Chattogram’s decades-old waterlogging crisis – long viewed as an unavoidable threat to lives, property and business – is now projected to be fully resolved by 2027, according to a supervising committee overseeing four major infrastructure schemes.

The committee, formed in January and chaired by Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr Md Ziauddin, reported an overall progress of 87.65% across the four mega projects designed to alleviate the problem.

After a noticeably smoother monsoon this year, the committee anticipates even fewer disruptions next year.

The projection was presented to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on 5 November, following years of public criticism over slow progress and poor coordination despite billions of taka being spent. In response, the government tasked four advisers with special oversight responsibilities.

So far, the committee has held 14 special and preparatory meetings, with the Chattogram City Corporation mayor and the chairmen of the district council and the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) serving as advisers.

Buoyed by the recent progress, the committee is now drafting second-phase proposals aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability, in line with directives from the CA.

 Sharp reduction in waterlogged areas

Between 2017 and 2023, Chattogram recorded waterlogging at 113 locations, with stagnant waters taking eight to nine hours to drain. Conditions improved in 2024, when 62 spots were affected and drainage time fell to five to six hours.

This year, the improvement was significant: only 29 areas were submerged after heavy rainfall, with waters receding within two to four hours.

The committee now expects waterlogging to occur at just 10 locations next year, draining within one to two hours, with “complete” elimination projected in 2027.

For more than 15 years, waterlogging has caused immense hardship for residents and businesses, regularly making headlines for its severe impacts.

The project works themselves also drew heavy criticism, particularly during monsoons, due to slow progress, poor coordination and limited visible improvement.

 Overview of the four ongoing projects

Four major development schemes are currently under way to address waterlogging and protect the city from tidal surges. The CDA, CCC and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) are implementing these projects at an estimated cost of Tk14,400 crore.

The CDA is responsible for two projects, including the largest one – “Canal re-excavation, expansion, renovation and development for addressing waterlogging in Chittagong city” – approved by ECNEC in 2017 at a cost of Tk8,626 crore.

Another CDA project, started in 2017, involves constructing an 8.55-kilometre road along the Karnaphuli riverbank from Kalurghat Bridge to Chaktai Khal at a cost of Tk2,779 crore.

The CCC began excavating a new canal from Baroipara to the Karnaphuli river in 2014, costing Tk1,362 crore.

The BWDB, through the Bangladesh Army, is implementing the project titled “Controlling Flood, Addressing Waterlogging and Development of Drainage System in Chattogram City,” approved in 2019 and costing Tk1,620 crore.

 Progress up to October

Work on the projects has advanced significantly. Twenty-one of the 36 canals have been fully completed, while another 10 are 90 per cent complete. Fourteen silt traps have been built, and 108 bridges and culverts have been replaced. A total of 564 kilometres of drains have been renovated.

An eight-kilometre embankment, four kilometres of slope protection, eight bridges, a five-kilometre protection wall and road, 6.44 kilometres of floodwall and 30 regulators have also been constructed.

 Eight major causes of waterlogging identified

The supervising committee has identified a series of root causes behind Chattogram’s waterlogging.

These include unplanned urbanisation, which reduced the number of waterbodies from 4,661 to 2,390; encroachment and filling of primary canals, which brought the number down from 71 to 57; and inadequate communication infrastructure for cleaning activities.

Insufficient secondary and tertiary drainage systems, failure to dig canals according to the master plan and the filling of drains with sand during the rainy season were also identified as major factors.

Other problems include reduced navigability of the Karnaphuli river, inadequate manpower and equipment for maintaining canals and drains, and the inundation of low-lying areas during tidal surges.

 Four key challenges hindering progress

The committee also pointed out four key challenges holding back smooth implementation. These are the CCC’s limited capacity to manage drains and canals after the projects are completed, the lack of a decision on which agency will operate and maintain tidal regulators, uncertainties over the manpower, equipment and funding required for that task, and delays in implementing a coordinated master plan alongside the need to expand waste-management areas.

 Five recommendations for long-term sustainability

To ensure long-term sustainability, the committee recommended re-excavating and maintaining the remaining 21 canals, preparing the responsible agencies to operate and manage all 36 renovated canals along with the regulators and pump houses, and carrying out capital dredging of the River Karnaphuli.

It also stressed the need to strengthen the CCC’s capacity for garbage removal and introduce modern waste-management systems.

The committee further suggested involving social, cultural, political, business and non-government organisations, as well as students, in conservancy work to promote public awareness.

 Officials confident but cautious

Speaking to the Daily Sun, Dr Md Ziauddin, convener of the supervising committee, said, “We expect to get the project completed by 2027.”

He added, “The lack of coordination was the main obstacle. We are now focusing on sustainability to prevent recurrence of the menace.”

He said agencies had been instructed to submit written proposals on sustainability measures by 22 November. These would be reviewed and placed before the advisers before being sent to the Chief Adviser.

Lt Col Md Ferdous Ahmed, project director of the CDA-run mega project, said waterlogging was recorded at only 18 spots this year, with water draining within one to two hours.

He credited better coordination for the improved results and noted that around 90 per cent of his project has been completed.

“Success of the crisis depends on completion of required works of all four projects. Besides, public awareness will be crucial to reap long-term benefits,” he said.