India Denies Role in Bangladesh Floods
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal Responds to CNN Report
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India has refuted claims made in a CNN report that suggested India’s involvement in the recent floods in Bangladesh. The MEA called the report ‘misleading’ and ‘factually not correct.’
During a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, ‘We have seen the CNN report on the flood situation in Bangladesh. Its narrative is misleading and suggests that India is somehow responsible for the floods. This is factually not correct and ignores the facts mentioned in the press releases issued by the Government of India clarifying the situation.’
Jaiswal added that there is a regular and timely exchange of data and critical information between India and Bangladesh through existing joint mechanisms for water resources management.
The CNN report had claimed that people in Feni, near the India-Bangladesh border, accused India of releasing water from the Dumbur dam in Tripura state without warning. Shoriful Islam, an IT worker, said, ‘They opened the gate, but no information was given.’
India denied the dam release was deliberate, attributing the situation to excessive rain and a communication breakdown that prevented the usual warning to downstream neighbors.
According to the UN News Service, over 18 million people in Bangladesh have been affected by severe monsoon conditions, with more than 1.2 million families trapped by flash floods. UNICEF reported that the worst affected regions include Chattogram and Sylhet, where major rivers are flowing well above danger levels. Twenty deaths have been reported, and 285,000 people have sought refuge in over 3,500 shelters. Roads, croplands, and fisheries have also faced massive damage, severely impacting livelihoods.
Doubts Revealed
MEA -: MEA stands for Ministry of External Affairs. It is a part of the Indian government that handles India’s relations with other countries.
Randhir Jaiswal -: Randhir Jaiswal is a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs. A spokesperson is someone who speaks on behalf of an organization or government.
CNN -: CNN is a news channel based in the United States. It reports news from around the world.
Dumbur dam -: The Dumbur dam is a large structure built to hold back water and create a reservoir. It is located in India.
Bangladesh floods -: Floods in Bangladesh are when large amounts of water cover the land, usually due to heavy rain. These floods can cause a lot of damage to homes and roads.
18 million people -: 18 million people is a very large number of people, almost as many as the population of a big city like Mumbai. These people were affected by the floods in Bangladesh.
infrastructure -: Infrastructure means the basic physical systems of a country, like roads, bridges, and buildings. When floods happen, these can get damaged.
livelihoods -: Livelihoods refer to the ways people earn money to live, like farming or running a shop. Floods can destroy crops and shops, making it hard for people to make a living.
