Incessant rain from Tuesday night until yesterday evening put in trouble the city dwellers and the homebound travellers just two days before Eid-ul-Fitr.
Most of areas of the capital went under knee-deep water due to the continuous heavy rainfall, which started as a shower in the early hours yesterday.
Some of the busiest markets like New Market, Dhanmondi Hawkers Market, Gausia, Noor Mansion and other markets were also flooded. A large number of Eid shoppers were stuck as many of the shops were closed.
However, some customers braved the deep-knee dirty water at the flooded markets and tried to finish their shopping.
Nadia Sultana, a customer at New Market, said: “I came from Azimpur through the watter-logged streets amidst heavy rain. But the Eid shopping for my children was a troublesome affair as the markets were flooded. I will have to come back again.”
Monju Miah, a shopkeeper of Dhanmondi Hawkers Market said due to the rain and heavy water-logging the number of customers were less than any other day.
Besides, many of the roads in front of the popular markets and shopping malls in Mouchak, Malibagh, Shantinagar, Elephant road, Panthapath were also water-logged.
The heavy rain and water-logging also caused severe traffic gridlocks at different city roads including Panthapath, Elephant Road, Karwanbazar, Shahbagh, Mirpur 1, Mirpur 10, Moghbazar, Shantinagar, Sayedabad, Jatrabari and other areas.
Shameem Ahmed, a resident of Kathalbagan, said it took him more than an hour and a half to reach New Market in the morning.
Our Gazipur correspondent has informed that due to the heavy rain from Tuesday night several parts of the Dhaka-Tongi-Chourasta-Mymensingh Highway was flooded, causing extreme suffering to the people going home for Eid.
Road works near Meghna Bridge and blocking of Gomti Bridge due to breakdown of a truck further aggravated the traffic problem in various parts of the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway since last night, informed our Narayanganj correspondent.
Thursday is the last working day before the Eid-ul-Fitr vacation commences on Friday. Therefore, most people have taken leave on Thursday and left Dhaka on Wednesday as it is a holiday because of Shab-e-Qadr.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the recorded rainfall in Dhaka and its neighbouring areas was 20mm, while it was 13mm on average across the country. It may rise in the next 72 hours, the met office informed.
