Continuous heavy rainfall on Sunday triggered severe waterlogging in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi and Green Road areas, with water levels reaching waist-deep in several places and effectively paralysing traffic movement.
Thousands of people faced immense suffering as many roads remained completely submerged from Sunday afternoon through the evening.
Knee-deep to waist-deep water hindered the movement of private cars, motorcycles, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, and rickshaws, while transport came to a complete standstill in several locations.
Taking advantage of the situation, some local van drivers in Green Road area launched temporary services to ferry commuters across flooded sections. Passengers were observed crossing waterlogged stretches on these vans by paying extra fares.
The inundation also severely impacted local commerce, as numerous shops in Green Road were submerged. As water entered ground-floor establishments, businessmen were seen frantically moving merchandise to safer locations, and many owners were forced to close their shops entirely.
“It has become extremely difficult to move in so much water,” said Manjur Ahmed, a local resident. He added that he had to change vehicles twice to reach his destination, first using a battery-run rickshaw and then a van to cross a waist-deep waterlogged portion of the road.
Locals attributed the worsening situation to the slow drainage of rainwater following the heavy downpour. The waterlogging caused significant hardship for office-goers, students, and individuals out for emergencies.
Residents alleged that despite similar waterlogging occurring almost every monsoon, no effective permanent initiatives have been taken to solve the crisis. They demanded immediate improvements to the drainage system to ensure prompt water discharge in the future.
