HELEMUL ALAM

Dhaka’s two city corporations have identified 141 locations vulnerable to waterlogging ahead of the upcoming monsoon and said they are taking measures to reduce the risk.

Of the spots, 108 are in Dhaka North City Corporation areas and 33 are in Dhaka South City Corporation areas.

Urban planners and experts, however, said the city’s drainage crisis cannot be solved without restoring canal connectivity, improving maintenance, and implementing an integrated master plan.

Former Bangladesh Institute of Planners president Mohammad Fazle Reza Sumon said the biggest problem remains the lack of connectivity between secondary and tertiary drainage channels and the main outfalls.

“Ultimately, all water has to flow into the primary channels. But the connectivity needed for that is still not functioning properly,” he said.

According to him, some restored drainage connections have again fallen under encroachment, while many northern areas of the city remain vulnerable despite partial improvement efforts.

He warned that the drainage system may struggle if rainfall exceeds 80 millimetres, while some areas could face severe flooding during heavier rainfall.

Urban expert Prof Adil Mohammed Khan, executive director of the Institute for Planning and Development, said Dhaka’s canals, drains and local drainage lines remain clogged with waste despite repeated cleanup drives.

“The city corporations continue to talk about projects and investments, but area-based assessments and long-term planning are still lacking,” said Adil, also a former president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners.

He said localised waterlogging has become common across the city, citing water accumulation near Dhanmondi Lake after only a short spell of rainfall this year.

“That indicates flaws in the drainage design and water flow system,” he added.

Adil also stressed the need for a coordinated drainage master plan instead of separate approaches by the two city corporations.

He emphasised public awareness and community involvement to prevent garbage dumping into drains.

Dr Mohammad Safiullah, superintendent engineer of DSCC, said the corporation has identified 33 hotspot areas and formed ward-based emergency response teams involving its engineering and waste management departments.

Safiullah said the corporation has increased the number of temporary pumps from two to eight this year to tackle waterlogging in critical areas, including New Market, Dhanmondi Hawkers Market, Bakshibazar, Chanmari intersection, Rajarbagh and Fakirapool.

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