Dhaka to brace for 48 hours of more rain after 6-hour downpour deluge
Incessant rainfall from Saturday night through Sunday morning submerged the capital's alleys and bylanes, causing severe hardship for city dwellers. The photo was taken from the Kazipara area of Mirpur in the capital by Shamim-us-Salehin.
The relentless heavy downpour has practically placed Dhaka city underwater. The rain, which started late on Saturday night, continued until Sunday noon, creating severe waterlogging in various parts of the city. As a result, office-goers, students, and ordinary citizens faced extreme suffering on the very first working day of the week.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, nearly 97 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Dhaka over the past 24 hours. In just six hours—from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Sunday alone—82 millimeters of rain fell. The department has forecasted that heavy to very heavy rainfall may continue for the next 48 hours due to the active monsoon current.
A street of Azimpur in old Dhaka was blocked by a fallen tree. Photo: Agamir Somoy.
Water rose knee-deep in various areas of the capital, including Mirpur, Sheorapara, Agargaon, Mohammadpur, Farmgate, Malibagh, Badda, Jatrabari, Shanirakhra-Demra, Old Dhaka, Shantinagar, Gulistan, Motijheel, Paltan, and Kakrail. Waterlogging on both main roads and side streets severely disrupted vehicular movement. In some places, road excavation work made the situation even more precarious.
Ashraful Alam, an employee of a private organization, shared his ordeal while heading to work in the morning. He said, "I left home around 8:00 AM. But because of the knee-deep water on the roads, I couldn't find any proper vehicle. Even after waiting for a long time, I didn't get a bus, so I eventually had to start walking towards the office, getting drenched."
Nusrat Jahan, another commuter traveling from Shanirakhra to Motijheel, said, "Waterlogging in Dhaka during rain has now become a regular occurrence. Even a little rain floods the roads, making it difficult to reach the office on time. Today, rickshaw and CNG auto-rickshaw fares were much higher than usual. Besides, I had to walk a long way on foot just to reach the main road."
Meanwhile, the waterlogging has triggered severe traffic gridlock in various parts of the capital. Classes and examinations at some educational institutions have also been postponed.
City children face hardships on their way to schools. Sajjad Hossain, a photojournalist for Agamir Somoy, captured this image in the capital's Mohammadpur area on Sunday.
Although this same scenario plays out every monsoon, the lack of an effective drainage system seems to be steadily increasing the suffering of Dhaka's residents. Weak urban planning, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and prolonged delays in development projects mean that even moderately heavy rainfall brings the country's capital to a standstill.
According to urban planners, the recurring waterlogging in the capital is not solely due to excessive rainfall; unplanned urbanization and a weak drainage system are also responsible.
Urban planner Professor Adil Muhammad Khan said that the continuous filling up of Dhaka's natural canals, water bodies, and low-lying areas has reduced the capacity for rainwater to quickly drain away. At the same time, various development projects are further intensifying waterlogging in many areas.
According to the planner, a permanent solution to this problem cannot be achieved merely by installing drains or pumps. To protect the capital from waterlogging, it is essential to ensure integrated urban planning, canal restoration, and effective waste management. Otherwise, the situation will become even more critical in the future due to the impacts of climate change.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department has stated that due to the active monsoon, rainfall may continue across the country for the next five days. During this period, the department has forecasted gusty winds, rain, thundershowers, and heavy rainfall at some places across various divisions. Authorities have advised the public to avoid unnecessary outings and to take necessary precautions.
The Meteorological Department reported that the axis of the monsoon trough extends from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal through the central part of Bangladesh to Assam. One of its extensions reaches up to the North Bay of Bengal. The monsoon is active over Bangladesh and in a moderate state over the North Bay of Bengal.
Today (Sunday), light to moderate rain or thundershowers with gusty winds may occur in most places of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Additionally, heavy rainfall is likely at some spots in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions.
