Low lying areas of port city waterlogged after receiving 153mm rain

Many low-lying areas of Chattogram city were submerged in knee-deep water owing to rain, causing immense distress to commuters and residents today (July 20, 2022).

The Chattogram Met Office recorded 153.6 mm rain in 24 hours till 3:00 pm yesterday, said Md Jahirul Islam, met officer.

"As the monsoon wave is active in the area, rain will continue for the next 24 hours," he added.

Meanwhile, waterlogging occurred in many low-lying areas including Agrabad, Kapasgola, Changdgaon, Halishahar, Bakalia and Bahaddarhat due to nonstop rain.

Rainwater also inundated the ground floor of Chattogram Ma, Shishu and General Hospital.

Sarwar Kamal, a resident of Badurtala area, told The Daily Star that "We have been facing this problem every monsoon for over a decade now but the situation has not improved.

Other than this, many areas of Chaktai-Khatunganj, the wholesale essential commodities market in Chattogram, was also flooded with rainwater.

Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) is implementing two projects worth Tk 6,926 crore for re-excavation and canal expansion to ease the waterlogging problems of the port city.

Under these two projects, around 60 percent work has been completed, however, CDA couldn't complete the construction of 12 sluice gates at the mouth of five canals and the construction of regulators and pump houses at the mouth of 12 canals.

Rajib Das, Project Director and CDA Executive Engineer of CDA, said, "Infrastructure work has been completed for all sluice gates. Pump houses will be installed end of this year."

"Chattogram city including Khatunganj commodity market will get rid of waterlogging after implementation of the projects," he added.

Meanwhile, CCC Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury did not receive at least three calls on his personal phone despite this correspondent's attempt to reach him for his comment.