New Chittagong mayor takes over submerged city
Ending the chronic problem of waterlogging in Chittagong city has been a major electoral pledge of the mayors affiliated with both the Awami League and the BNP but it was never delivered.
And yet another mayor, who made the same promise, is going to take charge today, with his city flooded knee to waist deep after heavy rains. Will he deliver?
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Before being elected to the office of mayor in the April 28 vote, AL leader AJM Nasir Uddin vowed to end the problem once and for all through short-, mid-, and long-term plans.
The city residents would see whether the start of his five year journey bodes well.
The city was again in the grip of crippling waterlogging as the Met Office recorded 250.8 millimetres of rainfall in the last 24 hours till 12:00noon yesterday.
Arman Hossain, duty assistant of Patenga Met Office, said rains might continue for the next 24 hours, adding that Chittagong Port was advised to hoist the cautionary signal number 3.
Although Nasir did not take the formal charge, he gave instructions to Chittagong City Corporation officials to address waterlogging after taking oath on May 6.
CCC officials claimed that they took many initiatives before the monsoon to reduce waterlogging but the city dwellers were yet to see the results.
Sudip Basak, assistant engineer (mechanical) of CCC, said that at the new mayor's directives, they had started dredging 12 canals in the last three months, which was still going on.
"We have engaged 10,000 workers to keep the service drains clean," he said.
When asked why there was still waterlogging, the official said it was because of torrential rains but said the water did not stay long.
"Now water recedes fast due to our initiatives," he claimed.
He said the CCC was going to excavate a 5km new canal from Bahaddarhat to Chaktai soon.
"Waterlogging will be reduced to a great extent once the Tk 329 crore project is completed."
PUBLIC SUFFERINGS
Meanwhile, heavy rains brought immense sufferings to the hapless city dwellers.
People were seen wading through filthy water or waiting for a long time trying to catch a ride.
Rupa Chowdhury, a student of class IX, waded through the water to reach her coaching centre in time. She said, "I didn't get a rickshaw despite waiting for one and a half hours."
The same happened to Abdur Razzak, a private job holder, who was seen waiting for a three-wheeler to go to his workplace at Agrabad.
Waterlogging particularly affected the low-income people who live from hand to mouth.
A tea stall owner at Probortok Intersection, Md Basir said his sales dropped significantly.
"Normally daily sales average Tk 1,000 but today my sale is only Tk 200 till 12:00noon," he said.
RICKSHAW FARE JUMPS
As the city remained under water, rickshaw-pullers charged "exorbitant" fares, alleged passengers.
However, rickshaw-pullers said it was hard to drive on the waterlogged roads, so they charged a little extra.
Passengers said sometimes the fare jumped fourfold to fivefold.
Roksana Akter, a master's student of Chittagong College, said while waterlogging caused sufferings to people it become a blessing for rickshaw-pullers.
The usual fare for a rickshaw ride from Munshipuker Par to Chawkbazar is Tk 15-20, she said, adding, "I had to pay Tk 40 for the same ride today."
Rickshaw-puller Md Anwar said he earned Tk 600 by 11:00am while his daily income stood at Tk 400 to Tk 500 on average.
But it is very difficult to drive on the waterlogged street, added rickshaw-puller Tyeb Ali.
Contacted, Mohammad Siddique Mia, president of Chittagong City Paddle-run Rickshaw Malik Parishad, said the drivers were always asked not to overcharge.
He said he would discuss the matter.
The areas flooded were Bakalia, Shulak Bahar, Kapasgola, Muradpur, Bahaddarhat, Airport Road, Halishahar, Sholoshahar, Gate No 2, Masterpool, Dewan Bazar, DC Road, KB Aman Ali Road, Bibirhat, Katalganj, Bepari Para, Muhuri Para, Aturar Depot, CDA Residential Area, Panchlaish Residential Area, and Bow Bazar.
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