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🇧🇩 Bangladesh /Disasters & Emergencies

Dhaka Floods Turn Short Strolls into Costly Crossings

From Daily Star · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Heavy rainfall in Dhaka caused severe waterlogging on several roads, forcing pedestrians to pay exorbitant fares for rickshaw or van rides through chest-deep dirty water.
  • Rickshaw and van drivers charged up to Tk 40 for short distances, citing the difficulty of navigating the flooded streets.
  • The waterlogging also affected shops and homes, disrupting daily life and creating unexpected costs for residents and commuters.

Dhaka's roads transformed into costly waterways after a brief but intense rainfall on Friday afternoon, leaving pedestrians struggling to navigate submerged streets.

There is chest-deep water on the road. The driver has to get down into the water and pull or steer the rickshaw. That is why we are charging this fare.

— Jalal HossainA rickshaw puller explains the reason for increased fares during waterlogging.

A mere 70-meter stretch of Garden Road behind Bashundhara City became a two-minute ordeal that cost commuters Tk 40 by rickshaw. Rickshaw puller Jalal Hossain defended the fare, explaining the arduous task of pulling a rickshaw through chest-deep water. "The driver has to get down into the water and pull or steer the rickshaw. That is why we are charging this fare," he said, noting he had earned Tk 400 in an hour by assisting 20 passengers.

I was already late. The water was too deep to walk through, so I paid Tk 40 to cross by rickshaw. It felt unfair, but I had no choice.

— Jalal HossainAn office-goer describes the difficult decision to pay a high fare to cross a flooded road.

Office-goers like Jalal Hossain found themselves with little choice. "I was already late. The water was too deep to walk through, so I paid Tk 40 to cross by rickshaw. It felt unfair, but I had no choice," he stated. A similar situation occurred on Green Road, where van drivers ferried passengers through flooded sections for Tk 20 each, using vehicles typically meant for goods.

My office is in Farmgate. In the afternoon, I took a rickshaw from Bangla Motor to go to work. But when I reached the area near the University of Asia Pacific, I saw that water had accumulated there too. But as the road was under water, a rickshaw puller charged me Tk 40 just to cross it.

— Sayed NoushadA commuter recounts his experience paying a high fare due to waterlogging on his way to work.

Beyond the inconvenience for commuters, the waterlogging seeped into numerous shops and homes across various areas, including Old Dhaka, Mirpur, and Moghbazar. Shopkeepers scrambled to move merchandise to higher ground, while residents watched anxiously as water levels rose, some unable to leave their homes. The recurring issue in Dhaka highlights how heavy rains translate into unexpected expenses and disruptions for ordinary citizens.

The fare is high, but I could not walk through this water. My clothes and shoes would have been ruined. In Dhaka, rain means extra costs for ordinary people.

— Asad HossainA university student comments on the additional costs imposed by rain-induced waterlogging.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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