Just west of Jurain Railgate, the trappings of the capital begin to disappear.
Beneath and around the elevated expressway connecting Mayor Hanif Flyover towards Padma Bridge lies a densely populated neighbourhood where residents say a decade of neglect has left them battling broken roads, stagnant sewage-mixed water, unreliable gas and electricity, unsafe water supplies and an escalating mosquito menace.
Locals now describe Jurain as an “island of suffering” inside Dhaka -- and, frustrated by years of complaints and promises, say they are preparing a larger movement demanding basic civic services.
The contrast is stark.
Jurain is part of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), yet residents say some roads have remained virtually impassable for years and even modest rainfall can leave neighbourhoods inundated for weeks.
From Jurain Junction towards Mishtir Mor, one road south of the Bikrampur Complex has remained impassable for years, according to residents. When rain comes, accumulated water spreads into surrounding areas.
“Then it seems that we are living in hell even though we are residents of the capital,” resident Bulbul Ahmed said, describing floodwater entering homes.
Farhana Islam voiced the same frustration.
“Are we residents of the capital?” she asked.
“Only waterlogging, no gas, no electricity, mosquitoes; all in all it seems as if we people of Jurain are from another planet.”
She alleged politicians arrive with promises during elections but disappear afterwards.
Water stays for weeks
Residents said Jurain Railgate, Commissioner Road and areas around Vikrampur Plaza can go under waist-deep water during rain.
They blame clogged drains and a dysfunctional drainage network.
The stagnant water can remain for weeks, producing a foul smell and flooding ground-floor homes and shops.
Some roads, including Madrasa Road and Medical Road, remain under dark, foul-smelling water for extended periods, residents alleged.
Road conditions compound the danger.
Broken surfaces and large potholes disappear beneath accumulated water, causing rickshaws and autorickshaws to overturn, according to observations in the area.
Even clean water has become a concern.
Residents alleged that water supplied in parts of Jurain is dirty and foul-smelling, with leakage allowing drain water to contaminate pipelines.
They said repeated protests, including human chains demanding safe water, have failed to bring lasting improvement.
Gas shortages add another layer of hardship.
Residents said supply can disappear in the morning and return only late at night, forcing households to rely on LPG cylinders or kerosene despite continuing to pay gas bills.
Waterlogging fuels dengue fears
Persistent stagnant water and poor waste management have also heightened concern over dengue.
A pre-monsoon Aedes survey identified 27 DSCC wards as being at “extreme risk”, including Ward 53 in Jurain.
Aedes density exceeded the established threshold in 63 of DSCC’s 75 wards.
DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam said the government was making every effort to contain dengue and pointed to a three-month special campaign aimed at mosquito control and public awareness.
‘Now we must take to the streets’
But residents say their patience is running out.
On September 4, residents of Shyampur-Kadamtali staged a protest and torch procession at the railgate under the slogan “No Gas, No Bill”, and organisers say preparations are underway for a broader movement.
“We’ve worn out the soles of our shoes going around pleading with officials,” local campaigner Mizanur Rahman said, alleging residents had spent nearly a decade seeking solutions.
Another resident, Ashraf Hossain, said people pay city corporation taxes but still lack basic amenities and are preparing to take to the streets until their demands are addressed.
Asked about the complaints, Salam said no one had approached DSCC with them.
On drainage, however, he acknowledged that the problem extended beyond Jurain.
“It is not just Jurain; the drainage systems in many parts of Dhaka are in poor condition,” he said. “Initiatives have been taken to address these issues, but it will take time.”
