The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has ramped up dredging operations in key canals across Chattogram city to address the ongoing issue of waterlogging. The initiative, which also includes work on the Karnaphuli Navigation Channel, aims to restore smooth water flow, improve navigability, and remove plastic and other non-biodegradable waste obstructing canals and drains.
According to a press release from the CPA, special focus is being given to the mouths of canals connected to the Karnaphuli River, including the Rajakhali and Chaktai canals. Soil and waste have already been cleared from the mouth of the Rajakhali Canal, deepening it by 2–3 meters to ensure uninterrupted water discharge into the river. The CPA is carrying out these activities with its own initiative and funding.
CPA Secretary Md. Omar Faruk highlighted the authority’s long-standing role in alleviating waterlogging in the port city. “By dredging the main channel of the Karnaphuli River and removing waste from surrounding canals, we have been actively contributing to reducing the city’s waterlogging issues. With modern equipment such as grab dredgers, deployed through contracted companies, we can maintain normal water flow and navigability of canals, which is already showing positive results,” he said.
The ongoing dredging and cleaning efforts are helping to ensure smooth water flow into the river, reducing stagnation in flood-prone areas. The CPA also emphasized the importance of community cooperation to make these initiatives fully effective.
The authority has urged Chattogram residents to avoid disposing of waste directly into canals, drains, or rivers and instead use designated dustbins. “Resolving the waterlogging problem requires a collective effort. By maintaining proper waste disposal habits, the people of the port city can actively support the CPA’s initiatives,” the statement said.
Through these coordinated efforts, the Chattogram Port Authority aims not only to restore navigability and improve drainage but also to contribute to the overall environmental health of the city, ensuring a sustainable solution to this long-standing urban challenge.
