the island nation, the state-run Disaster Management Centre said.

The central districts of Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura were the worst affected. 
&nbsp;

Rain-swollen rivers in Bangladesh broke through at least four embankments, submerging dozens of villages and doubling the number of people fleeing their homes overnight to 400,000 in one of the worst floods in recent years, officials said on Friday.

Rain-swollen rivers in Bangladesh broke through at least four embankments, submerging dozens of villages and doubling the number of people fleeing their homes overnight to 400,000 in one of the worst floods in recent years, officials said on Friday. Heavy rains and overflowing rivers have swamped 23 districts in northern and northwestern Bangladesh, officials said. At least 30 people have been killed since the floods began last week. “The government has opened more than 1,000 temporary shelters but due to deep waters and lack of communications, many people aren`t able to reach them," Raihana Islam, an official in the flood-afflicted district of Bogra, told Reuters. Islam said scores of people had instead camped on embankments, railway lines and highways, where traffic has come to a standstill. Aside from concern over crops, authorities are also worried that rising flood waters could take a toll on livestock. South Asia receives monsoon rains between June and October that often lead to floods later in the season, but the intensity of the deluge in Bangladesh is uncommon. “The severity of the flood of this year is worse compared to recent years,” Ariful Islam, an executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board, said. The floods worsened after three embankments on the Brahmaputra river, which flows down from the Himalayas, through northeastern India and into Bangladesh, gave way late on Thursday, said Mohammad Moniruzzaman, an official in the federal agriculture ministry. "The onrush of water submerged a vast area along with several dozen villages,” he told Reuters. In the neighbouring Indian state of Assam, floods on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries since last week displaced some 5.8 million people, but the situation has improved with waters receding, a state minister said. "While some people have started going back to their homes, about 70% continue to remain in makeshift relief camps," Assam Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta said. Water levels were also coming down in the northern Indian state of Bihar, where floods have killed at least 78 people. "We are now taking measures to prevent outbreak of any disease,” Manish Kumar, the emergency officer at Bihar’s worst flood-hit district of Sitamarhi, told Reuters. Two people died in Sri Lanka and five were missing due to heavy rain which had forced hundreds to flee their homes across the island nation, the state-run Disaster Management Centre said. The central districts of Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura were the worst affected.

Bangladesh rivers break their banks, forcing 400,000 to flee homes

Piyara Begum once had a happy life in Garuhara village by Brahmaputra River in northern Bangladesh, but worsening erosion of the riverbanks has displaced her family seven times. 
 
Now Piyara, 30, has taken shelter in Panchgachi village, 8 kilometres away in the same sub-district of Kurigram Sadar. 
 
&ldquo;I am always concerned about where Piyara and her three children are living, and how she manages her family expenses, as she has lost everything due to erosion,&rdquo; said her uncle, Abdul Majid, who still lives in Garuhara village. 
 
The loss of Piyara&rsquo;s home is taking a toll on her mental and physical health, he added. 
 
Riverbank erosion is a common problem along the mighty Brahmaputra during the monsoon, but scientists say climate change is making the phenomenon worse by contributing to higher levels of flooding and siltation. 
 
According to villagers in Garuhara, about 200 families have been displaced by erosion there in the past two years. 
 
Majid fears that if the trend continues, the whole of the village will go underwater, rendering about 1,000 families homeless. 
 
But some of those who want to escape that prospect cannot &ndash; because they are unable to turn their assets into the cash they need to pay for their move. 
 
Abdul Malek, 45, a farmer in Garuhara, had 0.4 acres of agricultural land on the bank of the Brahmaputra, but the river washed away half his plot during the monsoon last year. 
 
&ldquo;My family had no problem in the past as we cultivated crops on the land to meet our food demand. But now we are facing trouble,&rdquo; he said. 
 
Malek and his family are planning to migrate to another part of the country after selling their homestead, but they cannot find a buyer because the property is at high risk of erosion. 
 
Other families in Garuhara village who also want to sell up and leave are trapped there for the same reason. 
 
Erosion rates rising 
 
The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river, originating in south-western Tibet, flowing through the Himalayas, the Indian state of Assam and Bangladesh, and into the Bay of Bengal. 
 
Climate change has contributed to rapid siltation of the river in recent years, which is intensifying bank erosion during the monsoon, Bangladesh Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said. 
 
A 2014 study from the International Union for Conservation of Nature showed that the flow of the Brahmaputra is influenced strongly by the melting of snow and ice upstream, mainly in the eastern Himalaya mountains. 
 
This century, as temperatures rise, the river is likely to see an overall increase in flows throughout the year, driven by more rainfall, higher snow melt rates and expanded run-off areas, the study said. 
 
Every year, the river carries silt from the Himalayas and deposits it downstream in Bangladesh, creating myriad islands known as chars. 
 
When floods occur upstream on the Brahmaputra, amid more intense bursts of heavy rainfall linked to climate change, the silted-up river has less capacity to carry the huge volume of water, accelerating bank erosion. 
 
Maminul Haque Sarker of the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), a Dhaka-based thinktank, said the erosion rate has increased at some points of the river in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur and Sirajganj districts. 
 
A 2015 CEGIS study put the annual rate of erosion along the Brahmaputra at about 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) in recent years. 
 
Bangladesh&rsquo;s major rivers combined consume several thousand hectares of floodplain annually, destroying homes and infrastructure and leaving people landless and homeless. 
 
&#39;Silent cancer&#39; 
 
A 2013 study by the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit at the University of Dhaka and the UK-based Sussex Centre for Migration Research estimated that riverbank erosion displaces 50,000 to 200,000 people in Bangladesh every year. 
 
Those displaced by erosion become isolated from their families and wider social networks and most have no scope to return to their roots. 
 
Majid from Garuhara village said many of his neighbours and relatives have already left for other parts of the country and do not see each other even once a year. 
 
Minister Mahmud said riverbank erosion works like a silent cancer and can be more devastating than storms or floods because it takes everything people own, including their land. 
 
&ldquo;People have the chance to return to a normal life if they are hit by a cyclone or flood,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If people once become displaced due to bank erosion, it is quite impossible to return to normal life.&rdquo; 
 
CEGIS deputy executive director Fida A Khan said people often have family cemeteries or other religious monuments on the riverbanks that are claimed by erosion. Those structures may not be worth much economically, but have high social value, he added. 
 
Jahera Begum, 45, another victim of riverbank erosion, had a homestead in Balchipara village in Kurigram Sadar sub-district, but the river washed away all the village land during last year&rsquo;s monsoon, uprooting about 100 families. 
 
&ldquo;My husband has already gone to Feni district seeking work. I am temporarily taking shelter in my relatives&rsquo; house at Garuhara,&rdquo; said Jahera, who is planning to head to Feni or even Dhaka soon. 
 
Bank erosion has not only claimed all her family&rsquo;s belongings, but has left them facing an uncertain future, she said grimly. 
 
(Reuters)

The phenomenon displaces 50,000 to 200,000 every year, says study

Piyara Begum once had a happy life in Garuhara village by Brahmaputra River in northern Bangladesh, but worsening erosion of the riverbanks has displaced her family seven times. Now Piyara, 30, has taken shelter in Panchgachi village, 8 kilometres away in the same sub-district of Kurigram Sadar. “I am always concerned about where Piyara and her three children are living, and how she manages her family expenses, as she has lost everything due to erosion,” said her uncle, Abdul Majid, who still lives in Garuhara village. The loss of Piyara’s home is taking a toll on her mental and physical health, he added. Riverbank erosion is a common problem along the mighty Brahmaputra during the monsoon, but scientists say climate change is making the phenomenon worse by contributing to higher levels of flooding and siltation. According to villagers in Garuhara, about 200 families have been displaced by erosion there in the past two years. Majid fears that if the trend continues, the whole of the village will go underwater, rendering about 1,000 families homeless. But some of those who want to escape that prospect cannot – because they are unable to turn their assets into the cash they need to pay for their move. Abdul Malek, 45, a farmer in Garuhara, had 0.4 acres of agricultural land on the bank of the Brahmaputra, but the river washed away half his plot during the monsoon last year. “My family had no problem in the past as we cultivated crops on the land to meet our food demand. But now we are facing trouble,” he said. Malek and his family are planning to migrate to another part of the country after selling their homestead, but they cannot find a buyer because the property is at high risk of erosion. Other families in Garuhara village who also want to sell up and leave are trapped there for the same reason. Erosion rates rising The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river, originating in south-western Tibet, flowing through the Himalayas, the Indian state of Assam and Bangladesh, and into the Bay of Bengal. Climate change has contributed to rapid siltation of the river in recent years, which is intensifying bank erosion during the monsoon, Bangladesh Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said. A 2014 study from the International Union for Conservation of Nature showed that the flow of the Brahmaputra is influenced strongly by the melting of snow and ice upstream, mainly in the eastern Himalaya mountains. This century, as temperatures rise, the river is likely to see an overall increase in flows throughout the year, driven by more rainfall, higher snow melt rates and expanded run-off areas, the study said. Every year, the river carries silt from the Himalayas and deposits it downstream in Bangladesh, creating myriad islands known as chars. When floods occur upstream on the Brahmaputra, amid more intense bursts of heavy rainfall linked to climate change, the silted-up river has less capacity to carry the huge volume of water, accelerating bank erosion. Maminul Haque Sarker of the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), a Dhaka-based thinktank, said the erosion rate has increased at some points of the river in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur and Sirajganj districts. A 2015 CEGIS study put the annual rate of erosion along the Brahmaputra at about 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) in recent years. Bangladesh’s major rivers combined consume several thousand hectares of floodplain annually, destroying homes and infrastructure and leaving people landless and homeless. 'Silent cancer' A 2013 study by the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit at the University of Dhaka and the UK-based Sussex Centre for Migration Research estimated that riverbank erosion displaces 50,000 to 200,000 people in Bangladesh every year. Those displaced by erosion become isolated from their families and wider social networks and most have no scope to return to their roots. Majid from Garuhara village said many of his neighbours and relatives have already left for other parts of the country and do not see each other even once a year. Minister Mahmud said riverbank erosion works like a silent cancer and can be more devastating than storms or floods because it takes everything people own, including their land. “People have the chance to return to a normal life if they are hit by a cyclone or flood,” he said. “If people once become displaced due to bank erosion, it is quite impossible to return to normal life.” CEGIS deputy executive director Fida A Khan said people often have family cemeteries or other religious monuments on the riverbanks that are claimed by erosion. Those structures may not be worth much economically, but have high social value, he added. Jahera Begum, 45, another victim of riverbank erosion, had a homestead in Balchipara village in Kurigram Sadar sub-district, but the river washed away all the village land during last year’s monsoon, uprooting about 100 families. “My husband has already gone to Feni district seeking work. I am temporarily taking shelter in my relatives’ house at Garuhara,” said Jahera, who is planning to head to Feni or even Dhaka soon. Bank erosion has not only claimed all her family’s belongings, but has left them facing an uncertain future, she said grimly. (Reuters)

Bangladesh's secret disaster: Riverbank erosion eats up land, leaves people homeless

bangladesh-floods

Bangladesh Floods, News on Bangladesh Floods, stories on Bangladesh Floods, articles on Bangladesh Floods, Bangladesh Floods stories at Wion, Bangladesh Floods news, Bangladesh Floods latest news

bangladesh floods