Even a 40-minute spell of rainfall on Saturday afternoon was enough to submerge major parts of the capital, exposing once again the fragile condition of Dhaka’s drainage and sewerage system.
Key areas including Mirpur-10 and 13, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Agargaon, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Pallabi and Kalshi went under water, with several roads submerged up to knee level. Vehicular movement and public communication were severely disrupted as traffic came to a near standstill in many parts of the city.
Residents said the rainfall quickly brought daily life to a halt, renewing calls for a permanent solution to the city’s long-standing water-logging problem. They blamed inadequate drainage infrastructure, poor maintenance of canals and drains, and slow rainwater discharge for the recurring crisis.
The disruption hit rickshaw pullers, motorcyclists, CNG auto-rickshaw drivers, small traders and pedestrians the hardest. Roadside businesses in submerged areas also suffered losses as water blocked access to shops and reduced customer movement, while risks of damage to goods increased.
Mohammad Obaidul, a businessman who lives in Mirpur-6 and works in Mirpur-10, said the area becomes nearly impassable even after moderate rainfall.
“Whenever it rains, Mirpur-10 turns into a river,” he said. “It disrupts business and daily movement. Even though the city corporation office is located here, we have not seen any effective long-term solution.”
He urged authorities to prioritise drainage improvement in the Kalshi"Mirpur corridor to ease suffering for residents, students, office workers and small business owners. Belayet Hossain Manik, a resident of Shewrapara, said even light rain is enough to flood local roads, with some neighbourhoods going under knee-deep water. “It becomes very difficult for people to leave their homes or reach workplaces,” he said.
Transport workers also bore the immediate impact. CNG auto-rickshaw driver Mohammad Matiar Rahman said waterlogged roads often lead to severe congestion and vehicle breakdowns.
“Passengers sometimes have to get off midway because vehicles cannot move,” he said. “Our earnings drop, but costs remain the same.”
Pedestrian Mohammad Habibur Rahman, who travels regularly between Mirpur-11 and Mirpur-1, said parts of the route through Mirpur-10 become unusable during rain.
“Rickshaw pullers either avoid those areas or charge higher fares,” he said. “Ordinary people end up paying the price.”
Urban planners say Dhaka’s water-logging crisis has worsened due to rapid urbanisation, loss of water bodies, unplanned development and ageing drainage systems. They argue that routine drain-cleaning drives are not enough and call for a comprehensive approach, including drainage upgrades, canal restoration, water retention measures and improved urban planning.
