'Factually Incorrect': India Rebuffs Bangladesh's Claims Over The Flood Situation

The floods in eastern Bangladesh have become the latest point of contention between India and the South Asian Nation. Relentless monsoon rains and flooding have affected nearly three million people in Bangladesh and have killed two, reported Reuters.

In the wake of the flood situation, students in Dhaka held protest rallies on Aug 21, alleging floods were caused by the opening of dams in India. After the news escalated and concerns were expressed in Bangladesh, India rubbished the claims.

In a statement issued on August 22, MEA called it "factually not correct" that the floods were caused by the opening of dams. The statement said floods in Bangladesh were primarily due to waters from large catchments downstream of the Dumboor dam. Meanwhile, international affairs professor Dr Sreeradha Datta termed the issue as "unnecessary" & "rhetoric" from the Bangladeshi side. As Bangladesh and India share 54 common cross-border rivers, river water cooperation is an important part of bilateral engagement.

Floods on the common rivers between India and Bangladesh are a shared problem inflicting suffering on people on both sides.