Marooned by waterlogging

Shahana Begum, a pregnant woman who was in her advanced stage, was wading through knee-deep water to go to a healthcare centre.

Though her doctor told her to be careful during any movement, it has been very difficult for her to follow the advice as the area where she lives has been under ankle-to-waste-deep water for two months.

Shahana has to use a boat to reach the main road from her house and wade through ankle-to-knee-deep water where boats cannot go.

Thousands of residents of Shanarpar at Shiddhirganj in Narayanganj under the DND area have been experiencing waterlogging for the last two months. Photos: Anisur Rahman

“As it is nine months and I am now in an advanced stage, my doctor has advised me to go to the clinic regularly. But it has become really tough for me because of waterlogging,” Shahana said recently as she was going to the clinic along with her younger sister Tania.

Sadiya Majumdar and Sumaiya, two ninth grade students of Shamsul Haque Khan School, also have to wade through knee-deep water almost every day due to the waterlogging.

“Our midterm examinations are going on and every day we have to attend the exam wading through dirty water. The situation turns worse when it rains,” said Sadiya.

Not only these three, thousands of residents of Shanarpar at Shiddhirganj in Narayanganj have been experiencing this level of waterlogging for the last two months.

Though several lakhs of people in DND area face the waterlogging every year, residents of Shanarpar, which is also under DND area, are facing this problem after 13 years.

“We last experienced waterlogging in 2004. After 13 years this time it has become almost permanent,” said Ziaur Rahman, a resident of Shanarpar.

He said Paglar Khal, a canal that used to carry rainwater to Shimrail pumping station, has lost its capacity because of encroachment and dumping of waste.

He added although the authorities concerned clean the canal, they only work on its surface.

Due to a poor drainage system and clogged up canals, the DND (Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra) area is chronically plagued by waterlogging. The photos were taken late last month. Photos: Anisur Rahman

Like Shanarpar, five to eight lakh people of DND area including Dogair, Rahim Market, Adamjee, Pagla and Fatullah have been facing waterlogging for more than two months.

Many residents of the area are suffering from various skin diseases because of the dirty water, said Nurunnabi, another resident of the area.

“My house is under thigh-deep water. We have purchased one truck of sand and put sandbags in our rooms to walk,” said Sharupa, who lives in Shanarpar and is also suffering from skin infection.

Meanwhile, there have been new earning opportunities as many people have started ferrying people on boats.

“I have bought a boat three days ago at Tk 3,300. Now I earn Tk 600 to Tk 700 every day,” said Monir, a boatman.

Around 30 boats are plying the waterlogged roads instead of motorised and non-motorised vehicles, said Shafiqul, another part-time boatman. 

Project Director of Development of Drainage System of DND Abdul Awwal has recently said they have taken a four-year-long project involving Tk 558.2 crore to solve the problem of the area.

Army might undertake the project and an agreement might be signed in this regard shortly. The work would start in November, he said.

The components of the project include excavating 93.98km canals, constructing 13.5km walkways, setting up two pumping stations at Shimrail (seven pumps having 5.5 cumec capacity) and Adamjee Nagar (six pumps having capacity of 5.5 cumec each), setting up three pumping plants at Pagla (having capacity of 0.28 cumec each), Shyampur (having capacity of 0.14 cumec each) and Fatullah (12 pumps having capacity of 0.28 cumec each).