Incessant rain, caused by a depression in the Bay, disrupted normal life in the capital and elsewhere across the country on Friday.
The continuous rain that started lashing the city since Thursday night, also affected income of day-labourers, caused sufferings to pedestrians, and hampered normal trading activities amid water-logging in places.
Prices of many perishable items, especially those of vegetables, would rise further, if the rain continues for a few more days, said traders.
However, Dhaka witnessed a 76 mm rainfall just in 12 hours (6.00 am to 6.00 pm) on Friday, said Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). The city witnessed a total of 95 mm rainfall in 24 hours, starting from Thursday evening.
The highest rain of 143 mm was measured in Gopalganj during the period, the Met Office said.
The Met Office in its 72-hour forecast said light to moderate rain accompanied by gusty wind might occur at most places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions.
Md Hafizur Rahman, a meteorologist at BMD, said the rain might also continue today (Saturday), while the weather is likely to become normal tomorrow (Sunday).
He said after the current depression in the bay, the monsoon may leave.
According to the Met Office, the maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal no-three, following the depression in the Bay.
The rain that started on Thursday night continued till filing of the report on Friday 7.00 pm.
Meanwhile, the incessant rain hit hard low-income group of people, including rickshaw-pullers, day-labourers and vendors of essentials etc.
Trading activities remained dull in the kitchen markets, food courts and shopping malls adjacent to the residential areas, which usually get an increased number of customers on Friday, the weekly holiday.
Shops in Newmarket, Jigatola, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Mirpur and elsewhere in the city got a poor number of customers on the day.
Bodiar Rahman, a rickshaw-puller, said he got only two trips from 2.00 pm to 5.30 pm on Mohammadpur-Jigatola roads, whereas he usually gets 10-12 trips on other Fridays.
He said as the food courts and shopping malls have lesser customers, his income might drop by more than by 60 per cent on the day amid lack of passengers.
Md Rahman Ali (Juel), a vegetable retailer at Shankar in the city's Dhanmondi area, said 90 per cent of his items remained unsold until 1.00 pm on the day amid non-stop rain, which caused water-logging in front of his shop.
"Usually my sales increase by 30-40 per cent on Friday. But it is not happening on this day," he told the FE.
However, prices of most vegetables, except some leafy ones, remained static and maintained their previous high level.
Brinjal was sold at Tk 60-80 a kg, pointed gourd, ridge gourd, snake gourd and sponge gourd at Tk 60-80 a kg, bitter gourd at Tk 70-80 a kg, and tomato at Tk 120-140 a kg in different markets across the capital.
Leafy prices further increased by Tk 5-6 a bunch, as green amaranth, red amaranth, and radish leaf were sold at Tk 20-30 a bunch on the day.
The traders said the prices of vegetables might rise further, if the rain continues.
When asked, president of Bangladesh Vegetables Wholesalers Association Md Imran Ali Master said the incessant rain might hit standing vegetables on the fields in the regions like Dhaka, Jessore, Comilla, Chittagong and Barisal, resulting in further hike in their prices.
The supply from Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, which have witnessed lesser rain, might also be hampered amid dilapidated condition of highways.
The fares of trucks and pick-up vans have already been increased by their owners amid the incessant rain, he added.
Meanwhile, a report of bdnews24.com adds, small vessels were barred from leaving the river ports on Friday amid squally weather, caused by the depression. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) issued the order for vessels below 65 feet.
Besides, plying of vessels of all sizes was suspended on the river routes connecting the coastal destinations, like - Hatia, Betua and Rangabali etc.
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