Dhaka, July 9 -- Dhaka, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, becomes a water maze following each rain spell. The streets flood, traffic is jammed, and life comes to a halt. Dhaka's sewerage system is old and in a state of ruin and is not capable of catering to even moderate rains. Ninety percent of the drains are narrowed, blocked, and broken and water overflows on to roads rather than flowing out. Major zones such as Mirpur, Shantinagar, and Badda have standing water for hours, or even days, following rain. With no upgradation, the city's drainage system repeatedly fails because of seasonal load, and roads become flooded, infuriating the residents year after year.
Dhaka's unmanaged, accelerated urbanization has considera...