A combination of heavy rainfall within and outside the country and synchronisation of peak flows of the major rivers contributed to the flood.

30 million people were made homeless and the death toll reached over a thousand.

[3] The flooding caused contamination of crops and animals and unclean water resulted in cholera and typhoid outbreaks.

Few hospitals were functional because of damage from the flooding, and those that were open had too many patients, resulting in everyday injuries becoming fatal due to lack of treatment.

700,000 hectares of crops were destroyed,[4] Note: For the year 1998 average official exchange rate for BDT was 46.91 per US$.