They also suggested putting an end to all sorts of hill cutting and emphasised coordination among the authorities concerned in this regard.

They were speaking at a seminar titled 'Waterlogging in Chittagong city and our duties' organised by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (Bela) at a city hotel.

The experts also stressed demarcation and mapping of the hilly areas following accurate survey and developing a green cover on the areas already levelled by hill cutting.

Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Acting Mayor M Manjur Alam was the chief guest at the seminar while Forum for Planned Chittagong (FPC) Executive Committee Member Architect Zerina Hossain, Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), Chittagong Chapter President Engineer Ali Ashraf, Department of Environment (DoE) Chittagong Director Nazmul Haque and Dhaka Wasa Deputy Secretary Dilwar Bakht spoke.

Manjur Alam in his speech assured of taking necessary steps to solve the problem.

"We are thinking of developing two new canals near Chaktai and Bohaddarhat, and have already inaugurated the Mariners Road at both side of Chaktai Khal to save the area from illegal occupants," the mayor said.

"A research cell for real findings would be set up in the CCC immediately," he informed.

Chittagong University (CU) Geography and Environmental Studies Department Prof M Shahidul Islam presented the keynote paper at the seminar with Bela Director (Programme) Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan in the chair.

Professor Shahidul Islam held dumping of solid wastes and unplanned urban growth responsible for inundation in the city.

"The port city experiences a total of 3,000mm annual rainfall with more than 2,000mm during the monsoon. But, due to illegal structures and miserable condition of the canals or drains the water can hardly find a smooth passage to the river or sea," he said.

Besides, high-rise buildings, retaining walls and culverts developed in a most unplanned fashion also cause waterlogging and inundation, he added.

"Removal of such temporary and permanent blockages and widening the drainage network after identifying nature and characteristics of the waterlogging through systemic research and survey are must to rid the city of waterlogging and inundation," Prof Shahidul said.

He urged Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) and Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) to maintain coordination and work following the guidelines of 1995 master plan.

Architect Zerina emphasised conserving the water bodies in the port city which are gradually being filled by the landlords for housing purposes.

"During heavy rainfall the water bodies contain huge water that share the pressure from the drainage system and canal," she added.

IEB President Ali Ashraf underscored the need for developing new canals as the Chaktai Khal (canal) the backbone of the city's drainage system, was not able to carry all the pressure of the sewerage water.