Imtiaz Ahmed, Narayanganj 

Rain has become a source of fear for residents living inside the Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) project area. Even a slight rainfall causes severe waterlogging in parts of Fatullah within the DND zone. Although a water drainage improvement project has begun in the area, its progress has been sluggish. As a result, millions of residents continue to suffer year after year, especially during the monsoon. People living in the DND area are skeptical about the timely completion of this much-anticipated project.

An on-the-ground visit revealed that thousands of people in areas like Dapa Idrakpur, Lalpur, Paushar Pukurpar, Kotalerbag, Santapur in Fatullah union, and Shiyarchar, Lamapara, Ramarbag, Aliganj, Noyamati, Chitashal, Nurbag, and South Delpara in Kutubpur union have been trapped by water. Just 2-3 hours of continuous rain submerges most of Fatullah. Roads in these areas are riddled with potholes and remain submerged under dirty water. Water seeps into homes, forcing residents to elevate their furniture with bricks. Despite having drainage systems, water fails to recede. Due to poor planning of the drainage network, houses and shops have been flooded with foul-smelling water, through which residents are forced to wade daily.

Locals complain that regular cleaning of the canals is neglected, leading to instant waterlogging even after light rain. Although the situation has persisted for years, the authorities have shown little urgency, and no long-term solution has yet materialized for the DND residents.

According to sources, the Ministry of Water Resources initiated the DND water drainage improvement project on December 8, 2017. The Bangladesh Army was tasked with implementing the project. The initial budget was set at Tk 558 crore, which later ballooned to Tk 1,300 crore. The army is expected to complete the work by June 2025. However, shortly after the project began, some homeowners in the Hirajhil area began encroaching on canal land and setting up shops, further worsening the drainage situation.

Residents of Lalpur, Paushar Pukurpar, and Shiyarchar said, “Even a little rain floods all of Fatullah. This has been a persistent problem for years. We keep hearing about DND work being done, but every year the roads still flood. We suffer every time.”

Nadia Begum and several garment workers from Lamapara noted, “The entire area is submerged in filthy, black water mixed with industrial waste. Thousands of workers walk through this water to reach their workplaces daily. As a result, many have developed fungal infections on their feet. We hope that once the DND project is implemented, our suffering due to waterlogging will be significantly reduced.”

Records show that the army’s 19 Engineering Construction Battalion, under the 24 Engineering Construction Brigade, began work on December 5, 2017. The project was initially approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on August 9, 2016, with a budget of Tk 558 crore. On September 2, 2017, a contract was signed between the Army and the Bangladesh Water Development Board. Soon after work began, it was realized that Tk 558 crore would not suffice, and more funding was requested. On September 1, 2020, an additional Tk 741.71 crore was approved, bringing the total project cost to Tk 1,299.71 crore.

Sources involved in the project stated that illegal establishments along the DND canal are one of the main reasons for the project’s slow progress. If the project is not completed on time, residents will face another year of unbearable suffering.

Recent continuous rains have once again caused waterlogging within the DND zone of Narayanganj. More than 100,000 people are now stranded in knee-deep water. Several low-lying areas of Fatullah and Siddhirganj, including Chowdhuribari, Lalpur, Pagla, Kutubpur, Bhuigar, Shantidhara, Giridhara, Mizmiji, Kadamtali, Munshibag, and Shahidbag, have been severely flooded.

On Friday morning (August 1), a visit to Chowdhuribari and Lalpur revealed that roads and homes were submerged in knee-high water. Residents are relying on vans and boats for transportation. Many expressed frustration at local representatives for failing to take effective steps to solve the drainage problem.

Meanwhile, in Siddhirganj’s Hirajhil residential area, part of the DND canal has been illegally occupied and turned into commercial shops. It has been alleged that local building owners rented out these makeshift shops, shrinking the canal again and worsening waterlogging.

In a field visit to Hirajhil, about 25 shops were found on the canal bank, built by filling it with sand. These shops, located near Habibullah Tower, BM Building, Momtaz Villa, Noor Mohammad Tower, and Nurul Huda’s house, are obstructing the pedestrian walkway and causing major inconvenience for locals.

Residents say Hirajhil is densely populated and always congested with people and vehicles. The canal’s bank served as a vital walkway, but now the illegal shops have blocked it, severely disrupting daily movement.

When asked, Narayanganj Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Zafar Sadiq Chowdhury said, “We’ll investigate the issue and take prompt action.”

Siddhirganj police station’s officer-in-charge (OC) Shahinur Alam said, “We are unaware of any extortion from these shops. If specific complaints are made, we will act and remove all illegal structures.”

Narayanganj Water Development Board’s executive engineer Shubho Ahmed stated, “We’ll send officials to the site immediately. If illegal structures are confirmed, we will serve notices for their removal. If they fail to comply, legal action will be taken. We follow a zero-tolerance policy on canal encroachment.”

Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Zahidul Islam Miah added, “We’ve already started cleaning canals across Narayanganj to combat waterlogging. If any encroachment is found along the DND canal, stern action will be taken against the perpetrators. I will look into the matter personally and take necessary steps.”