Yunus sets target to halve waterlogging in Chattogram during monsoon

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has ordered authorities to reduce Chattogram city’s waterlogging problem by at least half during the current monsoon season.

He gave the directive on Wednesday while addressing a stakeholder meeting at the Chattogram Circuit House, according to a post on the chief advisor's official Facebook page.

The meeting focused on addressing urban waterlogging and developing the Oxygen–Hathazari highway.

Yunus called on the authorities to gradually reduce the port city's waterlogging, setting a target of a 50 percent reduction this monsoon and aiming for its eventual elimination.

“We’ve had plenty of theoretical discussions in the past, but now it’s time to move beyond talk. We want to free Chattogram from waterlogging once and for all. Of course, that won’t happen overnight, so we must work toward improvement step by step,” he said.

“Since the monsoon has already begun, it won’t be possible to completely solve the problem this year. However, if the coordinated efforts of the City Corporation and other local agencies over the past few months fail to produce results, then all of it will feel like a waste.”

Highlighting Chattogram’s historical importance, Yunus said: “Waterlogging in Chattogram is both a symbolic and complex issue. Solving it will inspire other cities and districts. That’s why Chattogram must lead by example.”

“Chattogram has the capacity that many other cities do not. All local institutions must step up, and the city’s civil society must play a bold role and prove their capabilities.”

During the meeting, the chief advisor listened to presentations and experiences from representatives of the Chattogram City Corporation, the district administration, other local service agencies, and civil society groups.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Chattogram Mayor Sahadat Hossain said: “The main focus of today’s discussion was waterlogging. The chief advisor wanted to know what percentage of relief we can offer people from this crisis after all the work that has been done, whether it’s 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, or 50 percent.”

“I told him, I won’t say 100 percent, but I believe we can provide 50 percent relief this year thanks to the work done under his leadership.”

Discussing short, medium, and long-term solutions to waterlogging, Sahadat said: “In the short term, we are accelerating the ongoing repair work. For the medium term, we plan to restore 20 canals. We’ve spoken with China Power, and they’ve agreed to work with us to expedite this effort.”

“For the long term, we’re focusing on public awareness. We’re spending large sums of money, and we don’t want that to go to waste. One suggestion was to build awareness through schoolchildren. We’ll begin with around 100 schools under the City Corporation and then expand to other schools, colleges, and madrasas.”

The meeting also included a discussion on traffic congestion and infrastructure development along the Oxygen–Hathazari highway.

Health Advisor Nurjahan Begum revealed that plans were under way to construct two separate hospitals in the Hathazari and Karnafuli areas. She also mentioned plans to establish a dental college and dental hospital in the Kalurghat area.