The recent monsoon floods in Bangladesh have left families in the UAE anxious and concerned for their loved ones back home, as communication has been cut off in most places. The floods have stranded nearly three million people and claimed at least 13 lives, causing panic among families in both countries. Many expatriates in the UAE, such as 29-year-old Akram from Sharjah, have been unable to contact their families for days, leading to sleepless nights and worry. The situation in many towns in Bangladesh is catastrophic, with entire neighborhoods submerged and residents forced to evacuate with whatever belongings they can carry.
Ashraful Mubarak, a 34-year-old resident of Deira, has been desperate to reach his family in the severely impacted town of Feni. Despite his attempts, Mubarak has been unable to contact his family as their phones remain unreachable. The situation in Feni is dire, with most phones in the town washed away by the floodwaters, leaving residents with no means of communication. Social media has become a lifeline for many expatriates, like restaurant owner Sattar Karim in Ajman, who is constantly checking TikTok and Instagram for updates on his hometown of Cumilla. With limited mobile network and destroyed phones, residents are relying on social media for news about the flooding.
Many families in Bangladesh, like that of Jasim Kabir, a facility management executive in Dubai, have been forced to seek refuge with relatives as their homes have been inundated. Kabir’s family is facing a lack of aid, with shortages of food and undrinkable water. The catastrophic flooding in Bangladesh has left millions stranded, their homes destroyed and lives upended by the deluge. For Bangladeshi expatriates in the UAE, the inability to connect with their loved ones has turned the devastating natural disaster into a nightmare. Despite the challenges, many expatriates are clinging to hope and relying on social media for updates on their families and hometowns.
