Waterlogging in Dhaka City: A case of governance failure
Waterlogging in Dhaka city is a failure of the government stemming from a lack of proper urban planning, leading to the loss of water bodies and the clogging of drainage systems.
According to a report published in The New Nation yesterday, rickshaw pullers were seen wading through knee-deep water in the city’s New Market area causing extreme sufferings to the city dwellers.
According to the report, this issue is worsened by a lack of coordination between government agencies, a failure to maintain canals and sewers, and an unregulated development that fills in water bodies, trapping rainwater and causing severe flooding.
Officials often point fingers at public behaviour, citing garbage — plastic bottles, polythene, household waste — dumped into drains and canals, which clogs the water flow.
Bangladesh Institute of Planners President and urban planner Adil Muhammad Khan when contacted told this newspaper that there are lack of adequate plans and coordinated efforts to respite the people from huge sufferings of Waterlogging.
A master plan is compulsory to interconnect all drainage systems with the canals and outfalls. But it is being delayed after taking the responsibility from Dhaka WASA by the two city corporations.
Besides, he further said keeping the canals and drainage clean is yet a far cry as the unaware people used to throw all of their household garbage, including dysfunctional furniture and other solid wastes to the canals and drainages which are mostly responsible for waterlogging.
This year, the deluge has lingered even into the autumn rains, underscoring the city’s deepening infrastructure crisis and the apparent futility of its billion-taka budgets.
It is to be noted that for the 2025–26 fiscal year, Dhaka’s two city corporations — the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) — announced budgets totaling nearly 10,000 crore taka combined. Yet, for most residents, even basic civic services remain elusive.
DNCC, which governs the city’s northern half, approved a 6,069 crore taka budget, allocating more than three-quarters — about 4,624 crore — to development expenditure.
On the other hand, DSCC passed a 3,841.38 crore taka budget, including 1,469 crore in development expenditure.
Waterlogging is a case of governance failure and a result of unplanned, unruly urban development.
The government needs to undertake the task of reclaiming and restoring water bodies in all urban centres so rainwater drainage systems become functional.
Citizens must also play their role in keeping the city cl;ean. There is no other solution to this perennial crisis.