What should have been a routine journey home for hundreds of international passengers arriving in Dhaka on Sunday turned into hours of uncertainty as heavy monsoon rain flooded major roads across the capital, disrupting transport from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Returning from Nepal after attending the International Climate Camp 2026 in Kathmandu, this correspondent experienced firsthand how the journey from the airport to Dhanmondi was slowed by flooded roads, stalled vehicles and severe traffic congestion.
The experience reflected the challenges faced by hundreds of passengers arriving in Dhaka, many of whom remained stranded at the airport for hours as ride-sharing services became unavailable and vehicles struggled to navigate submerged roads.
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Kathmandu landed about 20 minutes behind schedule because of adverse weather over Dhaka. Heavy rain also slowed baggage handling, extending passengers' waiting time inside the terminal.
Airport sources said the deteriorating weather affected flight operations throughout the morning. Several flights were delayed, while others were diverted because of poor landing conditions.
After collecting luggage, this correspondent attempted to book rides through Uber and Pathao. Despite repeated requests over nearly 1.5 hours, no driver accepted the trip.
Outside the airport, hundreds of passengers carrying luggage waited under canopies and sheltered areas for transport.
Floodwater had already inundated roads around the airport, Uttara and Banani. Vehicles entering and exiting the Elevated Expressway moved slowly as traffic stretched for kilometers.
Many ride-sharing drivers canceled trips after becoming trapped in floodwater or fearing damage to their vehicles.
Among those waiting was Bangladeshi expatriate Kalam Hossain, who had returned from Saudi Arabia.
He said: "I waited so long to return home, but now I don't even know if I can reach my family today. If just a few hours of rain can create this situation, it raises serious questions about the city's preparedness."
Several passengers arriving from Kathmandu expressed similar concerns, saying the country's principal international gateway should have more resilient transport arrangements during adverse weather.
After a lengthy wait, this correspondent hired a CNG auto-rickshaw.
The journey toward Dhanmondi revealed the scale of the disruption.
Roads across Uttara were submerged under knee-deep water in several areas. Around the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) regional headquarters and nearby residential neighborhoods, traffic had nearly come to a standstill.
Private cars, buses and motorcycles struggled through floodwater, while many vehicles became stranded after their engines stalled.
Local resident Norin said: "I have lived in Uttara for years but never witnessed flooding like this. The roads beside my office were under knee-deep water, and the water remained until around 4:30pm."
Similar conditions were visible in Banani, Mohakhali, Kachukhet, Farmgate and Khamarbari.
Standing water covered large sections of major roads, while submerged footpaths forced pedestrians onto busy carriageways.
Near Jahangir Gate, waterlogging remained visible until late afternoon despite the rain easing.
For transport workers, the flooding caused both operational disruption and financial losses.
CNG driver Kawsar said clogged drainage systems were largely responsible for the situation.
He said: "The drains are blocked with garbage, so the water has nowhere to go. I drove very slowly in first gear, but water still entered through the exhaust pipe and stopped my engine. I've lost my entire day's income."
Another driver said: "Every trip becomes a risk. If the engine fails, the day's earnings disappear, and repair costs follow. We don't know how long we can continue like this."
Throughout the journey, several vehicles were seen stalled in floodwater as drivers pushed them to higher ground after their engines stopped working.
The flooding extended beyond the airport corridor.
Roads in Khilgaon, Mugda, Motijheel, Malibagh, Sabujbagh, Goran, Maniknagar and Mouchak remained under water for hours.
Residents blamed blocked drains and poor maintenance for preventing rainwater from draining away.
Roufa Khanum, assistant director (Operations) at the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) at BRAC University, said Dhaka's recurring flooding reflects the combined impacts of climate change and inadequate urban planning.
She said: "Dhaka's waterlogging can no longer be viewed simply as a drainage issue. Climate change is increasing the frequency of short-duration, high-intensity rainfall. The city now requires climate-resilient urban planning, integrated stormwater drainage systems, wetland conservation and effective solid waste management to reduce future risks."
She added that unless climate adaptation becomes central to urban development policies, similar disruptions would become more frequent and increasingly costly.
Just hours before arriving in Dhaka, this correspondent had attended discussions in Kathmandu on building climate-resilient cities capable of withstanding increasingly extreme weather.
Within hours of heavy rainfall, Dhaka experienced widespread transport disruption, stranded passengers, flooded roads and overwhelmed drainage systems.
For international travelers, the journey from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is often their first impression of Bangladesh.
On Sunday, that first impression was of a city struggling to cope with weather events that climate scientists say are becoming more frequent and more intense.