Climate Change-Induced Impact in My Local Community (Dhaka)
One of the most visible climate change-induced impacts affecting my local community in Dhaka is the increasing frequency and severity of urban flooding, especially during the monsoon season. Although Dhaka has always been prone to waterlogging, recent years have shown a clear pattern: heavier rainfall over shorter periods, overwhelming the already limited drainage system. This intensified rainfall is consistent with global climate change projections.
Challenges Faced by the Community, Infrastructure, and Daily Life:
1. Daily Disruptions
When even a few hours of heavy rain occur:
Roads become submerged
Public transport slows or stops entirely
People struggle to get to work, school, or hospitals. This reduces productivity and affects daily wage earners the most.
2. Damage to Infrastructure
Flooding:
Weakens building foundations
Damages roads, shops, and electrical systems
Overwhelms drainage canals and manholes
Low-lying neighbourhoods like Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Rampura, and Jatrabari are especially vulnerable.
3. Health Risks
Stagnant water leads to:
An increase in mosquito breeding
Higher cases of dengue, chikungunya, and skin infections
Contamination of drinking water systems
These health impacts put strain on already overloaded healthcare facilities.
4. Economic Challenges
Shops close during floods, causing financial loss
Transportation delays increase costs
Residents spend more on repairs, medicine, and clean water
For poorer communities, these impacts are long-term and cumulative.
Community and Government Responses
Despite the severity of the challenges, both formal and informal adaptation measures are emerging.
1. Government and Municipal Actions
Drainage system upgrades in selected areas by Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations
Canal restoration projects, such as the cleaning of the Khilgaon-Basabo canal
Installation of pumps in areas like Hatirjheel to expedite water drainage
Construction of elevated roads and footpaths in flood-prone neighbourhoods
Coordinated dengue prevention efforts during rainy seasons
Although these initiatives help, the scale of the problem remains large.
2. Community Efforts
Local residents and shopkeepers often clean nearby drains and prevent blockages
Community-led awareness programs to reduce littering and improve waste disposal
Voluntary mosquito-control drives in high-risk neighbourhoods
These bottom-up efforts show increasing public awareness and responsibility.
3. Individual Adaptations
Many households have started:
Building higher plinths for homes
Installing submersible pumps
Using elevated furniture and waterproofing techniques
Avoiding travel during heavy rainfall
Increasing use of rainwater harvesting or storing emergency supplies
These small-scale adaptations improve resilience at the household level.