People make their way on a boat while others wade along a flooded street during monsoon rain in Sylhet on Saturday. Monsoon storms in Bangladesh and India have killed at least 59 people and unleashed devastating floods that left millions of others stranded, officials said on the day — AFP Flooding in the northeast is turning into a veritable humanitarian crisis as over 5.0 million people got marooned in the "122-year worst flood" gripping most of Sylhet, Sunamgang, Netrakona and some other northern parts of the country.
Water in all river points across Banglsdesh was rising on Saturday, indicating further worsening of the situation, said the flood forecasting and warning centre (FFWC), adding that there is no chance of development until Monday.
Sylhet, Sunamganj and parts of Netrakona physically were cut off from the rest of the country while only 0.1 million people could be brought to shelters so far amid onrush of the water from the upstream as well as heavy rainfall that made the rescue operation by the deployed troops tougher, said insiders.
Electricity connection almost snapped in Sylhet, Sunamganj and parts of Netrakona as water entered key substations forcing authorities to sever the wire. The virtual blackout intensified woes of the marooned flood victims awaiting rescue.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman said the flooding in Sylhet and Sunamganj is the worst in 122 years.
Speaking at an emergency press conference on Saturday evening at the ministry on the flood situation, he said people in 10 districts of the country remained marooned amid the ongoing flood onslaught while "all government and private agencies are working together to provide shelter to the flood-affected people".
He also informed the newsmen that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was monitoring the rescue operation round the clock.
"Members of the army, navy, coastguard are conducting rescue drives which will continue until the situation improves," the state minister said.
Meanwhile, all major rivers of the country were in a rising trend, excepting the Surma, on Saturday, according to the FFWC.
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