Monsoon rains, which started in Bangladesh at least 10 days earlier than usual in June, has triggered temporary flooding in the north and south-east.

It has delayed sowing of rice - the country's main staple. Fields inundated temporarily at the onset of the four-month monsoon season to September, have resurfaced while rivers and canals also dropped their levels.

Bangladesh produces more than 26 million MT of rice annually and imports around half a million tonnes of wheat to meet emergencies.