A heavy spell of rain early Monday once again exposed Dhaka’s unresolved waterlogging and inadequate drainage, paralysing the city for hours and reigniting debate over who can rescue the capital from its recurring misery.
Md Amin, 30, a shop employee, collapsed near Najira Bazar intersection in Bangshal around 9:30am while wading through waterlogged streets during the downpour.
He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) unconscious at about 9:45am, where doctors declared him dead, said Inspector Md Faruk, in charge of the DMCH police camp.
Across the city, commuters were seen trudging through ankle- to knee-deep water as they struggled to reach offices, schools and other destinations.
Roads and lanes lay submerged in Mouchak, Malibagh, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Kalabagan, Karwan Bazar, Green Road, Monipuripara, New Market, Asad Gate, Jigatola and several other neighbourhoods.
In some places, the water rose to knee level; in others, it reached the waist.
Keya Sarker, an employee of a private company, shared her ordeal, saying, “Usually, it takes me 20 to 25 minutes to reach my office. Today, it took more than an hour. Travelling by bus from Kakrail to Mouchak felt like crossing a river.”
At Shantinagar intersection, she saw a van laden with goods trapped in water after its driver failed to notice a pothole hidden beneath the murky surface, worsening the traffic jam.
Social media reflected similar frustrations, often touched with humour.
Dhaka University student Tuli, from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, wrote on Facebook, “My class was at 8:30am. When I woke up, I felt like I was floating on an island, as the hall was filled with water. I somehow swam out, but when I reached New Market, it was impossible to cross even by swimming. The rickshaw pullers were refusing to go. Finally, one agreed – but demanded Tk 850, though it seemed he felt bad about saying no.”
Romana, another private employee, said, “The gridlocked traffic and flooded roads turned the morning rush into an ordeal. I had to wade through stinking water to reach my office.”
Meteorologist Hafizur Rahman reported that 107mm of rainfall had been recorded in the capital over 24 hours till noon on Monday, while Feni district registered the highest rainfall at 116mm.
A Met Office bulletin said the sky might remain overcast for the next six hours, with daytime temperatures likely to drop slightly.
Dhaka South City Corporation later issued a press release saying arrangements had been made to drain water quickly from inundated areas using temporary portable pumps.
Roots of a Recurring Crisis
Experts point to unplanned development as the prime cause of Dhaka’s chronic waterlogging. Illegal encroachment, landfill and diversions have choked stormwater drainage systems, obstructing the natural flow of water. As a result, the city is regularly exposed to irksome flooding, particularly during the monsoon.
