Waterlogging Reduced by 60–70%

Ilias Ripon

CTG Mail Report | Chattogram, July 7:

As relentless monsoon rain continued to batter Chattogram, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain remained on the ground on Tuesday, leading citywide inspections and supervising emergency drainage operations in an effort to minimise public suffering.

The mayor visited Katalganj, Probortok Mor and several other flood-prone areas, where he inspected roads, drains and canals, monitored water discharge activities and directed city officials to respond quickly to emerging problems caused by the heavy rainfall.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting Katalganj, Dr Shahadat said the port city had recorded around 330 millimetres of rainfall, one of the highest single-day totals of the current monsoon season. Despite the intense downpour, he claimed that waterlogging across the city had been reduced by 60 to 70 percent compared with previous years.

“Even after recording 330 millimetres of rainfall and with heavy rain still continuing, we have managed to reduce waterlogging by 60 to 70 percent, fulfilling the commitment we made to the people,” the mayor said.

According to him, several areas that historically experienced severe flooding—including Bahaddarhat, Muradpur, Agrabad, Mirzarpur, Dewanhat, Bakalia, Chawkbazar, Kapasgola, Bandar and Patenga—remained largely free from prolonged waterlogging during the latest spell of rain.

However, the mayor acknowledged that temporary flooding continued in parts of the city where canal rehabilitation and drainage improvement projects remain under construction.

He said ongoing development work on the Hijra Khal, Jamalkhan Khal, Gulzar Khal and Azhar Khal has temporarily affected drainage capacity in surrounding neighbourhoods, leading to water accumulation during periods of intense rainfall.

Throughout the day, Dr Shahadat was seen meeting local residents and business owners, listening to their concerns and assuring them that both immediate and long-term measures were being taken to tackle the city’s long-standing waterlogging problem.

He instructed engineers, sanitation workers and emergency response teams to remove blockages from drains and canals without delay, while maintaining continuous monitoring of vulnerable locations throughout the ongoing monsoon.

The mayor said reducing public suffering remains the city corporation’s top priority, adding that engineering, conservancy and emergency service personnel have been placed on maximum alert since the heavy rainfall began.

Additional manpower and equipment have also been deployed to areas where rainwater has taken longer to recede, enabling faster drainage and reducing disruption to traffic and daily life, he added.

Dr Shahadat urged residents to play their part by avoiding the disposal of plastic bags, polythene and household waste into drains and canals, warning that blocked waterways continue to be one of the primary causes of urban flooding during heavy rainfall.

Referring to the canal improvement project in Katalganj, the mayor said construction being carried out under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army’s 34 Infantry Brigade had slowed because of the ongoing monsoon season.

“Some work remains because of the rain. Once the remaining construction is completed within the next three to four months, there will be no waterlogging in this area during the next monsoon. I assure the people of Chattogram of that,” he said.

The mayor also highlighted the importance of inter-agency coordination in addressing the city’s drainage challenges. He said the government has instructed all relevant authorities—including the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Chattogram WASA, Chattogram Port Authority and the district administration—to work together to minimise the impact of heavy rainfall on city residents.

Beyond waterlogging, city authorities are also preparing for potential rain-induced landslides in vulnerable hillside communities.

Dr Shahadat said a Quick Response Team is being formed with support from the district administration and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. The team will monitor landslide-prone areas, relocate residents to safer shelters when necessary and provide emergency food and other assistance to affected families.

Continuous rainfall over the past several days has disrupted traffic and slowed business activities in parts of Chattogram, although authorities say the overall flooding situation has improved compared with previous monsoon seasons.

Emergency teams remain deployed across the city, carrying out drainage operations and monitoring vulnerable areas around the clock as weather officials forecast further rainfall in the coming days.

City officials say ongoing canal restoration projects, combined with regular drain maintenance and coordinated emergency operations, are expected to further strengthen Chattogram’s ability to manage heavy rainfall and reduce waterlogging in future monsoon seasons.