Many parts of the capital city were under water until Saturday afternoon due to heavy rains in the morning, causing immense suffering to city residents, businesses, and commuters.
The downpour has also exposed the poor drainage system in Dhaka as city dwellers experienced water stagnation in many areas before the monsoon.
The rains, coupled with gusty wind, started at about 6:00am and continued till 8:00am in Dhaka, according聽 to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The BMD recorded 87mm of rainfall in two hours starting at 6:00am, said meteorologist Shaheenul Islam.
The lives of thousands of residents were disrupted in many parts of Mauchak, Baridhara, Shewrapara, Bhashantek, Dhanmondi, Newmarket, Naya Paltan, Tejgaon, and Malibagh that remained inundated in waist-deep water.
Many low-lying areas in the capital went under rainwater, causing immense suffering to its residents from morning to afternoon.
The business entities, houses, roads and markets in low-lying areas of the city, including Dhanmondi Hawkers Market, were also inundated.
The water stagnation after the rains triggered huge traffic congestion and gridlocks as many vehicles, especially CNG-run autorickshaws and cars, were stuck on roads that, in some places, could not be cleared until 1:00pm.
Many people were found walking in knee-to-waist high water due to the situation amid traffic congestion and a shortage of transport, said an official of a private company who came from Mirpur-10 to Karwan Bazar.
He also said, 鈥楾he rain caused water stagnation on roads and lanes in Mirpur area as office-going people suffered immensely in the morning. I am also late for office due to it.鈥�
As it was a weekend, there were fewer people and traffic on roads compared to a working day, but those who had to go out from home for work or for other needs suffered.
During the holiday, however, many schools were kept open to recover learning losses caused by the closure due to a heat wave across the country past month.
The school students and office-goers faced difficulties reaching their destinations due to a lack of transport in the morning.
Many people were seen wading through ankle-deep water in these areas to reach their destinations.
People risked falling into manholes without lids as they waded through waist-deep water, while many were seen draining water from their cars.
Even though the monsoon season has not yet started this year, water has accumulated on many roads in just two hours of rain exposing the poor drainage system of the capital.
Dhaka south city ward 21 councillor Mohammad Asaduzzman said that the city corporation alone could not solve water stagnation problem in the capital.
He added that there must be awareness among the city dwellers.
Apart from this, there is also a need for coordination among the government organisations to mitigate the water stagnation problem.
Dhaka north city mayor Atiqul Islam said that they formed ten quick response teams in 10 regions to resolve water stagnation in the DNCC.
Talking to journalists after inaugurating a weeklong 鈥榃aste Exhibition鈥� at DNCC Nagar Bhaban, Atiqul also said on Saturday that water stagnation was being created only due to accumulation of dirt in drains.
Strict action will be taken if anyone throws waste in canals and drains, he said, urging the city residents to contact the hotline 16106 if there is water stagnation anywhere.