Published: 09:05 AM, 06 May 2026
City Drains and Manholes Are Like Death Traps
Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain
While walking on the busy streets of Dhaka, some of our life stories suddenly come to a halt. A death bite seems to be hidden under the shiny planks of the building. Especially on rainy days or in the dark nights, when the city's drains and manholes turn into invisible holes, nothing is left but sighs and panic for the common people. These stories of helplessness in civic life have become a part of our daily lives today.
While walking on the busy sidewalks of the city, you will suddenly see the mouth of an open manhole in front of you without any warning signal. These huge holes are like a terrible tunnel waiting to swallow pedestrians.
Many times, the lids on the drains break or are stolen, which creates deep holes. People who fall into these unsealed pits, from breaking their arms and legs to becoming permanently disabled, are now a regular occurrence.
During the rainy season, when the entire city is submerged in knee-deep water after a light rain, the street drains completely disappear. Taking advantage of this waterlogging, the holes hidden under the water become a deadly death trap for pedestrians.
Due to the mismanagement of the municipality, many drains are covered with overflowing garbage. There is no way to tell from the outside where the boundary of the drain ends and the road begins, which results in great danger if you step on them carelessly.
The narrow walkways along the drains are most of the time covered in moss and slippery. With the slightest loss of balance, a person can fall directly into the dirty water drain, which is extremely risky.
The entire city's drainage system is in an unprotected state today. Without adequate safety barriers or grilles, anyone can fall into an accident at any time, especially in the dark of night.
Drains take on a terrifying form during the rains. When the roads become blocked by heavy rains, people rush to find safe shelter and fall into these open drains.
The strong current of water creates such a death trap inside the drain that once someone falls inside, it becomes almost impossible to get out. The cries of people drowning in deep tunnels due to the pull of the current make our sky and air heavy.
The lampposts along the roads are useless, resulting in a lack of adequate lighting. It is impossible to identify an open manhole in the pitch darkness, which further accelerates death.
Innocent children are at the highest risk. The city has repeatedly witnessed the tragedy of many parents losing their children to the pitfalls of accidentally falling into drains while playing or on their way back from school.
Open drains and manholes are not only the site of accidents, they have also become one of the leading causes of pedestrian deaths. Every year, many lives are lost due to this small negligence.
Motorcycle or rickshaw drivers are also not spared. If a wheel suddenly enters an open manhole while moving at high speed, both the driver and the rider suffer a fatal accident and fall to their deaths.
The danger is even greater in the dark alleys of the city. Although there is some surveillance on the main roads, the drains in the inner alleys are almost always left uncovered, which is a constant terror for the local residents.
Extreme negligence in renovation work is the main reason for this crisis. Once a drain is dug, it is left open for months, as if leaving the work unfinished is more important than the safety of the people.
The garbage and garbage accumulated inside the drains produce toxic methane gas. This gas not only pollutes the environment, but if a person falls into the drain, he or she quickly loses consciousness and falls to his or her death due to the poisoning of this gas.
In many places, the mouths of the drains are very narrow but very deep. As a result, if someone inadvertently falls there, it becomes very difficult for the fire brigade to rescue him or her.
The dirt and contaminated water in the drains are a major source of infection. If someone falls directly into the drain, the chances of suffering from long-term skin diseases or serious water-borne diseases increase in addition to immediate injuries.
The extreme indifference of the authorities is evident after every accident. After every incident, there is an investigation committee, but nothing is done, as a result, the drains remain as pits of death. Due to the use of low-quality construction materials, the drain slabs collapse and crumble in a short time. The common people have to suffer this result of corruption with their lives.
A huge ring of lid theft is active in this city. The huge holes created by stealing and selling iron lids often cause accidents before anyone notices.
What we can do to solve the problem: The Bangladesh government must take a master plan to modernize the drainage system. A special budget and strict instructions must be issued to quickly fill or cover every open manhole by ensuring regular supervision at the central level.
The main responsibility of the City Corporation is to conduct regular field inspections. Digital monitoring system should be introduced for every drain and manhole and new slabs should be installed within 24 hours wherever the cover is broken or missing.
Law enforcement agencies should take a strict stance against manhole cover theft. Both those who steal drain covers and those who buy them should be brought under the law and exemplary punishment should be provided.
Local government level public representatives should ensure the safety of drains in their respective areas. Volunteer teams should be formed under the leadership of ward councilors who will monitor the condition of drains daily and take immediate measures for repairs.
Educational institutions should make students aware of drains and open manholes. Children in particular should be taught how to avoid potholes while walking on the road and to inform adults if they see any danger.
Drains and manholes are major obstacles for the mobility of people with disabilities. All the concerned agencies should design in such a way that blind or physically challenged people can use the sidewalks safely without any obstacles.
Engineers and planners should ensure the use of modern technology. Sensor-equipped covers or smart drainage systems should be introduced that will send a message directly to the control room if the cover is removed or broken.
The public should be vocal about the problems in their respective areas. If they see an open manhole anywhere, tie a branch or red cloth there to raise a warning signal and immediately call the concerned authorities.
Contractors must make it mandatory to use safety fences during development work. Red lights or warning signboards should be installed there at night during work so that pedestrians can understand the danger from a distance.
It is not possible to get rid of this death trap without social awareness and civic unity. Only if an effective maintenance culture can be developed through the concerted efforts of the government and the people, will our city be safe and livable.
Finally, I would like to say that the drains and manholes of our beloved city should not be the last destination for anyone. A good drainage system is not just about draining water, but also about ensuring the safety of people. If the authorities fulfill their responsibilities properly today and the citizens are aware, then in the future, we may not have to see the news of 'deaths due to falling into drains' on the pages of any newspaper. Let our pledge today be to close these deadly open holes and transform the city into a safe place to live.
Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain is an
essayist and President of the International Anti-Drug Organization - Freedom International Anti-Alcohol. He can be reached at [email protected]
