A road collapse in Dhanmondi and a land subsidence incident in Mohammadpur have raised concerns over the safety of Dhaka’s aging infrastructure, with experts warning that climate change, poor maintenance, groundwater depletion and weak construction oversight are increasing the city’s vulnerability to ground failures.
The incidents, which occurred amid heavy monsoon rainfall, have prompted renewed calls for urgent inspections of underground utility networks, drainage systems and construction practices across the capital.
Urban planners and engineers say the events may indicate deeper structural weaknesses beneath Dhaka’s densely built-up areas.
Road cave-in in Dhanmondi
A section of Road No. 9 in Dhanmondi caved in following several days of heavy rainfall, creating a large cavity and forcing authorities to restrict traffic movement in the area.
The collapse occurred near Plot No. 14 behind Kalabagan Field, close to the intersection leading towards Dhanmondi 8 Bridge.
Although authorities have not officially described the incident as a sinkhole, residents expressed concern over possible underground voids and broader infrastructure failures in the neighbourhood.
A sinkhole is generally understood as a ground depression formed when surface layers collapse into underground cavities, often caused by soil erosion due to leaking pipes, damaged sewerage systems, faulty drainage or prolonged subsurface water flow.
Experts say sinkhole-like incidents in urban areas are more often linked to human factors than natural geological processes, including ageing utility lines, water leakage, inadequate drainage and poor maintenance.
Sk Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan, vice-president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), said the incident reflects growing stress on urban infrastructure under changing climate conditions.
“As climate change intensifies, pressure on urban infrastructure is increasing rapidly. However, many roads and public facilities are still not being planned, designed or maintained in line with these realities,” he said.
He added that gaps in long-term maintenance are worsening the risks.
“Contractors often complete projects and leave, but quality assurance and maintenance over time remain neglected. As a result, risks accumulate and eventually manifest as structural failures,” he said.
Urban planners warned that the visible cavity may represent only a portion of the underground damage.
Without detailed geotechnical investigation, they said, it is difficult to determine the extent of soil erosion or the condition of buried utility networks.
They cautioned that failure to assess the area promptly could lead to further collapses, disruption of utility lines and risks to nearby buildings.
Experts have called for the use of subsurface scanning technologies to determine whether additional voids exist beneath the roadway.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) officials could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.
No official explanation has been provided regarding the cause of the collapse, the extent of damage or the timeline for repairs.
Mohammadpur subsidence
In a separate incident, a section of land at Mohammadia Housing Society in Mohammadpur’s Road No. 5 subsided during ongoing construction work, swallowing a roadside grocery shop and piling structures of an under-construction building nearly 40 feet below ground level.
The collapse is believed to have been triggered after heavy rainfall accumulated around a deep excavation site.
The incident has also raised concerns over the structural stability of nearby buildings.
A visit to the site found a large water-filled crater, with workers attempting emergency stabilisation using sandbags. Construction machinery remained in operation while the area was cordoned off with temporary tin fencing bearing the name of Amin Mohammad Foundation.
Residents of nearby buildings described growing anxiety over potential structural risks, with some already relocating family members.
“We are living in fear because of the possibility of building collapse,” said Ekramul Islam, a resident of House No. 24.
“I have already sent my wife and children to a relative’s house,” he said, urging authorities to ensure safety measures.
Matin, the owner of the affected grocery shop, said he lost his business within moments.
“Construction work was underway next door. Due to heavy rainfall at night, water accumulated and softened the soil, causing the piling and shop to collapse,” he said.
“I could not remove my goods. My livelihood has come to a halt. I demand compensation.”
Another nearby business owner, Md Moslem Uddin, blamed negligence during construction work.
“I heard a loud noise and came out to see the piling structure and a grocery shop had sunk nearly 40 feet underground,” he said.
Construction worker Lolita said workers arrived in the morning to find parts of the completed structure had disappeared beneath the ground.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Chief Engineer Brig Gen Syed Rakibul Hasan said a cavity formed during piling work for a building owned by the Amin Mohammad Group, leading to the subsidence and tilting of a nearby structure.
He said city corporation engineers inspected the site immediately and that steps had been taken to penalise the developer.
A notice will also be issued directing the company to take corrective measures and repair the damage.
Officials said monitoring of the area is ongoing.
