Bangladesh Braces for Monsoon Floods
CHAN:
People living in the low-laying areas of Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, are bracing for the annual monsoon flooding. Rising water levels are causing some problems for the locals.
STORY:
Large clumps of water-hyacinth brought about by rising water levels are blocking transport on the Buriganga river. Some boatmen tied their boats together to make a bridge after some areas become impassable.
[Mosarraf Hossain, Boatman]:
"As the monsoon came, we were ferrying people by boats to earn our livelihoods but then the water hyacinths clogged our way. We even made a bridge with boats to help people cross the river but the water hyacinths have pushed that bridge away, and now I don’t have work."
Local media reported the ferry service has been severely disrupted as rivers Padma and Jamuna overflowed their banks in some districts in the southern part of the country.
At least one death was reported as surging water inundated more villages and washed away parts of river banks.
[Munir Hossain, Dhaka Resident]:
"For the last four days the water of this river has been rising. The way it is rising, I suspect there might be floods in the country."
Flood-prone Bangladesh was hit by large-scale flooding last year, leaving more than 1,000 people dead and millions homeless.
