Death Toll Reaches 54 as Floods Devastate Seven Districts

A catastrophic combination of relentless torrential rain, flash floods, and severe landslides has claimed at least 54 lives across Bangladesh. According to the latest situational report released on Monday afternoon by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, more than 150,000 families remain completely stranded in their homes. The climate-induced disaster has severely disrupted livelihoods, with the total number of affected individuals across seven districts now spiking to 609,411.

The government report identifies Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj as the hardest-hit regions. Sweeping across these seven districts, the floodwaters have submerged 12 municipalities and 334 unions across 59 sub-districts (upazilas).

Cox’s Bazar has borne the brunt of this environmental crisis, recording the highest number of casualties and widespread infrastructural damage. Landslips and rushing waters have killed 31 people in the coastal district, comprising 18 local residents and 13 Rohingya refugees housed in the makeshift camps. Another 24 individuals have sustained various injuries, whilst emergency teams continue to search for one person who remains missing. Elsewhere, fatalities include 13 in Chittagong, six in the hilly terrain of Bandarban, three in Rangamati, and one in Moulvibazar.

In response to the displacement, local authorities and public representatives have mobilised resources to open 1,049 emergency shelters, which currently house 38,422 displaced people. Chittagong has established the highest number of facilities, with 16,821 people taking refuge across 415 shelters. Meanwhile, Bandarban’s 220 shelters house 5,134 people, Rangamati’s 47 centres accommodate 3,487, and Cox’s Bazar has 4,131 individuals across seven shelters. In Moulvibazar, 1,024 people have moved into 14 centres, whereas Khagrachhari has recorded only 74 occupants despite preparing 150 shelters. Habiganj has set up two shelters, though no displaced persons have been registered there yet.

The ministry confirmed that public relief operations have been stepped up to alleviate the suffering of stranded communities. A total allocation of 8,950 tonnes of rice and 46 million Taka in cash has been dispatched to the affected zones. Distribution of dry food and other essential emergency materials remains underway.

District-level relief records show that Chittagong has received 1,200 tonnes of rice and 6.5 million Taka. Cox’s Bazar was allocated 450 tonnes of rice and three million Taka, with 363 tonnes and 450 packets of dry food already distributed to families. Rangamati received 500 tonnes of rice and 2.5 million Taka, whilst Bandarban was granted 400 tonnes of rice and two million Taka. Similar financial and food packages have been extended to Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj. Additionally, the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund has released an extra two million Taka each for the rugged terrains of Rangamati and Bandarban to support local recovery efforts.