Tk 20-30 Per Ride: 'Water trip' in Dhaka
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Even light rainfall is enough to turn several roads in Dhaka into waterlogged stretches, causing significant inconvenience for commuters. Taking advantage of this situation, some rickshaw pullers have introduced an informal “water trip” service, charging passengers to help them cross short flooded sections of road.
Locals say the practice has become commonly known as “water trips,” where rickshaw pullers demand Tk 20 to Tk 30 per person just to carry passengers across a few metres of accumulated rainwater. The phenomenon was observed on Friday in the Garden Road area behind Bashundhara Shopping Complex, where a brief shower left parts of the street submerged.
Following the rain, rickshaw pullers were heard calling out fares such as twenty for crossing water, thirty for two people, attracting pedestrians who had no option but to pay in order to pass through the flooded area. Residents said that during heavier rainfall or more severe waterlogging, these charges increase further.
A rickshaw puller, Gias Uddin, defended the practice, saying they were offering assistance while also trying to earn income during rainy conditions. “We get wet in the rain, so we help people cross the waterlogged area if they need it,” he said.
However, local residents allege that many rickshaw pullers prefer short water-crossing trips over longer regular fares, as they become more profitable during rainfall. As soon as it rains, they reportedly gather in affected areas specifically to offer such services.
A commuter, Selim Uddin, who paid Tk 20 for a short crossing, said the situation feels exploitative but unavoidable. “We usually walk this distance easily, but today I had to pay twenty taka because of the water,” he said.
Residents have blamed Dhaka’s recurring waterlogging problems on poor and unplanned drainage systems under the city corporation authorities. They have urged immediate action to resolve the drainage crisis and reduce public suffering during rainfall.
