Rain, waterlogging pile misery onto Dhaka residents

The heavy rain that drenched the capital from 6am to noon has inundated various high and low-lying roads and alleys in Dhaka, causing immense suffering for people who needed to leave home on Friday as dirty water made its way into city markets, shops and even houses.

Several vehicles, including cars and autorickshaws, broke down on the city’s roads, causing traffic congestion, reports bdnews24.com.

Mohakhali’s Dakkhin Para was awash in waist-deep water around 10am on Friday. The shops along the roads and the ground floors of some houses were inundated.

Local shopkeeper Mahbubul Alam expressed his frustration as accumulated rainwater made its way into his shop.

He told: “My shop is on the side of the road. I paved the front of my shop a few days back. But it didn’t help. Waist-deep water has made its way into my shop. All the goods are now wet and damaged due to the rain.”

“There is so much talk about development, yet water accumulates on the roads and makes its way into the houses after a light downpour. The suffering is endless.”

Sabuj Hossain, who took a rickshaw ride from Tejgaon to Mohakhali said: “There is no escape. Even when I ride a rickshaw, I’m getting wet due to rainwater. I had to leave home for some work. Now it appears I have made a mistake.”

Safura Begum, a resident of Dhaka’s Nakhalpara, waded to her shop, drenched by the rain and the water.

Expressing her anger, she told that: “The children didn’t eat anything in the morning. I had to leave home. They were digging up the road only a few days ago, but what’s the benefit? The water is almost waist-deep. There is no solution to our suffering.”

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department says the monsoon is active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the north Bay of Bengal, which may cause heavy to very heavy rainfall in the country.

Meteorologist Shahnaz Sultana told, “130 mm of rainfall has been recorded in Dhaka from 6am to noon on Friday. The downpour may continue until Saturday afternoon and decrease then.”

As the rain drenched the city, several areas of Dhaka - including Kakrail, Mohammadpur, Shewrapara, Kazipara and different areas in Mirpur; Mazar Road, Elephant Road, Matsya Bhaban, Dhanmondi 27, Central Road, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Tejgaon, Bijoy Sarani, Pashchim Tejturi Bazar, Mollapara in south Monipur and Mohakhali - were inundated by rainwater.

The capital’s Shantinagar, Malibagh, Mouchak, Kakrail, Purana Paltan, Naya Paltan, Arambagh, Shahjahanpur, Fakirapul, Bijoynagar were also waterlogged due to the heavy rainfall.

In addition, the Dayaganj intersection, Sayedabad Bus Terminal, Nimtoli, Kamlapur’s Toynbee Circular Road, and many other areas saw some flooding.

The DMP traffic department has urged city residents to set off with time on their hands when travelling as vehicles broke down on various roads due to waterlogging.

Dhaka North City Corporation’s ‘quick response’ unit has launched a drive to resolve waterlogging. More than 5,000 service workers are working in the squad.

DNCC spokesperson Mokbul Hossain told, “Ten quick response teams are working in 10 areas in Dhaka. They are conducting drives in catchment areas. But the problem is the points from which we clear drainage systems are choked with various types of waste dumped by the city residents. That’s why it’s taking time to clear the regional waterlogging.”

“However, waterlogging on major roads has declined. In addition, there is no waterlogging in those areas where we [the DNCC] are working on drainage. Even when there is a bit, it recedes promptly.”

Mokbul says it is taking time to remove water as heavy torrential downpours drenched the city within a short period.

“The quick response team is still being sent to those areas affected by waterlogging to ensure the flow of water by cleaning drains. Efforts are underway to remove water from sections leading to major roads in every area.”

The corporation also urged people to contact DNCC’s hotline 16106 if waterlogging appears in any areas.

Water removal efforts are also underway in areas under the Dhaka South City Corporation.

DSCC spokesperson Md Abu Naser told, “As many as 100 DSCC teams are working to remove water quickly. In addition, water pumping stations in Dolairpar and Kamalapur are also in operation.”

There is also a gas crisis in different parts of Dhaka. Many people were forced to go out amid the downpour to purchase food due to low gas pressure at homes in the morning.

Segun Bagicha resident Hasan Ali said, “There is no gas at home. I woke up and saw the rain. With no other options, I left home with an umbrella as the children did not have any breakfast. But none of the shops were open in Segun Bagicha.”

A few cars and minibuses operating in the capital’s Shantinagar were seen splashing pedestrians with filthy water from the road.

Mintu, a commuter travelling on the Shantinagar footpath, said, “The waves look like a sea. A bus sped by and drenched me in this filthy water.”

The rainwater also inundated the Shantinagar kitchen market.

A local meat seller at the market, Amin Mia, said: “A gentleman told me he would buy meat, but he isn’t here. The rainwater has made its way into the market.”

The rickshaw pullers said it’s difficult to drive their vehicles for any length of time due to the water.

Kajla resident Jahangir Hossain says it takes several hours for the accumulated water to recede after it rains. “The canals in the area are getting narrower day by day due to land grabbers occupying them. The water is obstructed at every point on its way to the Buriganga. We are at the bottom of the list of the DSCC’s concerns despite being in a low-lying area. No one pays attention to our suffering.”

Shahidul Islam, a resident of Ward No. 63, says he has not seen any development activity in the ward over the past five years though it is being listed under the city corporation.

He said, “There was no development activity in the area after the city corporation was formed. If a few drains were constructed along the canal, the water could not accumulate. But we see no such development.”

When asked why Dhaka is regularly inundated by rain, Adil Muhammad Khan of Jahangirnagar University’s Urban and Regional Planning Department, said:

“We have had a lot of development in a short time. This is destructive development.”

The executive director of the Institute of Planning and Development, or IPD, said: “The number of canals or reservoirs in Dhaka is below 5 percent now. And the greenery is below 7 percent. As a result, there is no way for water to be drained out. If the water bodies were not filled and there was enough greenery, this situation might be different.”

“One of our studies found that concrete covered more than 80 percent of the surface in the developed parts of Dhaka. The rate is 90 percent in some places. As a result, there is no way for water to drain out. We will have to accept this waterlogging.”

Khan, also the president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners, said, “We can ensure the maximum use of the existing drainage system and water bodies to tackle the situation. Besides, the government and non-government organisations have to stop the arbitrary occupation of the water bodies.”