Downpour triggers waterlogging across Dhaka

Heavy rainfall for nearly two hours since early this morning (1 May) has triggered waterlogging in many parts of the capital, causing inconvenience to commuters, though the impact remained limited due to reduced traffic on the public holiday.

The downpour began shortly after 5am and continued till just before 7am.

As a result, roads in many areas, including Malibagh, Mouchak, Moghbazar, Green Road, Karwan Bazar, Panthapath, Jigatala, Dhanmondi, West Tejturi Bazar, West Shewrapara, Mirpur-10, Kazipara and Madhubagh, went under water.

However, the number of vehicles on the streets was relatively low since it was a holiday, reducing overall suffering.

Waterlogging, meanwhile, lasted in many areas even after 10:30am.

Shariful Islam, who was travelling from Badda to Mouchak, said at 10am that the road from Malibagh Railgate to Mouchak remained waterlogged.

After getting down from the bus at the Railgate, he had to wade through knee-deep water to reach his destination, he said.

Commuters reported similar difficulties in other parts of the city, with water in some places rising to the footrest of rickshaws.

There was also a shortage of buses due to the rain and waterlogged streets, forcing many people to rely on rickshaws or walk.

Rickshaw pullers were seen charging higher fares, in some cases nearly double the usual rate.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), rainfall is likely to continue in parts of six divisions -- Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet -- with chances of heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas over the next 48 hours.

The ongoing rainfall has brought relief from a prolonged heatwave lasting more than a week.