After weeks of sizzling heat and humid condition, much-awaited monsoon rains brought relief to people in the capital on Wednesday. The capital witnessed moderate showers from 11am  which continued to drench the city for several hours. Met office recorded 12 mm of rainfall in the capital from 12 noon. Some office goers suffered while going to their work places in the morning.

The residents of Sylhet city woke up to waterlogged streets on Sunday morning after one hour monsoon showers. On Saturday, a heavy bout of rainfall brought much-awaited relief in the district after a week of a heatwave that scorched parts of the country. The rains started around 11 pm and it continued for one hour.

LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam has said Dhaka dwellers can expect to face less waterlogging during the rainy season this year due to the re-excavation of the city’s canals. He said Dhaka North, South and Chattogram City Corporations’ biggest problem is waterlogging. “We have taken initiative to hand over all the canals in Dhaka to the City Corporation to alleviate the waterlogging. We think we are now enjoying some of the benefits of handing over the canal,” he added. Tejgaon, Shantinagar and many other areas of the city used to go under water during monsoon. The minister was speaking at the 3rd Inter-Ministerial Meeting on prevention of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases in Dhaka and Chattogram at the Secretariat on Sunday. Asked how many canals have been recovered so far, the minister said, "We have handed over a total of 26 canals to the city corporations." He said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has evicted illegal occupants over six and a half acres of land while Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) recovered 25 acres. “These works are in progress.” Regarding the devastating flood in Sylhet, Tajul said, “We are always prepared for combating disasters.” Read: Flood: Waters start receding in hard hit north-east districts A committee has been formed from the LGRD ministry, convened by Joint Secretary Jasim Uddin, to deal with the floods. The committee will be in charge till next June 30. The duration will be extended if needed, he said. Areas like Sylhet, Sunamganj, Jamalpur, Netrokona generally get inundated due to excessive rains as well as onrush of water from the upstream, Tajul added. No organisation has given a forecast of how devastating the floods will be, except a warning, he said. If the onrush of water from the upstream keeps flowing at this dangerous level due to the continuous rains, it may flood here in Dhaka too, he added. “But we have to be prepared for any unfavorable situation and we are ready for all situations,” Tajul said. Meanwhile, in response to a question on dengue menace, he said, "Both city mayors have made all our preparations to tackle dengue. They have adequate stocks of pesticides, medicines, and equipment they need.”

Incessant rainfall for the last three days caused waterlogging in low-lying areas of Chattogram port city. Some people were seen wading through knee to waist-deep water to reach their destinations in the morning due to lack of transport. Office-goers and others had to pay extra fares to reach their workplaces. Also read: Heavy downpour floods Chattogram city; 4 killed in landslides Many areas including Bakolia, Agrabad, Muradpur, No 2 Gate, Bohoddar Hat were submerged by rainwater, triggering traffic jam in different parts of the city.

With monsoon coming Dhaka dwellers brace for the same old problem: waterlogging.  No effective measure has been taken yet for a comprehensive solution to the long-standing hazard of the mega city. Experts said a coordinated master plan involving all relevant agencies should have been taken to drain out rainwater from the city roads.   Also read: Recovered city canals will end waterlogging and add beauty: LGRD Minister The two city corporations claimed that waterlogging will be less this year  as drain, box culvert construction and canal dredging activities are going on for smooth drainage of stagnant rainwater. Talking to UNB some city dwellers voiced their worry over the waterlogging problem in the upcoming monsoon.

For over four years about 300 families have remained waterlogged in their own village due to dumping of sand extracted from Padma River. The affected people at Aijuddin Matabbar Dagi village in Dicrirchar union on the outskirts of Faridpur town blame their miseries on some sand traders who dump their extracted sand blocking trapping rain and river water in their croplands. On a recent visit to the area the UNB correspondent found that the problem was caused first by the water that comes along with the newly-mined sand. Over the years it got worse because of rain and flood waters, according to villagers. READ: Chronic waterlogging adds to Bhabdaha's pain in winter Many have erected small bamboo bridges to come out from their homes due to the stagnant water. Local people alleged that there is no drainage system here as lands were occupied by the influential people and the local administration did not take any steps despite repeated complaints made to the local UP member and chairman.

LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam on Tuesday said all canals in Dhaka city will be freed from illegal encroachment to help ease waterlogging and enhance its beauty. “If we can free the canals from illegal encroachment, it will help ease waterlogging problems in the city,” he told reporters after inspecting the eviction of the illegal establishments at Ramchandrapur canal in the Basila area of Mohammadpur. He said those who invested huge money in illegally building these establishments occupying government land will be affected. But they should have known better, he said adding this will send a message against future illegal encroachment. Read: NCC election deemed free and fair by international community: LGRD Minister He said the government won’t tolerate any further illegal occupation of government land. The government has taken a project to launch water transports after linking canals in the city and the work to connect canals will start soon, said Tajul adding “We should bring back the heritage of Dhaka city.”

Despite the onset of the dry season after the monsoon, fifty-two villages in Bhabdaha, a region in the south-west of the country straddling Khulna-Jashore that became known for its chronic waterlogging over two generations, remain submerged. The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) have taken up irrigation projects to alleviate the waterlogging over this huge area recently. However, residents are skeptical about its success. Sorrow of Bhabdaha In 1961-62, a 21-vent sluice gate was built on the Hari River flowing through Dumuria and Fultala of Khulna district and Abhaynagar, Manirampur and Keshabpur upazilas of Jashore (then Jessore) district. Some distance away, another sluice gate of nine vents was set up. At that time, the purpose of building sluice gates in this region was to protect the croplands of around 50 beels in the Bhabdaha area from flood waters and salinisation from incoming sea water. But, only 20 years later, that sluice gate became the cause of the misery of the residents. The Hari River began to get filled up, and the sluice gates gradually became ineffective, over time coming to be known as the 'sorrow of Bhabdaha'. Anamika Biswas, a housewife from Hatagachha village, said that there is water all around her house. They keep their cattle at home. Although fish can be seen in the water around their house, they have no way to catch and eat it. However, influential people of the area are cultivating fish there in enclosures. Irrigation pumps a 'loss project' Talking to the locals, it was learned that irrigation activities are being carried out in a joint venture between BADC and BWDB to alleviate the permanent waterlogging of Bhabdaha. But despite investing lakhs of taka per month, the drainage of the irrigation pumps through the Bhabdaha sluice gate could not bring any benefits to the residents. READ: Heavy rains lead to horrific waterlogging in parts of Chattogram This initiative was implemented at the beginning of this year to grow crops in the adjoining beel areas and reduce the suffering of marooned people. However, the locals have compared this method to 'throwing stones in the sea'. Earlier, the government undertook a project in 2012 at a cost of Tk 68 crore to alleviate the waterlogging in Bhabdaha. But that project did not work. A couple of years ago, the Water Development Board submitted a project proposal at a cost of Tk 800 crore, which is currently in the Planning Commission. Besides, an allocation of Tk 43 crore has been sought for drainage of water through irrigation pumps at present. Abdullah Al Rashid, BADC's Jashore Region Supervising Engineer (Irrigation Department), said BADC provided 20 pumps of 30 hp (horsepower) to BWDB to grow crops and reduce human suffering in the region. A sub-engineer along with eight workers of BADC maintains it there round the clock. But BWDB was not aware of the leakage and did not take any action. Tauhidul Islam, executive engineer of BWDB of Jashore, said that although 20 pumps were obtained from BADC, it was less than the demand. Therefore, DPP has been submitted to the ministry for allocation of Tk 43 crore for larger pumps. "Besides, a project has been lying in the department concerned for allocation of around Tk 800 crore two years ago. That too was not approved," he added. Satya Biswas, a resident of Beel Kedaria in Bhabdaha area, said that waterlogging occurred in Bhabdaha in the 1980's. "Today, even after 40 years, this waterlogging is expanding day by day. Only the influential people are benefited through these projects as they are looting government allocations," he said. No alternative to dredging the Hari The water in the beels cannot go anywhere because the river bed has filled up with silt. As a result, the water of these beels cannot recede properly causing immense suffering to the people. In this regard, Narayan Chandra Chand, Member of Parliament for Khulna-5 (Dumuria-Fultala), that covers the region, questioned the feasibility of the irrigation project undertaken by Water Development Board and BADC. He said there is no alternative to dredging the Hari River anymore, including its tributaries, to alleviate the waterlogging of Bhabdaha. READ: Dhaka can’t take a break from waterlogging; intense rains drown many roads The water of Bhabdaha flows through Hari River to the Bhadra, Ghangrail rivers and falls into Shipsa River before merging into the sea. So the embankment of the canal in Bhabdaha has to be removed and the Hari River needs to be dredged - that is the only option left that could work, the MP insists.

For almost a year the Masjid road in Nurerchala area of Bhatara in the city has remained under filthy and stinky water causing untold sufferings to the residents living along the road. The stench from the stagnant water, a mixture of sewage and human waste, has made the living unbearable as many residents, including children are forced to wade through the submerged road for lack of rickshaws and other transports which avoid the area. Unexpected accidents often occur as the road under water is full of potholes. Read: Dhaka can’t take a break from waterlogging; intense rains drown many roads Sewage contaminates the stagnant water because of the poor drainage system resulting in greater health risk for the residents. Skin diseases caused by contaminated water area common among the inhabitants. Mosquito menace them too. This waterlogging has forced many shops and businesses in this area to be closed. However, locals said the city authorities have no concern regarding their miserable living. Read: Heavy rains lead to horrific waterlogging in parts of Chattogram A UNB photojournalist captured in his frames a part of the everyday miseries endured by the locals in the area.

Heavy monsoon rains on Sunday brought some sort of relief from heat in Dhaka but it caused widespread waterlogging in the capital as usual. As there was a low number of vehicles on the roads due to the ongoing strict lockdown, no traffic jam was there in the city because of waterlogging. The heavy showers that started around 11 am caused waterlogging in areas like Green Road, Tejkunipara, Malibagh, Manik Mia Avenue, Satmasjid Road and Dhanmondi. Those who had to come out of homes to buy essential goods or to meet other emergency causes were seen wading through ankle-to–knee deep water.