Muyabia Labony — A relentless heavy downpour on Sunday morning—the first working day of the week—left large parts of Dhaka submerged, severely disrupting daily life, commuting, and school runs.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the capital recorded a staggering 76 mm of rainfall in just six hours, marking the heaviest spell of rain Dhaka has witnessed so far this month.
Commuter Woes as Key Roads Go Under
The early morning deluge turned major thoroughfares and narrow alleys into waterlogged streams, catching office-goers and students off guard.
Key locations across the city, including Bijoy Sarani, Karwan Bazar, Manik Mia Avenue (near the Aarong crossing), Dhanmondi, and Mirpur’s Kazipara, reported significant water accumulation on the streets.
Vehicles were seen navigating through knee-deep water, causing major traffic slowdowns, while pedestrians and day laborers faced immense hardships trying to reach their destinations.
Meteorological Data and Analysis
Meteorologist Md. Tarikul Newaj Kabir confirmed that the 76 mm of rainfall was recorded between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM on Sunday. He added that the total rainfall over the 24-hour period ending at 6:00 AM on Sunday reached 97 mm.
According to the weather office, the persistent rain over the past week across Bangladesh is a result of a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, an active monsoon, and significant variations in atmospheric pressure.
This ongoing spell has already triggered severe flood conditions in seven districts across the country, with the heaviest rainfall initially concentrated in the Chittagong and Sylhet divisions, though precipitation there slightly eased yesterday.
Forecast: Relief Expected from Monday
The BMD has warned that heavy rainfall is likely to continue throughout Sunday in various parts of the country, including the capital. “Rainfall is expected to be relatively higher today in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Chittagong, and Dhaka divisions,” stated meteorologist Shariful Newaj Kabir.
However, citizens can look forward to some respite soon, as the weather office predicts that the intensity of the rain will begin to recede from Monday.
While Dhaka’s fragile drainage system has repeatedly struggled with even minor rainfall over the last few days, Sunday’s torrential downpour made the urban flooding situation significantly more critical.
Authorities face a growing challenge to clear the water logging as heavy showers are predicted to persist until evening.