The Global News Desk 115

July 14 - (The Global News Desk 115) — The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry reported yesterday that floods and landslides affecting seven districts have led to at least 54 deaths and 39 injuries. Cox's Bazar had the most deaths, with 31, followed by Chittagong, 13; Bandarban, 6; Rangamati, 3; and Moulvibazar, 1. As relief and emergency response efforts continue in flood-affected areas, 38,422 people have taken refuge in 1,049 shelters. Officials said that specialized healthcare services are now accessible in 11 districts affected by flooding, which include Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Comilla, and Brahmanbaria.

Authorities and press sources report that a bus plunged into a river in central Bangladesh earlier this week, killing over two dozen passengers, including women and children. A vehicle carrying around forty people plunged into the Padma River in the Rajbari area on Wednesday, March 25, at 5:20 p.m. local time when it was approaching a ferry at Daulatdia.  The mishap happened as the bus was heading from a southwestern area to the national capital, Dhaka. The Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) issued a message on social media, confirming the 26 deaths, including women and children. The Police, the Fire Service, and Civil Defense reported that the bus overturned and fell roughly thirty feet (9 meters) into the river. It is estimated that the bus was carrying between 40 and 50 people, the majority of whom were returning to work after the celebration of the Islamic holiday of Eid. A five-member investigative team has been established by the Bangladeshi governme...

DHAKA, Bangladesh  —  Bangladesh's Election Commission suspended former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, barring it from the next national elections. Bangladesh's Election Commission acted against Sheikh Hasina's Awami League following a request from the interim government. Under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the government amended a law to allow for the trial of an entire party for certain crimes, rather than just a few members. Last year, a student protest toppled Ms. Hasina's authoritarian government. She escaped to India, but the Awami League continued operating in Bangladesh. Ms. Hasina's party supporters were held accountable for last week's assault on Hasnat Abdullah, a significant figure in the previous year's uprising.  Students were angered by the incident and urged that the Awami League face heavy sanctions.

  Dozens killed, millions blocked after floods hit India and Bangladesh India and Bangladesh have asked for military assistance to deal with severe flooding, which could get worse as continued rains are expected over the weekend. At least 50 people were killed and millions displaced after severe rains inundated parts of northeastern India and Bangladesh. Monsoon rains in Bangladesh on Saturday killed at least 50 people, local media said, and caused deadly flooding that blocked more than four million people.  Since Friday, 21 people have been perished in South Asia due to lightning strikes, while 4 were killed in landslides induced by the storm, according to authorities. Foreign Minister Konrad Sangma announced on Twitter that at least 16 people had died after landslides and severe water submerged a highway in rural Megalia, India. According to the state disaster control agency in Assam, India, at least nine people drowned in the floods, and the homes of two million people ...

Chittagong, Bangladesh - At least 42 people were killed and 300 were injured in a massive explosion at a depot near Chittagong, Bangladesh.  The explosion occurred after firefighters were called to a container yard in Sitakunda to extinguish the blaze, according to BBC.  The chemical was stored in several containers at the store, local media said.  The boom rattled buildings several kilometers distant, according to eyewitnesses.  Many of the injured are said to be in serious condition, with burns covering 60 to 90 percent of their bodies.  The city is only 40 km from the country's second-largest city, Chittagong, and one of the city's hospitals is full of victims.  According to local media, warehouse workers, firefighters, and police officers were among those injured.  As of Sunday morning, hours after the explosion, firefighters were still battling the blaze. Mujibur Rahman, director of the facility said that about 600 people were working at the conta...