The unseen toll of Dhaka’s waterlogging on women

Waterlogging in Dhaka disproportionately endangers women by exposing them to increased harassment, health risks, and loss of mobility. Photo: Mohammed Minhaj Uddin

Imagine a girl trying to make it to school in Dhaka's Hazaribagh. Outside her house, the street is flooded. She pauses. Not only because of the water, but also because of the onlookers. She is aware that if someone follows or touches her in this flooded alley, there is no way out. 

Her tale is widespread, not unique. 56% of urban Bangladeshi women, according to a recent survey, have experienced public sexual harassment; this percentage rises when waterlogging jeopardises their ability to move around safely.

Each rainfall turns countless women living in Dhaka's informal settlements like Korail, Kamrangirchar, and Mirpur, into a dangerous maze. The stagnant water is more than just an inconvenience — it brings them danger, humiliation, and silence and takes away freedom, dignity, and safety.

There is a psychological and physical cost too. When the streets flood, women skip meals and drink less water to avoid using dangerous public restrooms. Static water serves as a haven for dengue, diarrhea, and skin diseases in places with poor sanitation. 

The BRAC Urban Health Report 2024 states that women and girls are disproportionately affected by chronic ailments, particularly since they are frequently in charge of providing care. These health risks are signs of more serious structural neglect and are not incidental.

The emotional toll is less apparent but equally severe. Women express feelings of embarrassment as they deal with harassment while drenched to their knees, worry as they watch water rise outside their doors, and dread at the sound of thunder. 

One woman from Mirpur recalled how she stopped sending her daughter to school during the monsoon season — not because of the rain, but because of the predators. Researchers studying mental health have found that women in Dhaka experience significantly higher levels of stress and anxiety during and after monsoon-related waterlogging. However, their voices are rarely heard in budgeting or planning meetings.

The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda needs to step in at this point. The WPS framework, which was first created in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, teaches peace is the presence of safety in day-to-day life rather than only the absence of conflict. This entails acknowledging urban waterlogging brought on by rain as a gender security risk in Dhaka. It entails realising that when a woman is unable to stroll down her street in safety, tranquility is denied.

However, waterlogging is still seen by Dhaka's urban authorities as a mere technical issue or a drainage defect. It is neither. It is a persistent emergency for women and a violation of human rights. Dry homes, safe pathways, and clean streets must be standard necessities, not rare exceptions. And there can be no peace when these are denied.

Solutions are already there but the women who are putting them forth are not being heard. Women-led community organisations are mapping flooded neighborhoods, promoting drainage reform, and planning emergency aid in Rayerbazar, Kamrangirchar, and Hazaribagh. They are rarely consulted, despite the fact that their lived experiences serve as a model for resilient design. Dhaka's development plans are still unfinished and unfair without their input.
What needs to change?
First, laws pertaining to gender-sensitive urban planning must be passed. In order to identify susceptible areas and create better drainage systems, elevated walkways, and secure school routes, authorities should work with women's organisations. Women's everyday journeys should be considered when designing every street in Dhaka, from homes to clinics, marketplaces to schools.

Second, city corporations need to spend money on emergency mobility solutions that are specifically designed for women. This includes women-only buses and emergency rickshaw services, as well as safe and reasonably priced transportation during times of intense rain. Mobile health clinics in low-lying neighborhoods might significantly cut down on avoidable illness and offer disadvantaged households rapid support.

Third, funding for infrastructure needs to take gendered realities into account. Flood-resistant shelters, women-friendly public restrooms, and raised sidewalks should all be funded. These are vital elements of public health and dignity, not extravagances.

Fourth, from ward-level committees to city-wide task teams, women need to be integrated into urban catastrophe administration systems. This is already supported by Bangladesh's National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security; it is time to put it into effect. In order to ensure that their goals influence financing and policy, women's views must be heard not only during consultations but also in leadership positions.

Fifth, gender inclusion needs to be a top priority for development donors. To guarantee that women's perspectives are at the forefront of infrastructure development, climate resilience financing ought to require gender audits and participatory planning procedures. International funding should no longer be available for projects that disregard gender consequences.

Lastly, the stories need to be framed by the media. Headlines about 'city flooding' need to reach more people, including the nurse who struggled home in soaking clothes, and the youngster who stayed at home out of fear. These are abuses of rights, safety, and dignity, not just wishful thinking.

Take a closer look at people who refer to Dhaka's waterlogging as a 'seasonal nuisance'. There is more to that standing water than merely a drainage issue. Unheard women, neglected neighborhoods, and dysfunctional systems are all reflected in it. It symbolises more than simply rain — our failure to create a city where peace runs as readily as water ought to.

Sketch: TBS

Major Shajeda Akter Moni, is an officer in the Bangladesh Army with over 22 years of service and currently serves as Deputy Director at the Research Centre, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP).

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.