Staff Correspondent

The Bangladesh Civil Rights Society (BCRS) has issued a nationwide call to its district and upazila-level human rights members, affluent individuals, and voluntary organizations to mobilize urgent relief operations for communities devastated by severe flash floods across Bangladesh's southeastern and northeastern regions.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday (July 11), BCRS Chairman Zakir Hossain and Executive Director Sheikh Mohammad Tajul Islam emphasized that combined civic action is vital to support the state infrastructure during this humanitarian crisis. They urged organizational committees to actively coordinate the distribution of emergency supplies, including dry food, clean drinking water, essential medicines, and infant formula.

Triggered by consecutive days of torrential monsoon rains and rushing upstream mountain torrents, the flash floods have affected an estimated 928,000 people across five districts, leaving 44 dead. The structural damage spans several critical sub-districts. In Chattogram, the upazilas of Fatikchhari, Satkania, Banshkhali, Chandanaish, Lohagara, Boalkhali, Patiya, and Anwara have experienced severe disruption. The flooding has also heavily impacted widespread sectors within Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Habiganj, and the Rajnagar Upazila of Moulvibazar.

The economic toll on agricultural livelihoods remains catastrophic. In the Chattogram district alone, approximately 9,933 commercial ponds, hatcheries, and open enclaves were submerged, washing away fisheries assets worth an estimated BDT 91 crore. Concurrently, the livestock sector has recorded infrastructure and inventory losses valued at approximately BDT 28 crore.

The BCRS leadership observed that as heavy rainfall has ceased over the last 48 hours and upstream runoff has decelerated, regional river levels have finally begun to recede, bringing preliminary relief to stranded families. However, they concluded that long-term inter-agency coordination between public and private sectors is urgently required to manage post-flood rehabilitation, medical monitoring, and structural reconstruction for the affected households.