Why Feni sinks: Encroachment and neglect choke the town’s lifelines

Feni, a bustling coastal district in southeastern Bangladesh, is drowning – literally and figuratively – under knee-deep floodwaters after relentless monsoon rains. 

The recent deluge, with 399–440 mm of rainfall recorded in just 24 hours, has exposed a deeper malaise: a failing drainage system crippled by decades of unchecked canal encroachment, unplanned urbanisation, and municipal negligence. 

As residents wade through submerged streets and markets, their frustration is palpable, pointing to systemic failures that have turned Feni into a waterlogged nightmare.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported Feni as the epicenter of this season’s heaviest rainfall, exacerbating the collapse of flood control embankments along the Muhuri, Kahua, and Silonia rivers, which inundated over 30 villages. 

Yet, in Feni town, the crisis is less about river breaches and more about the choking of its natural drainage network. Locals and activists pin the blame on the systematic occupation of canals – once the city’s lifelines – by markets and buildings, often with the municipality’s complicity.

Over the past 15 years, key water channels like Pagli Chhara and Khwaja Ahmed Lake have been buried under commercial developments. 

Feni Municipality has overseen the construction of markets, including over 500 shops on the lake’s site, while the PTI area canal has been transformed into a commercial hub. These encroachments have severed the natural flow of water, leaving streets like Shaheed Shahidullah Kaiser Road, Rampur, Academy, and Daktar Para submerged in 2–3 feet of water after even moderate rain. 

“The canals have turned into drains, choked with pollution and debris,” said Alal Uddin, a Rampur resident. “There’s no way for water to move.”

Residents like Asaduzzaman from Daktar Para lament the lack of action: “Buildings and markets have swallowed our canals, but the authorities do nothing. Feni sinks every monsoon because drainage is restricted.” 

Nazrul Islam, a Shahidullah Kaiser Road resident, echoed this sentiment, insisting that “evicting canal encroachers is the only way to end our suffering.” 

The Feni Community, a civic group, has urged citizens to uphold cleanliness and cooperate during this crisis while pressing the administration to act decisively. Spokesperson Burhan Uddin Faisal warned, “No one can shirk responsibility for this public suffering if timely action isn’t taken.”

Feni’s drainage woes are compounded by an outdated and underdeveloped system. Established over 40 years ago, Feni Municipality has failed to build a modern drainage network, with no canal connections to drains along major routes like Farooq Hotel to Academy. Urban planning experts point to rapid, unregulated development as a key culprit. “Canal encroachment and poor urban solutions have created this mess,” noted a 2024 Daily Star analysis, highlighting how severed connections between canals and rivers like the Muhuri exacerbate waterlogging.

Feni Municipality Administrator Golam Mohammad Baten acknowledged the crisis but deflected blame, stating, “Waterlogging occurs due to inadequate drainage. Our teams are working day and night, and if rains pause, the water will recede.” He declined to address allegations of market construction on canals. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam emphasised the need for a long-term drainage plan and promised action against encroachments, urging greater public awareness. Recent efforts include canal-cleaning drives and eviction operations, but locals report little impact as waterlogging persists.

The crisis has disrupted daily life, with power outages in parts of Feni town and midterm exams suspended in several schools. Students have been forced to wade through floodwaters or rely on rickshaws to reach exam centres. 

The Water Development Board reported the Muhuri River flowing 137 cm above the danger level, further complicating relief efforts. Social media posts reflect growing despair, with one X user noting, “90% of Feni city is waterlogged due to poor drainage and canal encroachment. Stay safe and prepare.”

Feni’s plight mirrors broader challenges across Bangladesh, where rapid urbanization and climate-driven heavy rainfall strain outdated infrastructure. Experts warn that without reclaiming canals, enforcing anti-encroachment laws, and investing in modern drainage, Feni’s sinking streets will remain a recurring tragedy. For now, residents can only brace for more rain—and hope for systemic change to keep their city afloat.