Exploring the power of charity and humanity in the face of one of Bangladesh’s most challenging natural disasters.
Bangladesh, a country recently freed from autocracy, faces a new challenge as heavy floods test its resilience and the spirit of its people. This natural disaster, arriving just as the nation was beginning to reclaim its democratic roots, served as both a literal and symbolic trial, a reminder that the road to recovery and progress is often fraught with unexpected obstacles. Yet, in the face of rising waters and widespread devastation, Bangladesh shows unity and collective strength. When the waters rose, so did spirits, proving that even in the darkest storms, the strength of unity can outshine nature’s greatest tests.
A NATION SUBMERGED
Heavy rain started on 20 August and the downpour continued for several days, causing severe waterlogging in low-lying areas of northeastern and southeast Bangladesh, as well as the neighbouring Indian states of Meghalaya and Tripura. The Muhuri, Kahua, and Silonia rivers overflowed as the floods gradually began to engulf the people living in several districts of Bangladesh. In the following 48 hours, almost all upazillas were inundated. Through the Gumti, Khowai, Feni, Muhuri, Manu, and other rivers, nearly all of the heavy rain that fell in Tripura found its way to Bangladesh, where it supplemented the rainwater that already fell. When Bangladesh was already underwater, the Indian Dumbur dam automatically opened for the first time in fifty years, escalating tensions between the two nations.
THE FLOOD’S WRATH
According to a release issued by the disaster management and relief ministry on 2 September, as many as 51,08,202 people were affected by the flood in 504 unions and municipalities under 68 upazillas in 11 districts in the country. As of the date, the total flood-related death toll was 67 and 1 person remained missing. On 22 August, 13% of mobile network sites were down in flood-affected, and by 31 August, around 10 lakh people were without electricity. The affected areas experienced a near-total communication blackout as a result of the streets being submerged in knee-deep to waist-deep water, cutting off gas, electricity, and vehicle use, resulting in emergency services being unable to aid in the situation. The situation was extremely strenuous, especially for women and children who had to cross the murky waters to the safety of the flood shelters. Raising water levels have raised the possibility of contracting water-borne illnesses, drowning, and colliding with underwater obstacles, leaving no possibility of restoration until floodwaters recede.
In the face of overwhelming devastation individuals and communities across the nation came together in extraordinary ways, transcending social divides to support one another.
SOLIDARITY IN ACTION
From the grassroots level to the national scale, people donated food, water, clothing, medicine, sanitary and hygiene products and money to aid flood victims. The Bangladeshi Army, Navy, and Air Force helped with medical care, relief distribution, and rescue operations, actively monitoring outlying settlements to ensure that aide reached even the most remote areas. On 23 August, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus announced the ‘Chief Advisor’s Relief and Welfare Fund’ where, as a gesture of solidarity, employees of major corporations, conglomerates, financial institutions, NGOs, and media houses, as well as several ministries, state-owned enterprises alongside members of the Bangladesh army donated one day’s salary.
On 22 August, a ‘Relief Collection Program’ was launched by Dhaka University students under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at the university’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC). The program received overwhelming public support and, as of 2 September, collected BDT 9 crore in funds. Similar donations were seen all across the nation, being not just a response to a crisis but powerful affirmations of the strength that lies in unity.
SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE
Flooding is a recurring issue in Bangladesh. Each year, residents of flood-prone areas rely on humanitarian aid to sustain them through the natural disaster. However, it is imperative for Bangladesh to shift its focus from immediate relief to long-term relief. This disaster has underscored the urgent need for comprehensive flood management strategies that can protect the nation from future calamities. Bangladesh has been using the ‘cordon approach’ to manage rivers by building embankments to prevent floodplain elevation and riverbed rise due to sediment. However, it is often suggested that an ‘open approach’ – which works with natural water flow and uses floodplains, green infrastructure, and retention ponds – is a better option for the country. Additionally, a concerted effort must be made to engage communities in disaster preparedness, providing them with the knowledge and tools needed to act swiftly and effectively in times of crisis. By investing in these strategies now, Bangladesh can transform its vulnerability into strength, creating a future where the impacts of such disasters are significantly mitigated and the safety and well-being of its people are secured.
