Staff Reporter :
The people across the country, including the dwellers of Dhaka city, have witnessed unbearable sufferings due to uninterrupted rains for two days triggered by depression in the Bay of Bengal.
Most of the people were not able to come out of their homes all over the country, especially in the cities, on Saturday due to the incessant rains. Even the educational institutions in the capital were virtually closed as the authorities cancelled all examinations and classes yesterday.
Houses in the low-laying areas were under water in Dhaka, Chittagong and many other cities.
Malibag, Rajarbag, Mouchak, Shantibag, Gulbag and Mominbag, Paltan, Dhanmondi Road 27, Shukrabad, Farmgate, Indira Road, Badda, Rampura, Khilgaon, Shabujbag, Basabo and Jatrabari, Sangsad Bhaban area, Kazipara and greater Mirpur and Old Dhaka areas were the worst affected areas.
The residents in the capital also suffered from scarcity of public transport.
The people on social media posted photos of public sufferings, slamming the poor drainage system in the capital.
Abdul Halim, who works at an NGO in Motijheel, was waiting for transport in Kakrail with an umbrella and his pants rolled above his knees.
“I came from Rampura. The rickshaws are charging a lot more. None of the rickshaw pullers wanted to go from Rampura to the Bangladesh Bank area for less than Tk 100. What else can we do but walk?”
Many of the smaller roads and alleys in Malibag’s Chowdhurypara are waterlogged, Halim said.
“It is a very bad day,” said tea vendor Hakim Uddin. “I sold nothing on Friday and it seems like I won’t get much Saturday either.”
“Rain is now curse for me as I have to wade through stinky and dirty water to take my son to school when it rains in the city. I don’t know when the authorities will solve the water-logging problem and we will be freed from the curse,” said Monwara Begum, a resident of city’s Malibagh area.
Forhad Hossain, Principal of Monipur School and College, said, “We have cancelled all the examinations and classes as we observed that it was very difficult to come to the institutions for the students and their guardians. There is no scope to reach school without any hassle.”
“Water is all around us,” said Mirpur 60 Feet area resident Mariam Muna. “I was to go to Mirpur – 1, but had to stay home because of the knee-high water.”
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) suspended the operation of most water vessels across the country since yesterday morning to evening due to inclement weather.
Long tailbacks and heavy rain have been causing immense sufferings to thousands of people who are waiting to cross the Padma River. Vehicles were seen waiting on Shimulia-Kathalbari after ferry services were halted.
Over six hundred vehicles were waiting at Shimulia Ghat in Munshiganj to cross the river.
“All kinds of water vessels, including speedboat and launch, were suspended in order to avert any untoward incident due to heavy rain accompanied by squally winds,” said Khandaker Shah Newaj Khalid, Assistant General Manager of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC).
However, the authorities resumed the ferry service on Daulatdia-Paturia following an 11-hour suspension till noon due to heavy rain, said Mohammad Mohiuddin Rasel, assistant manager (commerce) of BIWTC’s Paturia Ghat office.
More than 400 vehicles got stranded at Paturia and Daulatdia ferry ghats.
The highest 271 mm rain was recorded in Gopalganj district while 149 mm in the capital during the last 24 hours until 9:00am on Saturday, meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque said.
Intermittent heavy rains with squally wind may continue until Saturday night and the situation may improve slightly on Sunday, he said.
Meanwhile, maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three due to the depression formed in the Bay.
The land depression is likely to move in a north/northeasterly direction further and weaken gradually.
During last 24 hours, 100 mm rainfall was recorded in Mymensingh, 137 mm in Chandpur, 103 mm in Hatiya, 139 mm in Ishwardi, 163 mm in Khulna, 123 in Satkhira, 162 mm in Jessore, 186 mm in Barisal and 177 mm in Faridpur.
Under the influence of the land depression, the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali, Jhalakati, Pirojpur, Barguna, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by wind driven surge of 1-2 feet height above normal astronomical tide.
Light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at most places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over the country, Met office said in their forecast.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice. The rains also inundated low-lying areas across the country, including those of Bagerhat and Satkhira.
