Heavy Rain Inundates Dhaka, Causing Severe Waterlogging and Commuter Misery

Dhaka was brought to a virtual standstill on Sunday morning as torrential rain lashed the capital, turning key thoroughfares into waterlogged channels and disrupting the first working day of the week. An overcast sky hung low over the city as the downpour intensified, leaving commuters, office-goers, and school children stranded or wading through knee-deep water.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the capital recorded 76 millimetres of rainfall in just six hours, spanning from midnight on Saturday to 6:00 am on Sunday. This marks the highest concentrated rainfall recorded within such a timeframe this month. Total rainfall over the 24-hour period ending at 6:00 am on Sunday reached 97 millimetres, and meteorologists warned that heavy downpours were likely to persist throughout the day across Dhaka and several other regions.

The sudden deluge severely compromised the city’s drainage infrastructure, causing water to accumulate rapidly on major roads and narrow alleyways alike. Key areas, including Bijoy Sarani, Manik Mia Avenue, Karwan Bazar, Dhanmondi, Green Road, Kakrail, and Kazipara in Mirpur, suffered severe waterlogging. By 8:00 am, water levels on Green Road had risen so high that cycle rickshaws were nearly submerged. Meanwhile, in Kakrail, commuters alighting from public transport were forced to step into filthy, waist-deep water.

Public transport became scarce as the morning progressed. Many auto-rickshaws and motorcycles stalled mid-journey, compounding traffic congestion across critical intersections. The severe weather also took a toll on education, forcing several schools in the capital to postpone scheduled examinations due to the inaccessible state of the surrounding streets. Day labourers and low-income earners faced the brunt of the harsh conditions, braving the elements to secure their daily wages.

The meteorological office attributed this prolonged wet spell to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, coupled with an active monsoon and significant variations in atmospheric pressure. This system has triggered widespread rainfall across Bangladesh over the past week, pushing seven districts into burgeoning flood situations. While Chittagong and Sylhet divisions previously bore the brunt of the heaviest deluges, rainfall there has temporarily eased.

BMD meteorologist Tariqul Newaz Kabir indicated that Dhaka, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Chittagong divisions are expected to witness relatively higher volumes of rainfall today. However, atmospheric models suggest the weather pattern may begin to clear, with rainfall expected to subside gradually from Monday. Until the water recedes, residents of the capital face a challenging day ahead as municipal authorities scramble to clear the choked drainage systems.