Bangladeshi restaurants and takeaways throughout Oxfordshire are appealing for people to eat out and raise cash for charity.

From left: Restaurateurs Abdul Haque, Ali Tarek, Abdul Manna, Abdul Boshor and Ali Akaf promote the event

On Wednesday, August 11, 70 restaurants and take-aways across the county will donate half their takings to charities helping the victims of recent floods in Bangla- desh.

The flooding, caused by monsoon rains and melting snow in the Himalayas, has devastated Bangladesh, affecting 30 million people and leaving 40 per cent of the capital Dhaka under water.

Chairman of the Oxfordshire Bangladeshi Association Ali Akkas said: "We are urging everyone to donate as much as they can in this difficult time for the people of Bangladesh.

"We have family members and friends who are affected by the tragic flood. There is an urgent need for food, shelter, water purification equipment, blankets, kitchen utensils, hygiene items and medicines. Many families have lost their homes and all their possessions."

Participating restaurants will be displaying a poster.

Julia Skorupska, 22, a Nuffield College student, is currently in Bangladesh, teaching English.

She said: "This year the flooding has been particularly bad;. People say that it is the worst flood since 1998, or even 1988. The countryside is completely covered with water and only the raised roads, now crowded with people and animals, stick out.

"You would think that you were by the sea were it not for the tops of trees sticking out of the water. And the rain - it has been raining for almost two weeks now, 14 days and 14 nights. It feels Biblical.

"All expressed horror at the scale of this year's flood and fear that the waters would continue to rise.

"In most cases, they had no food because the fields are submerged so there is no work for day labourers and so no money to buy food.

"Generally one or two of the family members were sick with fever or dysentery, probably because of the water they drink.

"Flood water contaminates wells making the water undrinkable."

Learn Foundation, the organisation Julia works for, gave £50 to each of the worst affected families in the village of Durgapasha.

People can donate money by visiting the website bangladeshfloodrelief.org.uk or call 07771 608843 for more information.