Heavy rain since early Sunday has submerged roads and lanes across Dhaka, causing waterlogging and disrupting commuters on the first working day of the week.
Torrential rain accompanied by gusty winds began around 4am. Although the winds later subsided, rain continued intermittently with lightning.
Waterlogging was reported in several low-lying areas, including Mirpur, Uttara, Badda, Dhanmondi, Mugda, Khilgaon, Sabujbagh, Goran, Maniknagar, Taltala, Motijheel, Malibagh, Arambagh, Gulistan and Paltan.
Water levels reached knee to waist height in some areas, disrupting traffic and causing difficulties for office-goers, students, businesses and residents.
Roads in Sipahibagh, Mugda and Goran were submerged. Several shops in the Maniknagar commercial area were flooded, causing losses for business owners.
Traffic movement was also disrupted from Arambagh intersection towards Fakirapul and Kakrail, where water reached knee to waist height. In Malibagh, water overflowed from roads and footpaths and entered several shops.
The waterlogging also affected rickshaw and public transport services. Many passengers had to wait for extended periods, while some said they were charged higher-than-usual fares to reach their destinations.
Sarwar Hossain, who was travelling from Khilgaon to his office in Motijheel, said ongoing roadwork had made movement difficult even before the rain.
“The early morning rain made the condition of the roads even worse. Anyone travelling through the area for work had to face considerable hardship,” he said.
Local residents said waterlogging recurs every monsoon because of inadequate drainage, debris-filled drains and pipelines, and a lack of regular maintenance.
Abdus Salam, a government employee at the Ministry of Finance, said he encountered waterlogged roads after leaving his home in Rampura and had to wait for a bus.
He said the road from Rampura to Abul Hotel was relatively clear, but significant water had accumulated between Mouchak and Kakrail, making his journey to the office difficult.
Alamin, a Rampura resident, told Bangla Tribune that continuous rain had caused water to accumulate on the streets and enter several roadside shops.
Rafiqul Islam, deputy commissioner of the Tejgaon Traffic Division, said water had accumulated on roads in some parts of the division.
“While this is causing some difficulties for vehicular movement, there are no major traffic jams. Our traffic personnel are performing their regular duties, and so far, there have been no major problems,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) said heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms, which began at around 4am, had caused temporary waterlogging in some low-lying areas and sloping roads under its jurisdiction.
The DSCC said cleaning staff from its Waste Management Department and emergency response teams had been working since early morning to clear drainage lines and drain the accumulated water.
The city corporation apologised for the temporary inconvenience and urged residents to remain patient and cooperate while efforts were under way to restore normal conditions.
