‘How can I pay the installment if I can't even open my shop?’
Zakir Ali a clothing trader found himself hopeless amid downpour and without any customer in Gulistan business district on Sunday. Agamir Somoy.
Incessant rain and prolonged waterlogging have devastated public life in the capital. Low-income day laborers and street vendors are facing severe hardships. Heavy rainfall starting Saturday night and continuing through Sunday noon has caused intense waterlogging in Gulistan, one of the busiest areas of the capital. As a result, the daily livelihood of many small traders has come to a standstill.
Zakir Ali, a trader, has been selling clothes on a van in front of the Gulistan Sports Market for the past two years. He runs his family by selling goods from 9 AM to 10 PM every day, but today he is helpless. He came to open his shop in the morning, getting completely drenched in the rain. He thought like regular rainfall, the water would recede quickly. However, upon arrival, he found knee-deep water clogging his usual spot. Consequently, there was no way to open even a temporary stall. The rain continued until afternoon, and afternoon turned into evening, yet the water had not fully receded. The wooden bench used for displaying clothes remains tied up. He had to move his merchandise to another shop to keep it safe.
Expressing his frustration, Zakir Ali said even when he is sick, he never closes his shop; he always comes and sits through the day. But due to the accumulated rainwater, he has not been able to open his shop all day. Even if the water recedes by evening, the resulting mud will deter customers from approaching his makeshift shop. Today, he has not made a single taka in sales.
Zakir Ali supports his wife and four children with this business. His eldest son lives separately after marriage, so the entire responsibility of the family falls on him. He had taken a loan earlier this year for his daughter's wedding, requiring a monthly installment payment of 9,000 taka. Apart from this, there are other household expenses. While he usually makes a profit of around 1,000 taka on a normal day, today's zero sales have brought lines of worry to his forehead. With deep regret, he said, ‘If it rains like this for another 2 to 3 days, I won't even have the money to pay the installment. How am I going to survive with my family?’
This picture of damage and suffering is not unique to Gulistan. Earlier at noon, water was seen entering various shops on the capital's English Road due to the waterlogging. Local businessmen fell into severe trouble because of this. Many steel-selling shops were seen closed. On the other hand, even though some opened their shops, a look of extreme frustration was visible on their faces.
Ratan Das sells tea and bread right at the English Road intersection. He has been standing since morning with his shop open in knee-deep water. Sharing his plight, Ratan Das said that while he usually makes sales of around 1,200 taka from morning until noon, today he has managed only about 300 taka. He added, ‘This small amount of sales was only possible because familiar shopkeepers nearby came out despite the hardship in this water.’ The tea vendor mentioned that due to the lack of sales, he will have to return the bakery items tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has informed that rainfall may occur in most areas of the country, including the capital, under the influence of an active monsoon. According to the organization's data, 28 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Dhaka in just three hours from 6 AM to 9 AM today, Sunday. Prior to this, 97 millimeters of rain fell in the capital over the last 24 hours.
According to the meteorologists' forecast, intermittent rain may continue in Dhaka today, and there is a possibility of moderate to heavy rainfall in various parts of the country. As a result, locals fear that waterlogging and public suffering in the low-lying areas of the capital may persist for some more time.
However, hints of a slight improvement in the upcoming situation have emerged. Meteorologist A. K. M. Nazmul Haque stated that rain may continue in different regions of the country for another two days. However, the intensity of the rain will gradually begin to decrease. It is expected that the situation may improve significantly starting Tuesday.
