"Please don't give up on us," the president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association said in a YouTube plea addressed to global buyers. "Kindly do not let go of our hands."
"Environmental personhood" was once considered a fringe issue, but several countries have granted rivers within their borders legal person status. Bangladesh became the latest in July.
Bangladeshis who want to work abroad can pay thousands of dollars for a permit. The reward is a chance for a job that allows them to send cash back home. But there's a potential for abuse as well.
Authorities predicted "total destruction" of many homes. The cyclone made landfall early Friday morning, and at least two people have reportedly been killed by the powerful storm.