Heavy rain turns Dhaka's roads to rivers

A six-hour deluge beginning about 6 a.m. Friday in Dhaka submerged the capital’s roads, stalling vehicles, forcing shops to stay closed and closeting people indoors.

Although it is the monsoon season in the country, Dhaka is ill equipped to handle long and heavy rain due to poor drainage. More than 80 percent of surfaces in Dhaka are concrete, experts say.

Areas around Agargaon, Sheorapara, Green Road, Shantinagar, Mintu Road, Segunbagicha, Nayapaltan, Shantinagar and Fakirapool remained submerged until after the rain stopped around noon.

One trader in the capital bemoaned his loss of earnings for the day.

“Our business has stopped today due to water … all the shops are closed and there are no customers,” he told BenarNews.

Another Dhaka resident who is an auto-rickshaw driver, said vehicles were stuck on the roads because the high levels of water – 130 mm (5.1 inches) – affected their engines.

Meanwhile, Cox’s Bazar in southeastern  Bangladesh recorded 309 mm (12.1 inches) over 24 hours, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. It warned of the possibility of landslides.