Water-logging turns Pirojpur life miserable

PIROJPUR, Aug 1: Continuous heavy rainfall has caused severe water-logging in the district headquarters, making daily life unbearable for residents. 

Low-lying areas have been hit hardest, while educational institutions, playgrounds, public spaces, religious sites, markets, and bazaars have all been affected by the combined impact of rain and high tides.  

Hafizul Islam, a resident of Rajerhat (under Ward No. �" of the municipality), pointed to long-standing infrastructure failures as the root cause. "Canals running through the town have been sealed off, and some have been illegally occupied. A shortage of drainage systems and narrow drains are the main reasons behind the recurring water-logging," he said.  

Former municipality official Md. Shaidul Islam Sikder blamed unplanned urbanisation for the worsening crisis. "Unregulated housing expansion, failure to follow municipal building codes, and the construction of boundary walls that leave no space for common roads or drains have made the situation worse year after year," he explained.  

Druba Lal Dutta Bonik, Executive Engineer of Pirojpur Municipality, said steps are being taken to address the problem. "We are planning to re-excavate the main canals. Funds have been allocated in the current fiscal year for new drainage construction and repairs. Once these projects are completed, we expect the suffering to decrease," he assured. 
 
Principal Alamgir Hossain, Administrator of the Zilla Parishad, said that the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) has already undertaken canal excavation initiatives. "The district council is ready to provide financial support for urgent projects benefiting specific communities. We are also in discussion with the municipality and are trying to secure additional government allocations," he added.  

He further urged town-dwellers to play an active role in solving the crisis. "Citizens must come forward to cooperate with the municipality, follow its rules and regulations, and pay dues promptly as responsible residents. Our commitment is to build a clean, green, well-connected, traffic-free, and liveable town�"and we are all working together to achieve that goal," Hossain further said.