Dr. Mohammed Mahtab Hossain Mazed 

Bangladesh is a riverine country. Every year, a lot of rainfall occurs during the monsoon, which is a blessing for agriculture, as the curse becomes curse due to unplanned urbanization. From the capital Dhaka to Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal or district cities, the rainy season has now become a regular misery.

> The main causes of waterlogging in the rainy season

1. Unplanned Urbanization:-Most of the cities and urban areas have been expanded without planning. The building has been constructed without proper drainage system, canal-drainage or reservoir. As a result, rainwater does not find any right way to drain.

2. Holding and filling of canals and reservoirs: Construction work has been carried out by occupying the mouths of many cities, ponds and rivers, including Dhaka. The filling of the reservoir breaks the rain water storage or drainage system.

3. Weakness of the drainage system:-Most of the city's drains are not narrow, unpleasant and sufficiently a large number. Due to not cleaning regularly, they are closed in dirt, plastic and mud. As a result, the water is frozen in the rain for hours.

4. Plastic Waste:-Prevents the normal movement of water trapped in plastic, polythene and other solid waste drains in the road.

5. Increased rainfall and climate change: In the past decade, the behavior of rain has changed. Suddenly rains and prolonged rainfall have increased. This change is also increasing the risk of waterlogging.

> The effect of waterlogging

1. Public suffer and traffic: Official people, students or patients all fall in extreme misery. Traffic was disrupted and long traffic was created.

2. Health Husband:- Mosquitoes, bacteria, viruses are born in long-time water. As a result, ordinary people are infected with various infectious diseases including dengue, chikungunya, typhoid, water -borne diseases.

3. Economic loss:-Watering has a direct impact on agriculture, industry and business. Work hours are wasted, production is disrupted, and increasing the cost of the medical sector increases.

4. Disruption of education activities:-School-college is closed or the attendance of the students decreases. In urban areas, especially the children of the slums are directly affected.

5. Environmental Differences:- Waterlogging makes the city's soil and water contaminated, also have a negative impact on biodiversity. The damp environment increases the excess of fungi and pathogens.

> Calculation and remedies to eliminate waterlogging

1. Long-term planned Urban Development:-Protection of environment and prevention of waterlogging should be given priority in the construction of the city and building buildings. Development projects should be taken by sustaining the existence of reservoirs and canals.

2. Canal-drainage and preservation:- Natural canals have to be re-excavated and occupied in different cities. These canals can be connected as part of the drainage system.

3. Modern drainage system:- A well-planned and adequate water drainage system should be created under the ground. The "smart drainage system" should be launched to quickly remove storms or sudden flood water.

4. Development of Waste Management:- A separate collection and settlement should be arranged before it falls into a plastic and solid waste drainage system. Increase public awareness to reduce the use of plastic.

5. Greening and reservoir preservation:- The more trees in the city, the more water absorbs. Effective initiatives should be taken to plant trees and ponds/dighi at the public-private level.

6. Rainwater Conservation:- Rainwater Harvesting must be made compulsory in the building code. It is also helpful in the use of domestic and industry as well as reducing waterlogging.

7. Technology-based forecasts:- It is possible to create public awareness and prevent prevention by collecting weather and rainfall information in advance. A precautionary area can be issued by using the "Rain Flood Model" through digital technology.

8. People's participation:- Not only the government, the people have to take responsibility for the waterlogging. Conscious behavior is essential to keep regular drains clean, not garbage, build an environmentally friendly living.

> Future Challenges and Prospects:- Waterlogging is not just a problem of water freezing, it is an overall development crisis. Climate change can intensify the crisis in the coming days. So the initiative has to be taken nowThere is no alternative to sustainable city planning to free the densely populated cities like Dhaka, Feni, Chittagong, Khulna or Barisal. 

Finally, in the rainy season, waterlogging is now much higher than a seasonal misery. It is a terrible pressure on public health, environment, economy and civic life. However, with effective plans, use of technology, environmental awareness and collective efforts of the people, sustainable solutions to this problem are possible. Want a city where the rainy season will become cool peace, and waterlogging will only be a memory of the past.

The author is writer, organizer, columnist, 

founder and chairman,Jatiya rogi Kalyan Society. He can be reached at email drmazed96@gmail.com