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GV PAN Flooded streets in Dacca, Bangladesh, with rickshaws and cars travelling through water (3 shots)
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GV Flooded streets with vehicles moving through water (2 shots)
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GV TRAVEL SHOT flooded houses and front gardens
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GV PAN FROM Flooded road TO houses
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SV PAN Men on chairs in doorway of flooded house
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GV PAN Flooded area
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Initials BB/1855



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: One of the world's poorest countries, Bangladesh, is facing the prospect of severe flooding if this year's monsoon rains continue as heavily as they have started.

SYNOPSIS: Already in the capital, Dacca, about 12 inches of rain has fallen and flooded many areas. Police report that at least six main streets were submerged and people had to wade through knee-deep water to get to their offices and to the markets.

Weather experts are pessimistic because the monsoon has not yet reached its peak.

Although these vehicles managed to keep on the move, others were less fortunate. Dacca police say that 100 cars and rickshaws got stuck and predict that things could get a lot worse. Bangladesh has a history of calamities, both man-made and natural. At present the already under-privileged population is being swollen by thousands of refugees crossing into the country from Burma.

According to reports reaching Dacca an area of about 300 square miles (777 square kilometres) has been covered by floodwater, but the rice harvest is continuing normally. If the rains hold off another good year is predicted, which will go some way towards easing the country's annual food shortage of 1.7 million tons.