It is extremely unfortunate to see that, despite repeated warning signs of recurring flooding across the nation, a lack of precautionary measures have led to Chittagong city experiencing heavy flooding due to persistent rainfall.
The weather saw a shift on Thursday night, with continuous rainfall resulting in massive flooding and water-logging in Chittagong, even affecting Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury's residence.
While the fact that an authority figure was also subjected to the disastrous impacts of flooding, it is even more shameful that something as commonplace in Bangladesh as floods continues to be treated lightly, with no real initiatives taken to prevent it.
Water-logging also comes with its own list of hazards to not only the economy, but the social and physical well-being of all residents affected by it.
Although an annual occurrence, flooding has historically always led to the public being left with no mobility and a plethora of damage done to their homes, places of work, and the streets for days on end, not to mention the many casualties that come out of this natural disaster every year.
Moreover, with climate change altering weather patterns as we know them, it is all the more urgent to plan ahead for natural calamities -- especially if we are to focus on building a well-balanced nation that caters to the needs of its people.
The authorities would do well, at this stage, to treat this matter with a lot more urgency than we have seen in the past, and take drastic measures to prevent flooding and solve the water-logging issues across the country.
We must apply sustainable solutions to an issue that is clearly detrimental to the entire nation. Only with concerted efforts can we truly protect not only our people, but our ever-growing economy to become the nation we aim to be.
