Every year, monsoon showers invariably turn stretches of Dhaka into shallow, stubborn lakes.

The severe waterlogging crisis in Chattogram stems from unplanned urbanisation and hill-cutting, demanding urgent nature-based drainage solutions.

Dhaka has been developed in an unplanned manner for decades; canals and ponds have been filled up, and concrete has been laid down in water retention areas.

As heavy monsoon rains once again leave large parts of Bangladesh underwater, the familiar scenes of waterlogging have left many wondering why our cities continue to fail despite massive investments in drainage infrastructure.

Commuters waded through chest-deep stretches as buses and other vehicles stalled along the route

Traders seek compensation, blame poor drainage

Despite having spent hundreds of crores on a flood mitigation project, one must wonder why the city of Khulna continues to suffer from waterlogging every monsoon.

To figure out why Chattogram gets flooded every year, you have to understand the unique nature of this city. It is not flat. It is not far from the sea. And its rivers are not like any other rivers.

Unplanned infrastructure in Bangladesh’s Haor region causes severe ecological damage, demanding sustainable floodplain management over destructive roads.

Dhaka’s two city corporations have identified 141 locations vulnerable to waterlogging ahead of the upcoming monsoon and said they are taking measures to reduce the risk.

Prolonged waterlogging in the Bhabadah region has left over 25,000 farmers unable to cultivate Boro this season, deepening food insecurity and financial distress across parts of Jashore and Khulna.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has identified 33 waterlogging hotspots within the areas under its jurisdiction and launched a month-long special cleaning drive to mitigate waterlogging ahead of the monsoon.

Two major wetlands in Phulpur municipality of Mymensingh have remained waterlogged almost year-round due to unplanned fish farming and the absence of a proper drainage system, leaving once-fertile three-crop lands uncultivable and causing years of losses for hundreds of farmers.

There have been 88 millimetres of rain in the region in the past three days

On the way to Ranjit Kumar Bawali’s home in Dumurtola village of Jashore’s Bhabadah, a young boy giving directions pointed towards a slim bridge made of bamboo.

Every year, Chattogram sinks following rain, which washes away the tall claims of monsoon preparedness by the city corporation and Chattogram Development Authority.

If one visits Government Teachers’ Training College in Chawk Bazar area, they will notice a field inundated by water, entrances and ground floors of male and female hostels submerged, and hyacinths growing everywhere on the waterlogged premises.

Authorities must implement climate-resilient policies

End the blame game and address the port city's chronic waterlogging problem

Unloading of goods from larger vessels at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port remains suspended due to rough seas since Friday, while trade at the Khatunganj-Chaktai wholesale hub has dropped significantly.