Where waterlogging never ends

For the low-lying parts of Chittagong waterlogging is a serious problem especially during the monsoon, but in the city's Agrabad CDA Residential Area it persists almost all year round. And when it rains, things get worse there.

Local residents and the ward councillor said due to the perennial waterlogging, around 70,000 people living in the area had been suffering immensely for the last seven to eight years.

Water stays in the streets and adjoining areas for about nine months a year due to regular tidal surges, said Salamat Ali, 53, a tea shop owner.

During the monsoon, the volume of water increases flooding houses, shops, and educational institutions in the residential neighbourhood, he said.

Most of the time, large pools of water are seen here and there, but when it rains water enters houses making the residents' daily lives miserable. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

"I never saw this before. It has been happening for the last seven to eight years," he added.

"In the past, there were huge open spaces in the area and tidal water would move away soon."

During high tides, water enters the city through Maheshkhal, flowing from the Karnaphuli River.

Since the start of the recent spell of downpours, the residential area took this look. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

Ali said, "The rise of residential buildings and other structures and a lack of proper maintenance of the adjacent Maheshkhal and drains are among the reasons behind the present situation." 

Safia Akter, a class II student of Sulatn Al-Nahiyan Government Primary School of the area, was seen returning home wading through knee-deep water yesterday.

Almost the entire area is flooded knee deep. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

"Our classes did not take place today because water entered the classrooms," she said.

HM Sohel, councillor of 27 Dakkhin Agrabad Ward of Chittagong City Corporation, claimed that he started cleaning the drains after taking charge.

C&B Colony, Sonali Bank Colony, and Bepari Para also get inundated by tidal water, but the people of CDA Residential Area are the worst sufferers, he said.

And in some parts, the situation is even worse. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

"To get out of this problem, there is no alternative to constructing sluice gates at the mouth of Maheshkhal," the councillor said.

Sudip Basak, assistant engineer (mechanical) of CCC, said they started dredging different canals including Maheshkhal at the instruction of the new mayor.