Dhaka deluged, residents stranded

Dhaka came to a standstill on Sunday after torrential monsoon rain submerged roads across the capital, leaving commuters stranded, businesses disrupted and thousands of residents struggling through knee to waist deep water in what has become a recurring urban crisis.

The port city Chattogram, the lifeline of country’s economy, also faced catastrophic waterlogging as well rendering life and livelihood at a standstill.

From the affluent neighbourhoods to its densely populated low income settlements, no area was spared in the capital.

Roads resembled rivers as 175mm of rainfall was recorded in the capital, overwhelming an already fragile drainage system.

The Chattogram city also witnessed 160mm of rainfall, leaving its roads and streets submerged.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department warned that more rain is likely over the next few days due to an active monsoon, a low pressure system over the Bay and atmospheric instability.

The waterlogging affected whole Dhaka specially Gulshan, Gulshan Badda Link Road, Diplomatic Zone, Banani, Nikunja, Shahjadpur, Sangbadic Colony Road, Mirpur, Shewrapara, Kazipara, Monipur, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Green Road, Panthapath, Tejturi Bazar, Kalshi, Karwan Bazar, Bijoy Sarani, ECB Chattar, Manik Mia Avenue, Bashundhara Residential Area, Malibagh, Shantibagh, Moghbazar, Matijheel, Gulistan and Jurain, Tantibazar in Old Dhaka were inundated.

Traffic across the capital slowed to a crawl as vehicles struggled through submerged roads.

Water also accumulated on the Elevated Expressway and major intersections, creating long queues and forcing many commuters to abandon vehicles and walk through floodwater.

For office workers, students and daily wage earners, the first working day of the week turned into a nightmare.

Many passengers stepped directly from stalled buses into dirty water.

Rickshaws and battery run auto rickshaws broke down in submerged streets.

Footpaths disappeared beneath stagnant water, forcing pedestrians onto busy roads where waves created by passing vehicles soaked them repeatedly.

Several commuters said they had to change multiple rickshaws to reach their workplaces while transport fares rose sharply because of the waterlogged conditions.

Academic activities were also disrupted as many educational institutions were closed.

Monipur High School and College postponed its half yearly examinations after thousands of students were unable to reach the campus.

Residents of Shewrapara, Kazipara and Kallyanpara said water rose above knee level within hours, trapping families inside their homes and making access to main roads almost impossible.

Families living in low lying settlements, including Korail slum and other informal settlements, saw rainwater enter their homes.

Household belongings, food supplies and bedding were damaged.

Many residents also feared contamination of drinking water after floodwater entered underground reservoirs and water tanks.

Business establishments across the city also suffered losses as rainwater entered shops, offices and commercial buildings.

Traders reported damage to goods, furniture, electrical equipment and documents.

Number of customers at shopping areas including New Market and commercial bank branches in Matijheel fell sharply as persistent rain kept people indoors.

Sunday is normally one of the busiest banking days of the week.

Branch managers said customer turnout dropped significantly because many people could not travel through the flooded streets.

Urban planners say Dhaka’s annual waterlogging is no longer simply the result of heavy rainfall.

It reflects decades of unplanned urbanization, neglected drainage infrastructure and sprawling constructions.

Much of the city’s drainage network remains blocked by plastic waste, construction debris and silt.

Many drains fail to carry stormwater quickly into canals, while numerous canals have themselves become clogged, encroached upon or narrowed over the years.

As a result, rainwater remains trapped on roads and in neighbourhoods instead of flowing into surrounding rivers.

Experts also point to the disappearance of wetlands and open spaces that once absorbed excess rainwater.

Rapid construction of buildings has replaced natural retention areas, leaving little room for water to drain naturally.

Dhaka’s population has continued to grow rapidly, placing increasing pressure on land, drainage and public infrastructure.

Every year thousands more people migrate to the capital in search of work, while housing expands faster than drainage facilities.

The city is built around 43 canals that historically connected to surrounding rivers.

However, many of these natural waterways have been encroached upon or polluted, reducing their ability to carry stormwater.

The situation becomes even worse during active monsoon periods when water levels in the Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakshya rivers rise.

Authorities often close sluice gates to prevent river water flowing back into the city, forcing stormwater to rely almost entirely on pumping stations whose capacity is insufficient for a rapidly expanding metropolis.

Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton said emergency teams had been working since early morning to clear blocked drains, operate pumping stations and remove stagnant water.

He acknowledged that the exceptionally heavy rainfall had exceeded the capacity of parts of the existing drainage network but said emergency operations remained in full swing.

Despite repeated investments by Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations, residents say the same crisis returns every monsoon.

The two city corporations have identified more than 140 waterlogging hotspots, cleaned canals, expanded drains and deployed hundreds of workers.

However, many of the long term drainage improvement projects remain incomplete, while coordination among multiple agencies responsible for drainage continues to be a major challenge.

Urban planners say the only sustainable solution lies in restoring canals, protecting wetlands, preventing further encroachment, expanding drainage capacity, improving waste management and ensuring better coordination among all agencies responsible for stormwater management.