Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said the port city of Chattogram must get rid of the waterlogging and instructed the authorities concerned to take effective steps to deal with the problem.

Describing the waterlogging as symbolic but a severe problem, the Chief Adviser asked local administration to create an instance by effectively mitigating the longstanding crisis.

"Since the monsoon season has already arrived this year, it will not be possible to completely solve the problem this time," Prof Yunus said.

But if the efforts made by the city corporation and other local government institutions in the last few months do not yield the expected results this year, then everything will seem to have gone down the drain, he said.

Speaking at a meeting at Chattogram Circuit House, Prof Yunus urged journalists to write reports regularly on the water-logging problem.

Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr Md Ziauddin briefed the Chief Adviser with an overview of the water-logging situation in Chattogram City.

Farida Khanom, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Chattogram, moderated the function.

Prof Yunus listened to various initiatives and experiences of representatives of the Chattogram City Corporation, the district administration and all other institutions involved in local service activities and civil society.

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“We have had many theoretical discussions, we do not want to do those anymore, we want to get out of the waterlogging problem forever. But that will not happen all at once, so we have to change the situation gradually,” said the Chief Adviser.

Referring to the heritage and historical achievements of Chattogram, the Chief Adviser said other cities and districts will be encouraged by solving this problem. "So, Chittagong must set an example in this work.

He said many other cities do not have the capacity that Chattogram city has.

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Therefore, he said, all institutions in Chattogram must be active and prove their capacity by playing a strong role together.

Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e-Azam, Energy Adviser Dr Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Education Adviser CR Abrar, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, Bida Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were also present.