If anyone visits the surrounding areas of the capital now, they might wonder how could they not know there was a city that is built on water.
From Amin Bazar to Ashulia, from Demra to Shonir Akhra, most of the low lying areas around the capital, it is water everywhere as the places have been flooded because of the heavy rain and overflow of the four Dhaka rivers in the past few weeks.
Roads, homesteads, fields and open spaces in these areas are submerged under around 10 feet of flood water.
Sources at the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB) say the areas were flooded as the four rivers surrounding the capital – Balu, Turag, Shitalakkhya and Buriganga – were overflowing.
According to their estimate, around 2.5 lakh people are marooned in flood water in Nasirabad, Amulia, Madartek, Kodomtola, east Basabo, Demra, Matuail, Shonir Akhra, Amin Bazar and a few other areas.
“The scenario is not new in the low lying areas around the capital. Every year these areas get flooded due to heavy rainfall and overflowing river water,” WDB Executive Engineer Md Ruhul Amin told the Dhaka Tribune.
People of these areas are also used to such sufferings. Most houses in Nasirabad union were seen built on pillars about 10 feet high.
Boats have become the only mode of transport in these areas.
Ibrahim Sarkar, 65, a resident of Shekher Jaiga in Nasirabad, said: “It has become very difficult to continue our regular work because of the flood. Our movement has become limited.”
Ibrahim fears the flood this year might worsen and get big like in the past.
A road in the area has subsided at three points due to heavy rain on Monday. The 100 feet wide Demra-Amulia-Shekher Jaiga-Rampura road, which is under construction, was also damaged at Nagdarpar point due to river bank erosion.
Sakhawat Hossain, project implementation officer of the Department of Disaster Management, said local lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury was consulted regarding the damaged road in Shekher Jaiga, adding that reformation of the road would start today.
Meanwhile, several roads and open spaces in Matuail, Shonir Akhra, Mogholpara, Rosulpur, Dholeshwar, Adorshopara, Sarulia, West Sarulia, Dogair, Deillah, Munsibagh, Baghmara, Boxonagar, Sarulia Bahir Tengra, Kandapara, Mridhabari, Manda, Basabo, Madartek, Kodomtoli and other low lying areas surrounding Dhaka have gone under water.
At the same time, several houses, educational institutions and healthcare centres were marooned. The flood water is also responsible for various water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and skin diseases, which may break out any time.
Shahara Banu, 60, a resident of Shekher Jaiga, said: “Locals tried to protect the road, but they failed because of the heavy current of the flood.”
When contacted, one of the local members of Nasirabad union parishad said the union gets flooded during every rainy season. He expressed concerns that the flow this year was higher than last few years.
Meanwhile, residents of the flooded areas have been facing water-logging due to a lack of adequate drainage system.
WDB Executive Engineer Md Ruhul Amin said the water would start receding by the end of September.
Answering a question, he said: “We are yet to get any information regarding major flood problems in the capital. If any major problem is reported, immediate measures will be taken.”
Pointing out Padma bank erosion in Munshiganj, the WDB official said they were trying to prevent it.
