As many as 586,000 people in 20 districts have been affected in the second round of floods during the monsoon this year, says the disaster management ministry.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury said that the shelters in the flood-hit areas have taken in a total of 368,586 people so far.
The government has been making preparations since the severe flooding in upstream countries like, China, India, Nepal and Bhutan, he said, reports bdnews24.com.
“We have been carefully monitoring the situation in those countries,” he said. “After all, the water will naturally flow downstream to us.”
Fresh floods have waterlogged 356 Upazilas in 20 districts, including northeastern districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj and Netrokona, northern districts of Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Bogra, Sirajganj and the hill tract districts Rangamati and Khagrachari.
So far, 27 flood-related deaths have been reported from the northern part of the country -- 13 in Dinajpur, 11 in Kurigram and three in Lalmonirhat.
Highway traffic has been severely hampered due to the floods. Rail service to Dinajpur has been shut down.
Disaster Management Minister Chowdhury said 10,630 metric tonnes of rice and Tk 31 million will be distributed to the affected districts and those at risk from the floods.
