A Rainy Afternoon in Dhaka

Sitting next to a big window on a high-rise apartment complex in Dhaka, I am enjoying the pouring rain. It was much needed yet somewhat a bit unexpected as well. For last couple of days it was really hot and there were no signs of any rain whatsoever. Even this morning it was quite sunny and I definitely did not expect any rain. However, the cloud gathered over the skies of the city very quickly and started to rain within few minutes. I am pretty sure some will appreciated this sudden rain, specially those who are working in the field or in outside.

Generally speaking, starting from June to October marks the beginning and the end of the Monsoon season in this part of the world. People normally don't get to see pouring rain by the end of the season. However, it is not entirely uncommon either and I believe there are certain changes in the weather pattern over here as well.

It's been well over few decade since I last experienced similar rain in Dhaka. I spent a big chunk of my teenage years in this city and I vividly remember back in those days rain used to be much more heavier and would have lasted for hours and sometimes days. There were times when it used to rain three or four days at a row and sometimes a bit longer. Dhaka would get submerged under water. Quite often the schools would declare to be closed. I did not see similar pattern last year or even this year. Based on my past experiences, I can say for sure that things has changed quite a bit. I am no weather specialist but I can simply feel the differences.

Unlike New York, rain over here in Dhaka has totally a different meaning. Like, no matter how much it rains in New York City, you would not see the city streets are getting flooded. Any New Yorker would be surprised if the roads or strees in their neighborhoods are under water for several days. Contrary to that, people who are living in Dhaka won't be surprised at all even if half of this city is under water. As if, it is very normal and it was suppose to get flooded. I grew up in this city and I know this for fact.

Dhaka had lots of small ponds and canals in the past. Most of those canals were connected to the nearby rivers surrounding the city. The rain water would have drained to those rivers through these canals. However, because of unplanned urbanization that took place over the past few decades, literally wiped out those canals. Some canal still exists but most of them are useless as they are either got heavily clogged with garbage or got completely cut off from the river. So, there are no way to drain those flood waters.

The sewage system of Dhaka is not all that great either. Though I know that much has been done over the years to mitigate these issues but there are lot more that needs to be done until this city becomes a healthy and habitable place for all.