Shalgaria Forestpara in Pabna municipality remains flooded for over two weeks as the drainage is too poor to release the water during the ongoing monsoon. Photo: Star

A large portion of the district town sees persistent waterlogging due to the overflowing of silted up Ichamati River during the ongoing monsoon.
Over fifty thousand people living in ward No 3, 7, 8, 9 and 11 of Pabna municipality are directly affected by the situation as stagnant water cannot be removed due to poor drainage system.
“We are badly suffering as polluted water has remained stagnant for the last couple of weeks,” said Md Selim Uddin of village Shalgaria Talbaganpara in the municipality area.
“Snakes bit two members of my family last week. They got well as they received herbal treatment immediately,” Md Atiar Rahman, a shopkeeper of Shalgaria Forestpara.
Md Mukul Hossain of Radhanagar Jugipara village said his wife now cooks food on a stove placed on the cot as water entered the floor of his semi-pucca house.

People wade through the stagnant polluted water in the area yesterday. Photo: Star

Most of the places of Shibrampur and Dilalpur areas also give similar picture.
Md Tobibur Rahman, executive engineer of Pabna municipality, said, "The Ichhamati River serves as the outlet of excess water from Pabna town but the river has now filled up and it causes water logging in Pabna town. Over 50 thousand people living in one third portion of the municipality area are badly suffering due to the massive water logging this season."
Admitting the situation, Pabna municipality Mayor Md Kamrul Hassan Mintu said, "There is a mega project for the dredging the Ichhamati River. We have started work for developing new drainage system in Shalgaria area to remove the stagnant water.