United News of Bangladesh

Though long accustomed to monsoon floods, Dhaka has in recent years experienced unprecedented waterlogging that persists for weeks, even after moderate rainfall. A growing number of studies blame clogged drains from polythene bags and the loss of natural canals due to encroachment as major reasons for the prolonged waterlogging in the city. A study led by Sarwar Uddin Ahmed and Keinosuke Gotoh, affiliated with Nagasaki University’s Faculty of Engineering and Graduate School of Science and Technology, respectively, has delved into the environmental dynamics of Dhaka’s waterlogging problem. Their research, combining Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) surveys and satellite remote sensing, highlights the complex interplay between human behaviour, urban development and environmental degradation in exacerbating flood risks. Polythene Bags: Small Culprits, Big Impact For decades, Dhaka’s drainage system has struggled to cope with the city’s rapid urbanisation and monsoon rains. But the surge in polythene bag usage has proved to be an especially pernicious problem. These lightweight, durable plastic bags are frequently discarded in the streets, blocking drains and water channels. Comfort in the rain, discomfort in the streets As Ahmed and Gotoh point out, polythene bags have jammed the drainage infrastructure, preventing free water flow and causing water to stagnate. “Waterlogging is no longer just a result of heavy rainfall. Even moderate showers can lead to floods bcause the city’s drainage is clogged by plastic waste, particularly polythene bags,” Ahmed explained.

Torrential monsoon rain swamped many parts of the capital on Monday,  disrupting public movement and triggering a traffic chaos. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, 12mm of rain was recorded in the last 24 hours in Dhaka until 6am Monday. Read: Bottle-shape wastebin to symbolise fight against plastic pollution and waterlogging Besides, 3 mm rain was recorded from 6 am till 3 pm on Monday afternoon. As usual, this was enough to shatter the tall claims of monsoon preparedness made by the city's municipal corporations, as several areas faced waterlogging problems.  The sorry state of Mirpur,Rampura and Badda remained the same as they were the hardest hit areas of waterlogging and  people of those  areas were seen  wading through ankle-deep water to reach their destination showers relented. The other affected areas are Sewrapara, Kazipara part of Begum Rokeya Sarani, Agargaon crossing, Bijoy Sarani crossing, Kalabagan, Farmgate , Shegunbagicha, Bijoy Nagari, Motsho Bhaban , Green Road and Fakirapool areas have also been inundated, reported our correspondents. Read: Heavy rains batter Khulna, cause sufferings A number of vehicles remained stranded at different city streets due to waterlogging since morning. Bangladesh Meteorological Department couldn’t provide any relieving information as they predicted the rainfall to continue across the country including Dhaka. According to the Met Office website, light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions and at many places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places over the southern part of the country.