It’s high time Dhaka improved its drainage system

Heavy downpours on Saturday wreaked havoc across Dhaka, triggering severe waterlogging in many parts of the city. Although the total amount of rainfall was not known at the time of writing this editorial in the evening, intermittent rain throughout the day inundated several areas, leaving them under knee- to chest-deep water.

As a result, city life came to a near standstill, with transportation severely disrupted and many vehicles stranded on flooded streets, causing massive traffic congestion. This situation is largely due to the fact that much of the city's drainage network, including its canals and piped sewerage system, is either blocked or inadequate to drain such heavy rainfall.

This, however, has been a common occurrence in the city for years, if not decades, during every monsoon. Yet no solution to this recurring problem has been found, even though the causes are well known. Waterlogging continues to recur because Dhaka's drainage system, which once consisted of a 2,211-kilometre network of drains, has been significantly reduced. For instance, Dhaka once had 65 natural canals, but that number has dwindled to just 26, and most of them are either clogged with garbage or have been illegally occupied.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall has continued in several other parts of the country, worsening the flood situation in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur, with five major rivers flowing above the danger level at nine monitoring stations. The situation could deteriorate further in the country's northeast, north and southeast regions, as the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours.

The flood situation in Sylhet is expected to worsen further, as the water levels of the Surma and Kushiara rivers are forecast to rise. In northern Bangladesh, the Teesta River may cross the danger level in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur, increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying areas.

In Chattogram, where landslides have claimed numerous lives, around 400,000 people have remained stranded due to severe flooding triggered by continuous heavy rainfall, prompting the government to deploy army personnel to assist the civil administration in at least seven upazilas.

Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on his party leaders and activists to stand by flood-affected people. He has also instructed them to adopt ten priority measures to deal with the ongoing flood disaster. As part of the government's relief efforts, 1,057 shelters have been opened across the affected areas of Chattogram Division. Under the General Relief (GR) programme, Tk 2.15 crore in cash and 3,450 metric tonnes of rice have been allocated for the five affected districts of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban. 

Apart from the government's relief operations, civil society, social organisations and affluent members of society should also come forward to support flood-affected people in the worst-hit areas. Only a coordinated effort by the government and the public can help ease the suffering of those affected while strengthening the country's preparedness for future disasters.