Floods caused by heavy monsoon rains over the weekend claimed two lives and washed away hundreds of flimsy huts, leaving nearly 2,000 people homeless in northern Bangladesh.

Two tornadoes tore through northern Bangladesh, killing at least 28 people, injuring nearly 900 and leaving thousands homeless, officials and news reports said today.

Police said today they were looking for a man who allegedly allowed two neighbours to rape his new wife instead of paying a 3,000 takas (€54) gambling debt.

Five people, including a mother and her four-year-old child, were killed by lightning during rainstorms in northern Bangladesh, police said today.