'No scope to earn with no passengers in streets as city under water': Bagerhat rickshaw driver

"When it rains, most of the roads in the city go knee-deep underwater. We don't get passengers. It is difficult to earn," said Akash, an auto rickshaw driver in Bagerhat.

"There is no end to our suffering."

Heavy rains from yesterday night till this morning (25 August) inundated most of Bagerhat city. Along with the main roads of the city, many areas have become waterlogged. 

Besides, the low areas of Bagerhat Sadar, Rampal, Morrelganj, Sharankhola, Mongla, Kachua have been flooded by rainwater.

Amir Khan, a rickshaw puller in Bagerhat, said, "I took my rickshaw out in the morning in the rain. But there were no people on the streets." 

Amir's family of four depends on his earnings but he made only Tk100 till 1:30pm. 

"What can people do? It is raining continuously and the roads are submerged in water. Where will people go out?" Amir said.

Rabeya, a resident of the Old Bazaar area, said water rises to the floor of her house when it rains. 

"We will not be free from suffering until the water is drained," she said.

According to Assistant Municipal Engineer Rezaul Karim Rizvi, a five kilometre long drainage work is underway in the city. 

"Excavation of five canals will be started after the completion of the work. After the excavation, the residents of the city will be freed from waterlogging," Rezaul said.

Meanwhile, the Sundarbans has been flooded twice a day by tidal water for the past three days. However, the wild animals of the Sundarbans are safe, said Hawladar Azad Kabir, officer-in-charge of Karamjal Tourism and Wildlife Breeding Centre of Sundarban East Forest Division.