Bangladesh flood death toll goes up to 120

Dhaka, Aug 5 (UNI) The monsoon floods that wrought havoc to lives, crops and property in Bangladesh, has claimed 120 lives with 39 fresh deaths being reported today from flood-hit districts, official sources said.

The flood caused by heavy downpour and onrush of water from upper riparian in India has hit over eight million people in 38 out of the country's 64 districts.

Nearly three lakh flood-hit people were rehabilitated in 1200 flood centers in the affected districts of the country.

The standing crops on more than 12 lakh acres of land were fully or partially damaged by the floodwaters, they said.

The government is distributing money, rice and dry food among the victims, but local media said the relief measures were not uoto the mark.

Although the interim government's chief advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed and Army chief General Moeen Ahmed have urged the people and political parties to help the affected people.

Meanwhile, a dispute has surfaced between the interim government and major political parties over the conduct of relief operations, the soucers said.

Many political parties, including former ruling parties -- Bangladesh Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party have demanded that they should be allowed the use their party banners during the relief operations.

But the government has denied the permission saying they should join the services to suffering humanity instead of capitalising it politically.

Reacting to it, the parties said we are not banned and hence should be allowed to use our banners during the relief works.

Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Center today said although the water started receding slowly in northern districts, the Ganges-Padma continued rising and is flowing 145 cm above the danger mark deteriorating the over all flood situation in the central region of the country including Dhaka and adjacent districts.

Small rivers surrounding the capital, also registered further rise.

UNI