Several initiatives and projects have been undertaken in the past to resolve waterlogging in Dhaka, the capital city. Huge sums of public money have been spent for this purpose. Yet, these projects have not proven effective. The biggest evidence of this failure is that even after just a few hours of heavy rainfall—whether in the monsoon season or at other times—waterlogging occurs. The reality is, with every downpour, city dwellers are forced to endure extreme suffering. This past Monday too, residents of Dhaka were battered by waterlogging following heavy rain. Throughout Sunday night, intermittent showers fell, and on Monday morning, the rain poured relentlessly. Between 5:45 am and 7 am, a spell of torrential rain submerged most of Dhaka’s roads. Many streets of the capital went under water.

In truth, when the water level of nearby canals and rivers rises almost to the same level as the rainwater, it takes longer for the accumulated water to drain. As a result, rainfall leaves many areas flooded, submerging roads. Potholes and large craters on streets fill with water, worsening the suffering of city dwellers. Water enters engines of many vehicles, leaving them stalled. Consequently, traffic slows down and severe gridlocks form on most roads. People face immense hardship due to both waterlogging and traffic congestion. Students and office-goers, in particular, suffer the most. Finding transport to reach their destinations becomes difficult. Even when rickshaws or other vehicles are available, fares are charged at three to four times the regular rate.

One of the key government measures to combat waterlogging in Dhaka was to transfer the responsibility of maintaining the city’s drainage system and canals from Dhaka WASA to the two city corporations. On December 31, 2020, Dhaka WASA handed over ownership and maintenance responsibility of 26 canals and one water body to Dhaka North and South City Corporations. Essentially, after the Presidential Order of 1988, the drainage system and canals that had been under WASA’s authority were brought under the city corporations. The aim was to restore the canals and reduce waterlogging. In reality, however, many of Dhaka’s canals could not be reclaimed.

According to government statistics, Dhaka once had 32 canals. These canals helped rainwater drain quickly from the city. But due to unplanned development, most of these canals have been filled up. As a result, rainwater can no longer flow easily into the surrounding rivers. This has turned waterlogging into a grim inevitability for the capital. Moreover, the drainage system is inadequate compared to the city’s population, creating further barriers to water discharge.

For a permanent solution to Dhaka’s waterlogging problem, the canals shown in the original city plan must be reclaimed. At the same time, the drainage system must be modernized to match the growing population. Only then can the residents of Dhaka find relief from the recurring nightmare of waterlogging.