Severe waterlogging causing public suffering: Sustainable dams, modern drainage system demanded in Morelganj
Md. Nazmul, Morelganj (Bagerhat)
Persistent heavy rainfall and tidal surges have led to severe waterlogging in the municipal town of Morelganj in Bagerhat. Key roads and public pathways have gone underwater, bringing everyday life to a near standstill. Daily commutes, business activities, and essential services have become virtually inoperable, causing immense suffering to local residents.
The worst-affected areas include Morelganj Bazar, Hospital Road, Collegepara, Krishi Bank Road, Bazar Launch Ghat, and the New Kitchen Market area.
Transportation is halted, large quantities of goods in shops have been damaged by floodwater, and school-going children along with patients seeking medical care are facing serious difficulties.
Local residents alleged that despite decades having passed, no sustainable embankment has been constructed in the Morelganj municipality. Additionally, the severely inadequate drainage system exacerbates the situation every monsoon. Many blame the municipal authorities for mismanagement and lack of proper planning.
UNO Md. Habibullah visited the flooded areas, accompanied by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Badruddoza, Upazila Engineer Md. Ariful Islam, and Project Implementation Officer Abdullah Al Jabir on Thursday. . The UNO immediately instructed the concerned departments to take necessary actions.
Local business owners expressed their frustration, stating that due to poor road conditions and unsealed river entry points, they face the same crisis repeatedly. “Water entered our shops and caused losses worth hundreds of thousands of taka,” said a local grocer.
BNP nomination aspirant for the Bagerhat-4 constituency, Kazi Khairuzzaman Shipon, visited the affected areas. He remarked, “For the past 17 years, the people of Morelganj have only received promises of development, but no tangible improvement. Without a sustainable embankment and an effective drainage system, the situation will become even more disastrous in the future.”
His comments stirred strong reactions among the locals. Many believe that if leadership sincerely addresses real problems, long-term solutions are possible.
Md. Wahizur Rahman, Executive Engineer of Morelganj Municipality, said, “A project is underway to improve the drainage system, and steps will be taken soon to seal off the river entry points in the market area.”
Meanwhile, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, several more days of heavy rain are expected, which could further worsen the situation, as feared by local authorities.
Alongside immediate action, residents of Morelganj are now calling for a permanent solution. Their primary demand is the implementation of a sustainable embankment and a modern drainage system.
“Every monsoon, we see the same scenario, the same suffering. Development projects are proposed but never implemented,” said an elderly resident of Collegepara in frustration.
The people of Morelganj can only be freed from the prolonged misery of waterlogging through a combination of responsible governance, genuine political will, and well-executed engineering plans.
