Another spell of heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms on Wednesday morning is disrupting Eid-ul-Azha preparations and causing waterlogging in several parts of the capital city of Dhaka.
The downpour which began early in the morning inundated roads in low-lying areas and added to the misery of commuters already grappling with persistent rain over the past three days.
Dark clouds continued to hover over the city, raising fears of further rainfall in the coming days.
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) earlier forecast rain and thunderstorms during the Eid holidays, warning that the wet weather could persist across different parts of the country.
The continuous rainfall has intensified difficulties for thousands of people travelling home to celebrate Eid with their families.
Congestion on highways and key exit routes from the capital has been compounded by poor visibility, slippery roads and intermittent showers.
Cattle traders said the adverse weather has also affected the transportation of sacrificial animals and operations at temporary cattle markets set up.
Waterlogged roads and muddy market grounds have made it difficult for traders to bring livestock to markets and for buyers to inspect animals.
At several makeshift cattle markets in Dhaka on Tuesday, buyers and sellers were seen struggling to move cattle through rain-soaked roads and muddy enclosures.
Traders said transporting animals in the inclement weather has become increasingly costly and challenging, while prospective buyers complained of inconvenience and discomfort while selecting cattle.
The rain has left many market areas muddy and slippery, hampering trading activities during one of the busiest periods of the year for livestock sellers.
According to a BMD’s bulletin, the highest rainfall recorded in Bangladesh on Tuesday was 130mm in Srimangal.
Meteorologists said rain accompanied by thunderstorms may continue over the next several days, raising concerns about further disruptions to Eid travel and cattle trading activities across the country.
