Engineers urge science-based urban planning to combat waterlogging
Experts say stronger coordination between engineering research and government policymaking is crucial to building climate-resilient cities.
Highlights:
- Experts call for science-led urban planning
- Nature-based solutions urged to curb waterlogging
- Research should guide government policies
- Poor coordination blamed for worsening urban flooding
Engineers and academics have called for science-based urban planning and research-driven policymaking to tackle worsening waterlogging, climate change, rapid urbanisation and increasingly frequent extreme rainfall across Bangladesh.
The call came at the closing ceremony and seminar of the Annual Paper Meet of Civil Engineering (APMCE) 2026, held yesterday (12 July) at the headquarters of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in Dhaka's Ramna.
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The seminar, titled "Engineering a Sustainable Future: The Role of Civil Engineers in Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals," brought together academics, researchers and professional engineers from universities and research institutions across the country.
Speaking as the special guest, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET) Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Iqbal said effective disaster management requires long-term, nature-based planning rather than short-term responses.
He said protecting rivers, canals, wetlands and natural waterways through planned development could significantly reduce the risks of flooding and waterlogging. He also stressed the need for regular river dredging and modern river management to restore navigability.
Prof Engr Md Abu Tayeb, head of DUET's Civil Engineering Department, said research findings should be translated into government policies and development projects instead of remaining confined to academic discussions.
He added that conferences such as the APMCE provide an important platform for linking engineering innovation with national development priorities.
IEB Honorary General Secretary Prof Engr Md Sabbir Mostafa Khan said recent heavy rainfall and widespread waterlogging in Dhaka and Chattogram had exposed significant shortcomings in urban management.
He noted that only a few hours of rainfall had disrupted transport, education and daily life in the capital, while inadequate coordination among government agencies had aggravated waterlogging in Chattogram.
According to him, encroachment on canals, filling of wetlands, unplanned urbanisation and clogged drainage systems remain the main causes of persistent waterlogging in Dhaka, where existing drainage infrastructure is no longer sufficient to cope with current demand.
The keynote paper was presented by former DUET professor SM Atikul Islam, who said development for the present generation must not compromise opportunities for future generations.
He highlighted environmentally friendly construction, renewable energy, energy-efficient buildings, improved public transport and low-carbon technologies as key elements of sustainable development.
Speakers at the seminar said closer collaboration between engineering research and government policymaking is essential to addressing climate change, urbanisation and infrastructure challenges while helping Bangladesh achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
