Helemul Alam

While frequent load-shedding has become a concern for Dhaka residents, people in several neighbourhoods, including East Senpara, East Kazipara, Ibrahimpur and East Rajabazar, say power outages have become an unexpected opportunity to collect water.

In August, Bangladesh recorded its third-highest number of dengue cases and deaths for the month since the country’s first major outbreak in 2000, as infections continue to rise.

Despite men accounting for more dengue infections, women are making up a disproportionately higher share of deaths from the disease this year, according to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) data.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital is receiving a large number of dengue patients from across Bangladesh, many of whom arrive with severe complications that increase their risk of death, doctors and public health experts have said.

With 10 days still to go, August has already recorded 27 percent more dengue cases than all of July, as experts warn infections may continue rising.

With 1,156 dengue patients hospitalised as of yesterday, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital has topped the list of hospitals treating dengue patients this year, followed by Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Mugda Medical College Hospital and Mitford Hospital.

Dhaka division has emerged as the country’s dengue hotspot, recording 6,871 cases, including 4,404 infections in Dhaka city alone this year.

Say experts; hospitals report rising admissions

The government has announced a series of measures to restore Dhaka’s rivers and waterways, including preventing pollution, improving drainage, maintaining navigability and exploring private-sector operation of water bus services.

Despite being an earthquake-prone country, Bangladesh remains poorly prepared for a major seismic event, experts warn.

The government has unveiled a Tk 32,554 crore plan to strengthen Dhaka’s water security by developing five large reservoirs around the capital to reduce dependence on rapidly depleting groundwater.

Year after year the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has been battling to keep the airspace surrounding Dhaka’s airports clean of buildings that exceed the height limit.

A large number of buildings across Bangladesh -- particularly older ones -- were not designed to withstand earthquakes, as they were constructed without fully complying with the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC), experts warned.

Dhaka’s persistent waterlogging is driven by fragmented management, the lack of an integrated master plan, unchecked urbanisation, and the steady disappearance of wetlands and canals, according to experts.

Hours of heavy rain yesterday left large parts of Dhaka submerged in ankle- to waist-deep water, crippling traffic, and stranding commuters on streets and people in their homes.

Many hospitals, fire stations and other critical facilities remain vulnerable, threatening emergency response after a major quake

Intermittent rains over the last few days once again left parts of Dhaka submerged, exposing the chronic weaknesses of the city’s drainage system.

For the past two months, residents of East Kazipara and Shewrapara in Mirpur have been struggling with recurring water shortages, forcing many families to buy drinking water, depend on water tankers, and wait for hours to cook, bathe, and wash.

IMED report cites lack of feasibility study, land acquisition delays for incomplete implementation

When a recent earthquake shook Dhaka, Mohammad Mustakim, a resident of Chawkbazar, rushed out of his second-floor apartment and joined his neighbours on the street after the tremor stopped.