Floodwater recedes, death toll reaches 54

Water level continued to recede in the south-eastern region on Friday as the death toll climbed to 54.
Things started to improve, but flood victims are still suffering due to ongoing challenges in the distribution of relief stuff in many areas.
However, the UNICEF forecasts that over 2.0-million children in eastern Bangladesh are at risk as floods sweep through homes, schools and villages.
Meanwhile, the government in sync with students has continued its relief and rescue operations across all 11 flood-hit districts.
In a Friday briefing, disaster management and relief ministry revealed that the death toll from the horrific floods, caused by heavy rain and flow of upstream water from India, stood at 54.
Of the dead, 19 died in Feni, 14 in Cumilla, eight in Noakhali, six in Chattogram, three in Cox's Bazar, and one each in Khagrachhari, Brahmanbaria, Laxmipur and Moulvibazar, the statement said.
The ministry said 64 upazilas and 486 unions/municipalities in Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Laxmipur and Cox's Bazar were flood-affected.
At least 1.0-million families in these districts were trapped by floodwaters and at least 5.46-million people affected.
A total of 3,269 shelters have been opened for use by flood victims. A total of 469,687 people and 38,192 cattle heads are taking refuge at these shelters.
Currently, 567 medical teams are on duty to take care of victims in 11 upazilas.
However, the coordination team of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement continued to raise funds and relief for flooded people.
Above Tk 77.8 million has been raised until Wednesday through the mass relief programme of the movement at Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) on the Dhaka University campus to help the victims out across the country.
Donations were made in cash via mobile banking and bank transfers collected over the last week.
In the past week alone, Tk 7.12 million has been spent on various relief activities, and essential supplies have been sent to over 0.1-million families in 82 trucks dispatched to flood-affected areas.
The details were shared by coordinator Abdul Quader at a press briefing TSC on Wednesday night.
He said excluding food donations, the cash collection at the TSC booth over the past week totalled Tk 66.8 million, while Tk 8.3 million was received through mobile banking and Tk 2.63 million through bank transfers.
It was also disclosed that Tk 7.12 million had been spent on items like dates, biscuits, rope, carts, rickshaw and van rentals, polythene, bags and sugar-all funded by public donations.
Under the supervision of the air force, 4,000 of the 0.1-million packages were distributed to remote flood-affected areas by helicopter, along with cash assistance totalling Tk 0.596 million, said coordinator Abu Baker Majumder.
With the support of local administrations, he said, a mass cooking programme has provided meals for approximately 50,000 people in four upazilas-two in Cumilla and Paikgachha of Khulna.
This programme will be expanded to other flood-affected areas, he said.
The army, navy, coast guard, fire service along with students are working 24 hours to take relief goods to the most flood-hit places in Feni, Noakhali and Laxmipur.
Meanwhile, the flood forecasting and warning centre said all major rivers of the country were flowing below danger level.
The Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Ganges-Padma rivers are in a falling trend, which may continue in the next 48 hours. Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar in the north are in a falling trend, which may flow normally in the next two days.
The Manu river is rising in the north-eastern and eastern parts, while other major rivers are in a falling trend.
According to information from meteorological agencies, heavy rainfall is not expected in the regions in the next 48 hours.
As a result, Surma, Kushiyara, Manu, Khowai, Feni, Muhuri, Gumti, Titas, Sangu, Matamuhuri, Karnaphuli, Halda rivers may fall and flow below danger level.
Meanwhile, nine people were seriously injured in a road accident in RR Textile Mill area of Sitakunda while returning from relief distribution in Feni at 6:30 am.
The injured were identified as Malek Mia (23), Rifat Hossain (21), Md Liaquat (26), Moin Uddin (30), Delowar Hossain (20), Sohel Sikdar (25), Nizam Uddin (25), Takrin Ahmed (27) and Yakub Ali (27) -- all are Satkania residents.

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