Bangladesh flood emergency: 1.25 million impacted by floods in northeast region

The flooding comes just as Bangladesh recovers from Cyclone Remal

DHAKA — June 19, 2024 — Just as Bangladesh recovers from Cyclone Remal, which impacted 4.6 million people and destroyed 35,000 houses, the northeastern region has been hit by flash flooding. 1.25 million people have been affected, with more than 30,000 people seeking shelter, according to early estimates. The situation is predicted to worsen, with the MET department forecasting heavy rain until Friday. 

Thousands of BRAC staff are on the ground, distributing dry food in low-lying slum areas and shelter centers in the worst-affected areas in Sylhet and standing by for further emergency response. 

“Hundreds of thousands of people are stranded, and the situation is rapidly worsening,” said Dr Md Liakath Ali, Director, Climate Change Program, Urban Development Program, and Disaster Risk Management Program, BRAC. “Our teams are seeing inundated homes, schools, crops, water points, and key connecting roads. Many families are sheltering at nearby schools. The flooding will be devastating, with southern Bangladesh still reeling from the aftermath of Cyclone Remal.”

BRAC has launched an emergency fundraising appeal.
Editors are encouraged to share this link: https://bracusa.org/?form=SylhetFloods2024

More than 370,000 people have been affected by the flood in Sylhet, Bangladesh’s second-largest city. This is the second wave of flooding in the region in the last 20 days. Water levels surpassed danger marks at six points along four rivers in Sylhet, according to the Water Development Board. A power substation in the area is at risk, putting approximately 50,000 people at risk of losing electricity. The Government of Bangladesh has opened 619 shelters in the region.

Last month, Sylhet experienced flooding due to mountain runoff, affecting approximately 650,000 people. On 10 June, three members of a family were killed after being trapped in a collapsed house following a landslide triggered by heavy rain.

Notes to the editor

About BRAC

BRAC was founded in Bangladesh 52 years ago. Together with government, civil society organizations, communities and businesses, BRAC teams work with over 100 million people living with inequality and poverty to create opportunities to realize human potential. BRAC operates as a solutions ecosystem, including social development programs, social enterprises, humanitarian response, a bank and a university. Outside of Bangladesh, BRAC works with communities in marginalized situations, hard-to-reach areas and post-disaster settings across Asia and Africa, with a particular focus on women and children.

Experts, photos available

• Dr Liakath Ali
• Members of BRAC senior leadership if needed
• Local teams on the ground in affected districts
• Photos available for use so long as copyright is included and images are not used out of situational context:
  • Photo 1: Sunamganj, northeastern Bangladesh, 19 June 2024, © BRAC
    Caption: A man uses a makeshift floating device to navigate the rising floodwaters in Sunamganj, northeastern Bangladesh.
  • Photo 2: Sunamganj, northeastern Bangladesh, 19 June 2024, © BRAC
    Caption: Flooding inundates houses and crops in Sunamganj, northeastern Bangladesh.

Media contacts

• SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (GMT+10):
  Sarah-Jane Saltmarsh, Head, Thought Leadership and English Content, BRAC:  [email protected] | Phone: +61477 910 903 | WhatsApp: +88017 389 379 85
• DHAKA, BANGLADESH (GMT + 6):
  Ayan Soofi | Mobile / WhatsApp  +880 1714-414262 | [email protected]
• LONDON, UK:
  Chris Lyne | Mobile / WhatsApp +44 07365 267617 | [email protected]
• WASHINGTON, DC (GMT – 5):
  Mica Bevington | Phone / WhatsApp +1-202-290-9264 | [email protected]
• SEATTLE, WA (GMT -8):
  Sarah Allen | [email protected]