As severe floods devastate 11 districts of the country, citizens and volunteer groups have rallied alongside the government to provide much-needed relief to those affected. From Dhaka to remote regions, people are coming together in a show of unprecedented solidarity, delivering essential supplies and rescuing stranded victims. Across the country, individuals and non-governmental organizations are filling covered vans, trucks, and pick-ups with dry food, essential medicines, safe drinking water, and staples like rice and lentils. Cash donations are also being handed directly to flood victims. In addition to these efforts, volunteers from various parts of the country are bringing boats and speedboats by truck to flood-hit areas to assist in rescue operations. Many have remarked that such unity in the face of disaster is unlike anything they have seen before. Meanwhile, numerous government and private institutions have also joined the cause, with employees donating a day's salary to support flood victims. ‘Gonotran’: Mass Relief Collection at Dhaka University’s TSC At Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Centre (TSC), people from all walks of life have been pouring in with donations since last Thursday. The “Gonotran” (Mass Relief Collection) initiative, called by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has garnered overwhelming support.  Thousands of people have participated, contributing cash and relief supplies to the effort. On the first day alone, significant amounts of food, clothing, sanitary napkins, and several lakhs of taka were collected. By Friday afternoon, the influx of donations had only increased, with trucks, pick-ups, vans, rickshaws, and private cars arriving at TSC filled with relief materials for the flood-affected. Read more: New areas flooded in Cumilla : 7 lakh people still trapped Even children are contributing their savings to the cause. With the TSC cafeteria and game room filled to capacity with supplies, additional storage has been arranged in the central auditorium and TSC’s hallways. A queue of vehicles bringing donations has formed in the TSC area, while over 300 school and college students are volunteering to package the relief items. Abdul Munim, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s medical team, expressed his amazement at the public's response. "We have never seen such a united effort from the general public before. It feels like a new movement to build a stronger Bangladesh has begun. This is our first test, and we are confident that together, we will pass it," he said. Fundraising Efforts Spread Across Dhaka’s Streets In addition to the major initiatives, students are collecting donations at several locations in Dhaka. Youth groups in neighborhoods are also gathering funds and supplies for the flood victims. Military and Emergency Services Mobilize for Flood Relief The police, army, navy, air force, coast guard, and fire service are actively working in flood-affected areas to assist residents. They are distributing dry and cooked food, while also conducting rescue operations using helicopters in the most severely impacted regions. One Day’s Salary Donated to Flood Victims Members of the Bangladesh Army have donated the equivalent of one day's salary to the Chief Adviser’s Relief Fund, while employees of various government and private organizations have done the same through platforms like Nagad and bKash. Additional relief funds have been established by several autonomous institutions. Read more: Prices of dry food, candle, drinking water shot up in flood-hit areas Mobile Operators Provide Free Minutes and Internet for Flood Victims In a bid to support those affected by the flood, the country's major mobile operators, including Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi, Airtel, and the state-owned Teletalk, have announced free talk time and internet packages. Imams Urge Support for Flood Victims During Friday’s Jummah Prayers During Friday’s Jummah prayers, Imams across the country, including in the capital, spoke about the sufferings of flood victims and urged people to offer assistance according to their means. They also led prayers for the victims and many mosques have started collecting donations for flood relief. Free Rebooking for Missed Flights Due to Floods In light of the ongoing floods, passengers who miss flights due to travel difficulties are being allowed to rebook their tickets for free. This directive has been issued to 33 airlines operating from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Group Captain Md. Kamrul Islam, the airport’s Executive Director, has requested airlines to cooperate with passengers facing such challenges. As the nation grapples with one of its most severe flood crises in recent memory, the unity and determination of its people offer hope for recovery and resilience. Read more: Deadly flood claims 18 lives, affects over 48 lakh people across 11 districts: Govt

Not only the Teesta, but the Gangadhar river has also turned turbulent in Kurigram. Over the past few weeks, the raging river has swallowed large swathes of land in Nageshwari, rendering several families homeless. Jalepara, Ramdatta and Raghurvita villages are the worst affected. This monsoon season alone, 50 families have lost their homes and livelihoods due to land erosion by the Gangadhar river. Read Fight the Flood: Safety measures to take before, during, after floods in Bangladesh Every year, the river is swollen by seasonal rains and the erosion mainly takes place after the water from the monsoon subsides and the brittle soil on the banks collapses. Despite the erosion eating into the village roads and farm lands, local residents claim, no effective measures have been taken by the authorities yet, and they now live under the fear of losing their lives too. Many homeless people have now taken shelter at Raghurvita Government Primary School. Chandra and Bhanuram Biswas of Jalepara are among the unfortunate ones. Read: Teesta turns turbulent in Kurigram; leaves 100 families homeless "Every time, the river swallows our homes, we are forced to start from the beginning. This time, we have lost everything -- house, belongings and some money we had saved for the rainy day," the duo said. Kaledanga Jame Mosque, Ramdatta Jame Mosque, Ramdatta Mahila Hafeza Madrasa, Krishnapur Nurani Hafezia Madrasa, and the only paved road in Krishnapur now stand threatened by the Gangadhar. Akmal Hossain, a public representative, told UNB that the Water Development Board didn't take any visible steps this monsoon to prevent the problem that has been prevailing for years now. Read: Floods, landslides hit Rohingya camps hard: UNHCR Officials of the Water Development Board, however, said that a project for protecting the riverbank from erosion has already been sent to the higher authorities for approval.  "The proposal was sent to the headquarters two years ago, but we are still waiting for an approval. We need a permanent solution to the problem. Temporary steps won’t be effective unless an embankment is constructed,” said sub-divisional engineer Omar Faruk Md Mokhtar Hossain.

Low-lying areas of Gowainghat and Companiganj upazilas in Sylhet district have been flooded due to onrush of hill water and heavy rains for the last couple of days, causing immense sufferings to local people. Roads, houses, seedbeds and schools went under water due to the flash flood. In Gowainghat upazila, Sari-Gowainghat and Gowainghat-Radhanagar road were submerged, disrupting vehicular movement. Besides, several hectares of Aman seedbeds went under flood water due to rise of water levels in the   Sari and the Pian rivers and heavy showers. The fish enclosures were also washed away by the sudeen flood. Also read: Rain brings respite in Dhaka after sizzling heat

BNP on Wednesday alleged that people are facing a very tough time now as a 'silent famine' has been prevailing in the country due to the fallouts of coronavirus and floods.

The flood situation across the country continues to have devastating effects on people claiming 251 lives so far, according to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).  

Four people have died in 24 hours until Tuesday pushing the death toll to 226 in flood that set in during the last week of June.

The death tally from flood has reached 202 as the country recorded four more flood-related deaths on Wednesday. 

The overall flood situation has worsened in Jashore and Narayanganj districts with the rise of water level in the adjacent rivers, leaving thousands of people marooned.  

The ongoing flood in the country claimed eight more lives in the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 169 on Friday.

Flood claimed ten more lives in the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 145.