TDS Desk:

Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Farooq-e Azam has said that nearly 60 lakh hectares of crops have been destroyed in the areas that were affected by the recent floods.

“It’s true that the floods have caused a food shortage. I have visited several flood-affected areas where nearly 60 lakh hectares of crops have been destroyed. Although it is not possible to fill this deficit overnight, we are trying to supply food quickly,” he said today (19 October).

“The severity of the recent floods is different. Earlier, floodwaters used to rise slowly. But now, 500 millimetres of rain falls in a single day. Our rivers and canals cannot hold so much water in a single day. The government is sincere in bringing relief to the people by excavating them and removing obstacles,” he added.

The adviser made the remarks while talking to reporters after a ceremony organised to hand over 11 modern vehicles at the Fire Service and Civil Defence Multipurpose Training Complex at Purbachal this morning.

On 17 September, around one month after the devastating floods that hit the eastern part of the country, Farooq informed that damages from the natural disaster topped Tk14,269 crore while affecting around 942,811 people — including 74 people killed.

However, on 6 October, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in a study report said the recent floods in 11 eastern region districts caused an estimated damage of Tk14,421 crore.

The private think tank said the agricultural sector was the hardest hit by the flood damages, potentially affecting food security and making it more challenging to control inflation if not addressed properly.

Meanwhile, agriculture ministry damage reports showed that the August floods in the southeastern region and the flood in Mymensingh at the beginning of this month caused an estimated loss of about 10.87 lakh tonnes of rice production, primarily Aman.

In response, the government has initiated the import of 5 lakh tonnes of rice and is expected to allow private imports soon to ensure food security and stabilise prices, which have increased by Tk5-6 per kg over the past month.

Alongside rice, more than 2 lakh tonnes of vegetables and other crops, including peppers, have been affected. According to ministry reports, total nationwide losses for all crops from two rounds of flooding are estimated at around Tk 4,500 crore.

Flood-related loss and supply disruption have driven up prices for essential items — rice, vegetables, eggs, broiler chickens, etc. — in recent times, affecting average consumers.