Kuakata Rakhine market’s field remains inundated for half the year
The only ground in front of Kuakata Rakhine Mahila Market in Kalapara upazila of the district remains under water for six months of the year due to lack of proper drainage system. The field is used for public meetings, cultural functions and as helipad. Different political parties also arrange their party meetings here.
Apart from this, local youths use the field for playing cricket, football, volleyball and badminton.
The field remains inundated in the rainy season, especially from May to October every year, much to the trouble for tourists and locals. Tourists from home and abroad visit the area as there are several hundred of shops including the stores of Rakhine around the field.
The problem mainly arose during monsoon as the water cannot go outside due to lack of proper drainage system, said locals.
Local cultural organisation arranges different programmes on the ground marking the Victory Day and Independence Day as Kuakata municipality has built a stage on the eastern side of the field.
Uchuw, a female trader at the mahila market, said the field was open earlier and rainwater could drain away easily, but recently many structures have been built around the field, blocking the flow of water.
Customers feel uncomfortable while visiting the market during the time as their dress often got wet, she added.
Asadul Haque, a tourist from Pirojpur, said it is very sad that the field now remains under rainwater but when he visited the area during summer two years back, it was very attractive spot.
Lucky Begum, another tourist from Barishal, said many people visit Kuakata and buy different goods from the Rakhine mohila market but now it is very difficult to buy anything from the market as the field is filled with rainwater.
The authority concerned should take immediate steps to remove water from the field considering interest of local businessmen including Rakhine community, she said.
Locals said, Kalapara upazila administration built two separate helipads on the field but these helipads lie useless during monsoon as the ground remains under rainwater.
Rumman Imtiaz Tushar, owner of Kuakata Elish Park, said despite repeated pleas, the authorities concerned are yet to take any steps to remove water from the field.
Hossain Amir, a cultural activist in Kuakata area, said they cannot arrange cultural function here as the field remains under water for six months of the year.
Contacted, Kuakata municipality Mayor Abdul Bareq Mollah said they are implementing a drainage project in the municipality area, but its work has been hampered due to rainfall for several weeks.
Once the drainage work is completed, waterlogging problem in the area will reduce significantly, said the mayor.
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