Bangladesh Floods Kill 13, Affect Millions

Severe monsoon floods in Bangladesh have resulted in at least 13 deaths and affected over 4.4 million people across 11 districts, with the northeastern areas of Feni, Cumilla, and Chattogram being particularly hard-hit. The government's disaster management ministry has reported that communication lines have been disrupted, and extensive damage to infrastructure has hindered emergency aid efforts. Rescue operations have been initiated by the army and navy as communities grapple with knee-deep water and widespread displacement. Critics have pointed to a failure in flood forecasting, while some residents accuse India of exacerbating the situation by releasing water from dams, a claim rejected by Indian officials. In response to the crisis, the Bangladeshi government has set up numerous shelters and dispatched medical teams to assist the affected population. Experts attribute the severity of the flooding to climate change and the current El Niño phenomenon, raising concerns about future disasters in this climate-vulnerable region.