Just one hour of rainfall has once again triggered severe waterlogging in the Probortok Mor area of Chattogram city, leaving residents in extreme distress.
On Saturday, the waist-deep water effectively brought vehicular movement to a standstill, turning the important thoroughfare into what appeared to be a temporary canal.
During a visit to the site following the rain, it was observed that private vehicles were rendered almost immobile, while rickshaws were forced to navigate the floodwaters at great risk, with many submerged halfway. T
he plight of motorcyclists was particularly notable, as many were seen pushing their stalled bikes through the water.
The situation was further complicated by the presence of several private hospitals in the vicinity. Patients and their relatives faced immense suffering; one man, attempting to take his ailing wife to the hospital, was forced to seek refuge in a rickshaw after becoming stranded.
Another woman reported that she had to turn back and miss a scheduled doctor’s appointment because she could not reach the hospital through the rising water.
Local residents expressed intense anger over the persistent crisis, particularly in light of recent political assertions. Mir Shah Alam, the State Minister for Local Government, recently claimed in Parliament that there is no waterlogging in Chattogram and that heavy rain only causes “slight water congestion.”,.
“A few days ago, he said Chattogram is not floating. Does he not see this now? Here, even slight rain causes the water to rise,” remarked one frustrated resident, questioning the validity of the Minister’s statement.
To address the city’s waterlogging issues, a mega project worth approximately Tk 14,000 crore was initiated in 2016. Although the work was originally scheduled for completion in 2019, the deadline has been extended several times, with the latest target now set for 2026.
However, the benefits of the project remains elusive due to delays and a lack of coordination.
According to analysts, the city continues to suffer every monsoon due to the encroachment of canals and drains, unplanned urbanisation, and a lack of regular maintenance. There are growing fears that if progress on development projects does not become visible, this cycle of misery will become even more protracted.
