Incessant rain that began on Wednesday evening caused immense suffering to Dhaka city dwellers due to widespread water stagnation and severe traffic congestion across most parts of the city.
The rains, triggered by active monsoon, started at around 6:30pm on Wednesday and continued through Thursday afternoon, inundating lanes in different areas, including Jurain, Green Road, Malibagh, New Market, Rajarbagh and Arambagh.
City dwellers, especially office employees returning home, were stuck on the roads for hours, even until the wee hour on Thursday, as water stagnation from the rain caused several vehicles to become out of order and created massive traffic jams.
The suffering continued throughout Thursday afternoon due to the traffic jam in most parts of the city, including Basundhara 300 Feet, Airport Road, and the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Narayanganj, as well as water stagnation in areas like New Market, Jurain,聽 Rajarbagh and Arambagh.聽
鈥楢t least a six-kilometer traffic tailback formed on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Narayanganj, starting from 5:00am on Thursday and lasting for more than six hours. The congestion was caused by several vehicles becoming dysfunctional at various points due to the rain,鈥� said Kanchpur Highway Police Station officer-in-charge, Kazi Wahed Morshed.
Shahanaz Sultana, a meteorologist at the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, said that Dhaka city experienced 44 millimetres of rainfall in the 24 hours till 6:00am on Thursday, with an additional 9mm of rainfall recorded by 12:00noon.聽
She added that the rain is likely to continue until Friday evening.
Office goers and students faced significant difficulties both in the morning and afternoon, with many struggling to reach their destinations due to a shortage of transportation and high fares.
鈥業 had to stand on the road in the rain for an hour because of the lack of transportation and high transport fare,鈥� said Archi Haque, a private job holder.
Businesses on open spaces and pavements were also badly affected throughout the day amid the inclement weather.
Roadside vendor Masum said that his ripe banana worth of Tk聽2,000 was damaged due to the rain.聽聽
According to the BMD forecast uploaded on its website, monsoon is active over Bangladesh and strong over North Bay and a low pressure area is likely to form over Bangladesh and adjoining North Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours, starting from 9:00am.
Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at many places over Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over the country on Friday, it added.
The BMD issued signal number three for four maritime ports due to rough weather.