Dhaka Correspondent:
Waterlogging has become a daily occurrence in the capital even after light rain. In just one hour of rain since Sunday morning, the road in front of Dhaka College and the surrounding market area were submerged in knee-deep water. College-going students, pedestrians, vehicle drivers and local traders are facing extreme hardship.
It can be seen at the scene that the rainwater has covered the potholes on the road, creating a risk of motorcycles and rickshaws overturning. Pedestrians are somehow crossing the road through the dirty water. Dhaka College student Rakib Hasan said, “Even with light rain, so much water accumulates that clothes get wet while going to class. In such a situation, the learning environment is also ruined.”
Not only students, but traders in the surrounding market are also in trouble. Abdul Quader, a businessman near New Market, complained, “Customers do not want to come to the shops because of water accumulation in front of the shops. Many times, water enters the shops and spoils the goods. The drainage system does not work at all.”
Locals complain that the same scene repeats itself every monsoon due to the lack of adequate water drainage system for a long time. Although the road repair work started a few months ago, it is in a half-finished state.
Pedestrians believe that such a situation has arisen due to the negligence and lack of planning of the authorities. Thousands of students move in front of Dhaka College every day. In this situation, not only traffic jams but also the risk of accidents is increasing.
Officials of Dhaka South City Corporation said that work on the new drainage project is ongoing and a permanent solution will be taken after the monsoon. However, locals claim that it is not possible to get rid of this misery unless at least temporary water drainage is arranged immediately.