State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam today inspected various canals and waterlogging-prone areas in Chattogram. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, April 30, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam today assured city residents that 70 to 80 percent of the waterlogging problem would be resolved during the upcoming monsoon.

He said the remaining 15 to 20 percent is expected to be resolved by December, urging residents to remain patient as efforts continue to improve the situation.

The minister made the remarks after inspecting various canals and waterlogging-prone areas in the city this afternoon, accompanied by Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain.

He said around 70 to 80 percent of the city's waterlogging problems were resolved last year compared to 2024.

Mir Shahe Alam said the canal development projects currently underway would be completed by December, ahead of the next monsoon. He also expressed hope that the prolonged waterlogging situation of the past would not recur.

The state minister said the Army's Engineer Brigade is overseeing the sluice gates of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) to keep them operational, while the Port Authority is regularly dredging canal mouths to maintain normal water flow in the Karnaphuli River. Coordination is ongoing among the City Corporation, Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Water Development Board and the Army.

He said a committee led by the mayor would soon be formed to enhance coordination.

Acknowledging a shortage of manpower in the CDA, the state minister stressed the involvement of Army engineering units in project implementation and supervision. He assured that any temporary waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall would subside within two to three hours.

He said Chattogram had experienced record rainfall of up to 246 millimetres in the past, adding that preparations are underway to prevent a recurrence of severe waterlogging despite the risks posed by hilly slopes and tidal effects during the upcoming monsoon.