COX'S BAZAR, June 22: Waterlogging has become a long-standing and unbearable curse for Cox's Bazar, with many visitors bearing the burnt of the problem.
Rain that began on Sunday morning intensified by the evening, causing widespread waterlogging across the coastal city.
Areas including Kolatoli, Sugandha, the Hotel-Motel Zone, Cultural Center area, Burmese Market, Bazarghata, Upazila Market, and several other key roads were submerged under knee-deep water.
Abdul Halim, a resident of Baharchhara, said, "Waterlogging in Cox's Bazar is at least a 15-year-old problem. The more development we have seen, the worse the situation has become. Previously, there were not so many hotels, resorts, and other structures. Urbanisation has expanded, but natural water channels have narrowed. Encroachment, garbage accumulation, and sediment in drains are obstructing water flow."
Tourists staying in the Hotel-Motel Zone have been among the worst affected. Waterlogged roads severely disrupted transportation, leaving many visitors stranded in their hotels, while others faced difficulties traveling to and from the beach.
Ahsan Habib, a tourist from Mirpur in Dhaka, said, "I have seen waterlogging in Dhaka, but I never imagined I would face the same situation in the country's tourism capital. I had to walk through knee-deep water. This sends a negative message to both domestic and foreign tourists." Monir Ahmed, a tourist from Rajshahi, said, "I came to Cox's Bazar for peace of mind, but the waterlogging has caused significant inconvenience. I had to wade through knee-deep water in areas such as Kolatoli and the Burmese Market."
Every monsoon season, even a small amount of rainfall submerges major roads, alleys, and densely populated areas of the tourist city. Despite the problem persisting for years, the lack of an effective solution continues to increase the suffering of both residents and visitors. According to experts and local residents, the city's chronic waterlogging is mainly caused by an unplanned drainage system, encroachment on canals and natural waterways, poor waste management, and unplanned urban development. As a result, even moderate rainfall inundates important parts of the city.
Meanwhile, extensive areas from the Burmese Market to Bazarghata were inundated. Roads and lanes in various neighbourhoods went underwater, effectively confining many residents to their homes. Waterlogging was reported in several parts of the city, including the BGB Camp area, Goldighi, Buddhist Temple Road, Boro Bazar, Tekpara, Kalur Dokan, Tarabaniarchhara, Nurpara, Samitipara, Nazirartek, Fadnar Dail, and Kutubdia Para. Water also entered residential homes in some locations.
Mohammad Alamgir, acting assistant meteorologist at the Cox's Bazar weather office, said that 118 millimeters of rainfall had been recorded in the district over the past 24 hours. He added that moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to continue over the next few days, raising concerns about potential landslides in hilly areas.
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