Billions spent, Dhaka still sinks after heavy rain

The capital’s recurring waterlogging has once again highlighted longstanding weaknesses in urban planning, drainage management and institutional coordination, with experts warning that the problem will persist unless Bangladesh adopts an integrated approach to managing the city’s drainage network and natural waterways.

For the second consecutive day on Monday, large parts of the city remained inundated following heavy monsoon rainfall, disrupting traffic, delaying commuters and affecting businesses.

The latest flooding has renewed concerns over why the capital continues to suffer widespread waterlogging despite years of infrastructure projects and substantial public spending.

According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Gulshan Traffic Division, waterlogging disrupted traffic near Dhaka Gate behind Banani Graveyard, while vehicles moved slowly at the Banani Kakoli Elevated Expressway exit ramp because of standing water.

Congestion also worsened in front of Jamuna Future Park due to accumulated rainwater and ongoing Dhaka Wasa pipeline installation work.

Flooded roads also slowed traffic in the ECB area near Cantonment Girls’ School, affecting vehicles travelling from Mirpur DOHS and Kalshi towards the Matikata Flyover.

Traffic police advised commuters to allow extra travel time and use alternative routes as rainfall was expected to continue.

Office workers, students and businesspeople faced long delays as buses crawled through submerged roads, while several private vehicles broke down after entering flooded streets.

Commercial activities in a number of low-lying markets were also disrupted.

Urban planners say the problem extends far beyond heavy rainfall.

They argue that Dhaka still lacks an integrated drainage master plan, while agencies responsible for roads, drainage, canals, sewerage and urban development continue to work independently with limited coordination.

Responsibility for the city’s infrastructure is divided among the two city corporations, Dhaka Wasa, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), the Roads and Highways Department, the Bangladesh Water Development Board and several other agencies.

Experts say roads excavated by one agency are often reopened by another, while drainage systems are frequently damaged or left disconnected.

They also identify the loss of natural canals, encroachment on wetlands, blocked drains, indiscriminate waste disposal and unplanned urbanisation as major causes of worsening waterlogging.

Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam acknowledged that waterlogging remains a longstanding challenge and blamed plastic waste for obstructing drainage.

“Water flow was blocked by polythene in the areas where waterlogging occurred. Our cleaners removed huge quantities of polythene from different locations,” he said at a press conference on Monday.

He called for stronger measures to reduce the use of polythene bags and stressed the need to restore Dhaka’s canals.

“If the canals can be restored, this crisis can be reduced significantly. The situation can also improve quickly if rainwater can be discharged rapidly into the Buriganga and Shitalakkhya rivers,” he said.

Architect and urban planner Iqbal Habib told The New Nation that Dhaka’s canals, retention areas and other water bodies had become disconnected from surrounding rivers because of encroachment and pollution.

“We need a comprehensive and integrated ‘blue network’ plan to reconnect these water bodies and ensure that rainwater flows naturally from the city to the rivers, with the active participation of the people,” he said.

He also called for closer coordination among the Bangladesh Water Development Board, Dhaka Wasa, RAJUK and the district administration under directly elected city corporations.

Professor Adil Muhammad Khan of Jahangirnagar University said Dhaka had no integrated drainage master plan linking natural waterways with the city’s artificial drainage network.

“Projects are being implemented in isolation, but the final outlets through which water should drain are not being kept functional,” he said, add

ng that building new drains in waterlogged areas alone could not provide a lasting solution.

He warned that unless the city’s drainage system is planned and managed as a single integrated network, waterlogging will continue to recur after heavy rainfall.

With more rain forecast later this week, experts warn that Dhaka’s ageing drainage infrastructure will remain under pressure unless immediate mitigation measures are accompanied by long-overdue institutional reforms.