Khagrachari, Bangladesh - August 26, 2024

Hundreds of people wade through chest-high muddy water and slowly make their way to safety, their belongings held high above their heads to keep them dry.

Entering the town of Feni in southeastern Bangladesh, it becomes clear why it is described as the epicentre of one of the worst floods in living memory in the country. Since Wednesday night, water has inundated 11 districts and large swathes of the town of nearly 1.5 million people are now submerged.

Bangladesh lives off its rivers and waterways – its people rely on this vital source of life to fish and farm rice fields. The country is also no stranger to floods and cyclones, especially in recent years as scientists say human-caused climate change exacerbates extreme weather events. But this flood took them by surprise and people here blame Indian officials.