Dhaka's waterlogging crisis is a pressing issue

While we are encouraged to see the city corporations being pro-active in addressing the waterlogging in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal, with the DNCC forming quick response teams to try to alleviate the issues, these efforts are not enough in tackling the magnitude of a recurring issue that we ought to have gotten better at dealing with by now.

This recent heavy downpour in Dhaka has once again exposed our glaring vulnerability to waterlogging, leaving residents stranded and daily life disrupted. It is a problem that cannot be solved through stopgap solutions, and it is high time we realize this. 

The inadequacy of our existing drainage infrastructure and the lack of a comprehensive strategy to address the issue can no longer be swept under the rug and demands that we give it the prioritization that it warrants. Rains are a yearly occurrence, as are tropical storms, and we must be able to fortify our capital city better so that daily life does not come to a stop. 

The root causes of Dhaka's waterlogging are multifaceted. Unplanned urbanization, encroachment on canals and water bodies, and the indiscriminate dumping of waste have severely compromised the city's natural drainage system. Moreover, lack of coordination among various agencies responsible for water management has also historically exacerbated the problem.

Dhaka's waterlogging crisis is a pressing issue that demands immediate and concerted action from all stakeholders. Instead of our reactive nature where we scramble to devise short-term solutions, it is about time we had long-term planning to address this, and saw a coordinated effort from all stakeholders to implement this long-term strategy and ensure a more resilient and livable Dhaka.