Risk of waterlogging on Dhanmondi-Panthapath during monsoon: Mayor Taposh

Dhaka South City Corporation(DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has apprehended that waterlogging may be created at Dhanmondi, Panthpath, Kathalbagan and surrounding areas during the monsoon.

He said this at an event, titled “Safe City Day Discussion and Best Urban Reporting Award-2024”, organized by Urban Development Journalist Forum-Bangladesh at Cirdap Auditorium in the capital on Wednesday (May 22) afternoon.

DSCC Mayor said Hatirjheel was the medium for the rain water of that area to flush out safely. But Hatirjheel is being shortened by filling up for the elevated expressway project. This will reduce the flow of water, resulting in slower drainage. Therefore, there may be severe waterlogging in the area.

He further said, “We have to plan keeping population density in mind. However, if the flow of migration towards Dhaka is not stopped, the benefits of development will not be available.”

He said, “We have to do three things to make Dhaka safe and livable. That is, the city must be free from corruption. Strict laws must be enforced. An efficient judicial system should be developed to implement the law. Our work will increase the livability of the city.”
Saiful Alam, former president of Jatiya Press Club and editor of Daily Jugantar, said, “Citizens should take responsibility along with the government to solve the crisis in the city. We love this city, so we have to work to make it livable. Then in the future it will be possible to make this city more livable than it is now.”

Atmospheric Pollution Study Centre Chairman Prof Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumdar said, “Dhaka is 40th in terms of size in the list of megacities of the world, but first in terms of population density. There are facilities for five lakh vehicles in this city, but 16 lakh vehicles are plying on the city streets. In Dhaka, roads, trees, water bodies are decreasing, but only people are increasing.”

Sheikh Muhammad Mehdi Ahsan, General Secretary of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, presented the keynote at the event, presided over by Matin Abdullah, President of Urban Development Journalist Forum and moderated by Faisal Khan, General Secretary of the organisation.

Urbanization and Environment Secretary of Bangladesh Institute of Architects Sujaul Islam Khan, Journalist Amitosh Pal, Raju Ahmed, Rased Mehdi, Convenor of Best Urban Reporting Award-2024 Implementation Committee Convenor Helemul Alam, among others, also addressed the event.

In the event, 'Best Reporting Award-2024' was given for urban journalism in five categories. They are Rashed Ahmed of New Age in the category of urban organization irregularities and corruption, Al Fatah Mamun of Banik Barta in the category of urban planning limitations and possibilities, Amitosh Pal and Latiful Islam, special correspondents of Samakal jointly in the category of urban organization service and public suffering, Rajneen Farzana of Sarabangla.net in the online category, and Nazmul Sayeed of Independent TV in the television category.