Continuous torrential downpour in the capital has led to extensive waterlogging across various parts of Old Dhaka, causing extreme hardship for residents.
The rain, which began late Saturday night and continued intermittently through Monday, has left areas including Bakshibazar, Hosni Dalan, Satrowza, Bangshal, Aga Sadeq Road, and the vicinity of Bangladesh Math under knee-deep water.
Normal movement has been severely disrupted as both narrow lanes and main roads remain submerged. Hundreds of thousands of people are facing immense suffering, with many confined to their homes and others struggling to venture out even for emergencies.
Infrastructure woes exacerbate misery
Low-income individuals, students, and office-goers are the worst affected. In Bakshibazar’s Tejpatta Gali, the road had already been excavated for WASA pipeline installation.
The rainfall has now turned these trenches into waterlogged traps, making the road completely impassable.
“We have been waterlogged since Saturday night,” Amran Hossain, a resident of Bakshibazar, told TIMES of Bangladesh. “We cannot even leave the house for essential work.”
Another resident, Md Sahidullah, expressed frustration over the prolonged infrastructure delays. “The area floods even with slight rain. For nearly a month, the road has been dug up for WASA pipeline work, and now we are trapped indoors due to the water,” he said.
Education disrupted
The weather has also taken a toll on the academic calendar. Afzal Rahman, a resident of Satrowza, shared that his daughter’s half-yearly examination at Birshrestha Noor Mohammad Public College was postponed.
School authorities cited the heavy rainfall as the reason for the suspension of today’s exam.
Local residents have voiced their anger, noting that the area frequently faces such issues during the monsoon. They have called for the urgent restoration of the excavated roads and the implementation of an effective drainage system to ensure rapid water recession.
Weather forecast
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, intermittent rain is likely to persist throughout the day due to active monsoon winds. The forecast indicates light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds in most parts of the Dhaka division.
The Met Office has also issued warnings for moderate to very heavy rainfall in certain areas across Dhaka and other divisions.
Official data shows that 97 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in Dhaka in the 24 hours leading up to 6am today. While only 1 millimetre was recorded between midnight and 6am, the intensity of the downpour increased significantly after 7am.
Meteorologists expect day temperatures to drop slightly, while night temperatures are likely to remain unchanged.
