City Reporter: Millions of people in Chittagong city are living a life of inhumanity due to continuous rain due to low pressure created in the Bay of Bengal. The city has been receiving intermittent and sometimes heavy rains for four consecutive days since Thursday (August 3). Most of the low-lying areas of the city are still under water. Various educational institutions of the city have been closed due to flooding. Going to the ground, it can be seen that thousands of families have been trapped due to waterlogging caused by rain.
Cooking stoves have also been submerged in many areas. Roads and alleys are submerged in knee-to-waist water. Due to the water entering the shops and houses, the furniture is damaged, the cooking stove does not burn. Low income people are suffering more. They complain that they have not received any food support from the government.
According to Chittagong Meteorological Office, 250 mm of rain has been recorded in the last 24 hours till 9 am on Monday. This rainfall is due to low pressure. Rainfall is likely to continue till August 9.
Zahirul Islam, a resident of DC Road of Baklia police station in the city, said, “I am suffering from waterlogging due to continuous rains. Due to the construction of the road much higher than the houses, even a little rain causes flooding. The water has now entered the house. It has been raining for four straight days with no sign of stopping. This increases our suffering.
The same picture is seen in various low-lying areas including Baklia, Halishahar, Chawkbazar, Dewanbazar, Muradpur, Sholshahar, Bahaddarhat, Bibirhat Firingibazar, Chandgaon, Agrabad CDA residential area, Riazuddin Bazar, Muradpur, Chaktai-Khatunganj. Many people have been stuck in water for four consecutive days as these areas are submerged from knee to waist level. Many are taking shelter in the homes of their relatives.
Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation Rezaul Karim Chowdhury told the media that the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) is constructing a project worth thousands of rupees to alleviate waterlogging. They are supposed to lift 9.5 million cubic meters of soil from the canals of the city. But they did nothing in 5 years.
It is unable to hold excess water accumulated due to heavy rainfall Besides, the cleaners clean the drains regularly. But some irresponsible people throw polythene and plastic waste in the drains and obstruct the water drainage.
