At least 15 people have been killed and 4.8 million affected by floods triggered by heavy rains in Bangladesh, according to the disaster management ministry.

Md Kamrul Hasan, secretary of the ministry, told the media on Friday that 11 districts were affected by the floods. 

The affected districts are Feni, Comilla, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Brahmanbaria, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Khagrachhari, Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Habiganj.

As many as 887,629 families were trapped in floodwaters, the secretary said.

Of the deceased, four died in Cumilla, three in Cox's Bazar, two in Chittagong, one in Feni, one in Noakhali, one in Lakshmipur and one in Brahmanbaria.

Mentioning weather forecasts, Kamrul said the flood situation was gradually improving.

He said so far 188,739 people had taken refuge in shelter centres, and the flood-affected areas had received a total allocation of Tk3.52 crore in cash, 20,150 tons of rice and 15,000 packets of dry food.

Kamrul added that rescue operations in the flood-affected areas were being carried out by the army, navy, coast guard, BGB, fire service, police as well as students.