Floods in Bangladesh kill 44, leave over a million stranded

Floods and landslides triggered by days of ​torrential monsoon rain have killed at least 44 people in southeastern Bangladesh and ‌left over a million stranded as authorities raced to deliver aid to devastated communities.
The disaster management ministry said that flooding across seven districts — Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Habiganj — has ​disrupted daily life, isolated thousands of families, and stranded 267,918 households.
Thousands of families are relying on dry food — flattened rice, puffed ​rice or biscuits that do not require cooking — and emergency relief. Washed-out roads and damaged bridges, however, have made ‌it ⁠difficult for aid workers to reach some of the hardest-hit communities.
Army and navy personnel are ferrying food, drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies by boat to isolated communities, as authorities step up relief efforts.
"The government is doing everything possible to support flood victims. Relief, safe drinking water ​and medical supplies are being ​distributed, and we ⁠urge people whose homes have been inundated to move to the nearest shelter," Disaster Management and Relief Minister Iqbal Hossain said during a visit ​to affected areas in Chattogram.
Bangladesh ​is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, with ​seasonal monsoon rains regularly causing floods, river erosion and landslides. Scientists say climate change is making extreme rainfall more frequent ​and intense, increasing the scale and severity of such disasters.