Another monsoon. Another flood. Another round of gridlocked roads, waterlogged streets, and communities wading waist-deep through their own neighbourhoods. It is not just déjà vu -- it’s a sign of failure.
Despite decades of development promises and crores spent, Dhaka once again finds itself drowning -- literally and institutionally.
This is not a weather problem. It is a political and planning problem.
The warning signs are clear. So is the neglect
Dhaka receives over 2,060 mm of rain annually, most of it concentrated within just a few months. Flash floods now form within 30 to 60 minutes of heavy rainfall. This isn’t some freak occurrence -- it’s a predictable outcome of climate change, poorly managed urban growth, and environmental neglect.
Yet, even with this data, we continue to treat these floods as isolated shocks, not as chronic symptoms of a failing urban system. A recent Buet study confirms that rainfall intensity is rising. So why are our responses still stuck in the past?
A 2024 RDRC study found that restoring just 15 of the city’s encroached canals could reduce waterlogging by a staggering 80%. The technical solutions exist. The barriers are political and administrative.
And while funds flow -- over Tk730 crore spent in just four years on drainage cleaning and desilting -- the results are marginal. So where is the impact? Where is the coordination? Most importantly, where is the accountability?
Who’s in charge? Apparently, no one.
Dhaka’s water crisis is not just about rain -- it’s about governance gridlock. RAJUK enforces building codes. WASA manages stormwater drains. DNCC and DSCC are tasked with maintaining roads and infrastructure. BWDB oversees embankments.
Did these bodies meet before the monsoon? Did they develop a joint action plan? Are they answering to the public they’re meant to serve? Or are they passing the buck yet again while the city sinks?
This institutional fragmentation isn’t just frustrating -- it’s deadly. And while officials blame each other, it’s the poor, the elderly, women, and slum dwellers who pay the price. They lose homes, jobs, health, and dignity in silence.
From crisis management to anticipatory action
We need to stop treating climate impacts like natural disasters and start treating them like the man-made emergencies they are.
It’s time to shift from disaster response to anticipatory planning. That means investing in real-time hazard databases, rainfall-runoff modelling, and nature-based infrastructure that works with the ecosystem, not against it. Wetlands and ponds aren’t empty spaces -- they are the city’s lungs and drainage basins. Reclaim them.
Rainwater harvesting is another low-hanging fruit we continue to ignore. Despite policy proposals, enforcement is lacking.
Community-led rooftop harvesting projects have shown promise -- what they need now is scale, support, and public funding. Offer tax rebates. Build public infrastructure. Mandate implementation.
The private sector can also step up. Some forward-looking garment factories are already leading with rainwater harvesting systems. These are not CSR gimmicks -- they’re climate-smart investments. Dhaka’s resilience and its economy don’t have to be at odds.
Resilience must be people-centered
Infrastructure and technology alone won’t solve this crisis. We must centre our efforts on people -- especially those most affected.
Disaster risk reduction must be feminist and intersectional. Women, people with disabilities, informal workers, and slum dwellers are not just victims of climate breakdown -- they are often the first responders. Yet they remain excluded from decision-making processes.
At ActionAid Bangladesh, we’ve piloted models that work: Community-led disaster response systems, school-based rainwater recharge, climate-resilient housing, and participatory risk mapping. Girls and women in these communities are organizing and innovating daily. Their contributions must not be sidelined -- they should be at the forefront of our strategies.
From projects to power-sharing
This is not just a call for better policies -- it’s a call for a fundamental shift in how we govern this city.
We must move from top-down, project-based approaches to long-term, inclusive systems. From reactive bureaucracy to collaborative governance. And from fragmented planning to shared responsibility.
Enforce building codes. Reclaim natural drainage canals. Equip ward commissioners with the power and resources to lead local resilience. Institutionalize community-led risk assessments. These are not radical ideas -- they are long overdue necessities.
This political moment -- when an interim administration oversees national affairs -- is a chance to act boldly. Let Dhaka be a model of reform, not a monument to mismanagement.
Let rain be a resource, not a threat
Dhaka doesn’t lack rainfall. It lacks vision. It lacks coordination. And it sorely lacks accountability.
We must stop viewing the monsoon as a curse and start managing it as a resource. Rain should not bring fear -- it should bring life. But that requires planning, political will, and the courage to prioritize people over profit and power.
The next flood is not a matter of if, but when. The question is: Will we wait once again to rediscover our urgency? Or will we rise -- together -- to build a Dhaka that is truly livable and resilient?
The time to act was yesterday. The next best time is now.
Farah Kabir is Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh.