People suffer as rain causes waterlogging in Dhaka

Staff Reporter :

Since morning, Dhaka city has been experiencing several hours of continuous rainfall. As a result, water has accumulated on many roads and alleyways of the capital.

With both small lanes and main roads submerged, residents are facing serious difficulties. Due to the waterlogging, long traffic jams have formed in several areas.

The sudden downpour has created major challenges not only for Dhaka but also for other parts of the country. Working-class people, in particular, are suffering the most.

Day laborers, rickshaw pullers, van drivers, cobblers, hawkers, tea stall owners, and vegetable vendors have seen their income plummet. Despite spending the entire day outside, they are not getting work or customers, leaving them to return home empty-handed at the end of the day.

From Sunday morning to noon, waterlogging was observed firsthand in several areas of the capital, including Sayedabad, Jatrabari, Dhanmondi, New Market, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Khilkhet, Malibagh and Moghbazar.
Local residents complain that although the city authorities promise to resolve the issue of waterlogging every year, in reality no effective measures are taken. With an ineffective drainage system, even a short spell of rain leads to water accumulation on the roads.

They argue that while rain is a natural issue, waterlogging is man-made. If the city authorities maintained the drainage system properly, people would not have to endure this suffering.

Because of the rain since morning, many residents avoided going out unless absolutely necessary. Those who did venture out have been facing immense hardship, particularly people going out to buy daily essentials. In many markets, knee-deep water has accumulated. Business activities have also slowed to a standstill.

Officials of Dhaka North and South City Corporations stated that emergency measures such as installing pumps and cleaning drains and canals are underway to alleviate waterlogging. However, urban experts point out that the real problem lies in the lack of proper planning and the absence of long-term solutions. They say the same scenario repeats itself every year.

The worst situation has been experienced in the New Market, Bongshal and adjacent areas. In the New Market, the road from Globe Shopping Complex to Nilkhet intersection is completely submerged. Broken and pothole-ridden roads in the middle of the street have made it difficult for rickshaws and private cars to move, causing passengers further trouble.

Apart from this, waterlogging has also been reported on the main Dhanmondi road-particularly from Dhanmondi 15 to Jigatola, as well as in Dhanmondi 27 and Asad Gate areas. In Mohammadpur’s Dhaka Udyan, Nabodoy, Adabor, and from Mirpur-1 to the Zoo Road, several spots have also gone under water.

“Since morning, heavy rain submerged the entire road, and water has entered the shops. I came to the shop drenched, hoping to open once the rain stopped. But now that I’ve come, I see the shop itself is flooded.

There’s no way to open it,” a shop owner of Bongshal road said.
Similarly, Abdul Ahad, from Azimpur area, shared his bitter experiences to Journalists.

Meanwhile, rice traders in Nayabazar area have been hit hard. Due to heavy rain, water entered the wholesale rice shops. Traders have already suffered losses several times before when their rice stock got wet.

Rice trader Abdullah told Journalists,”During heavy rains, our rice stock got soaked and we suffered huge losses. Today’s rainfall has again flooded many shops. We want an urgent solution to this problem.”

Elsewhere, waterlogging was visible in several areas in the old Dhaka, including, Bongshal, Azimpur, Mirpur, Kalshi, Khilkhet, Kuril, Badda and Rampura areas. Residents complained that the city’s canals have been filled in, cutting off natural drainage channels. Even though there are lakes nearby, the blocked canals prevent proper water outflow, leading to waterlogging during heavy rainfall. With no effective drainage system, residents are forced to suffer through this ordeal repeatedly.

Urban planner and architect Iqbal Habib told Journalists, “The rampant, unplanned construction of buildings and encroachment on canals for urban expansion will continue to cause waterlogging unless the authorities take strict measures.”