When the Street Becomes a Trap: The Hidden Danger of Open Manholes in Bangladesh
"What if the next step you take on the street is your last?" In cities around the world, safety is a fundamental expectation. But what happens when the very infrastructure meant to protect us becomes a silent killer?
From lost lives to administrative denial, this blog delves into the grim reality of open manholes across Bangladesh. It examines real-life tragedies, exposes bureaucratic apathy, and presents how cities like New York, Seoul, Tokyo, and Amsterdam have solved similar crises. Finally, it outlines what Bangladesh must do—urgently—to reclaim safety in public spaces.
Introduction
When a city fails to safeguard its own people, it becomes not just dysfunctional—but dangerous. The streets of major Bangladeshi cities are plagued by a silent, deadly hazard: open and poorly maintained manholes. These gaping holes in public infrastructure don’t just represent negligence—they are death traps.
From Dhaka to Chittagong, and from Sylhet to Barisal, every monsoon and every footstep is a gamble. Behind each tragic incident is a predictable pattern: no warning signs, zero accountability, and an absence of urgency. In this blog, we explore real-life cases, systemic failures, international best practices, and propose actionable reforms.
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Manhole in Dhaka City
1. Unforgiving Realities: Tragic Manhole Accidents in Bangladesh
1.1 Fatema Begum, Tongi: A Life Lost in Silence
In January 2024, Fatema Begum, a 42-year-old housewife, fell into an open manhole on a wet street in Tongi. There was no caution sign, no barrier—just a gaping hole. Her lifeless body was found 36 hours later. The city corporation offered no explanation, and the incident faded without justice.
1.2 The Death of Jihad: A Nation's Shame
In 2014, four-year-old Jihad fell into a 300-foot well shaft near Shahjahanpur Railway Colony in Dhaka. Government agencies abandoned rescue efforts prematurely. Volunteers later recovered the body, sparking national outrage over administrative neglect.
1.3 Barisal, 2021: A Student’s Final Walk
A college student fell into an open manhole during a blackout and light rain. With no streetlights or visible warnings, she drowned. Authorities blamed others; no justice followed.
1.4 Wari, Old Dhaka, 2022: A Rickshaw Puller’s Fatal Fall
In July 2022, rickshaw-puller Jalal Uddin was swept into a water-covered manhole during a downpour. His body was recovered from a canal days later. Despite prior complaints, the manhole remained uncovered.
1.5 Agrabad, Chattogram, 2023: Child Injured in Broad Daylight
Seven-year-old Sami fell waist-deep into an open manhole on his way to school. Though rescued, he suffered a fractured leg. Authorities blamed a nearby construction project, but no responsibility was taken.
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| Manhole in Chittagong City |
2. A Culture of Denial: Who’s Responsible?
Open manholes in Bangladesh are not merely engineering oversights—they represent a deep-rooted administrative failure. The problem lies in a tangled web of overlapping authorities—WASA, city corporations, LGED, and various utility agencies—all too quick to shift blame and too slow to take responsibility.
There exists no centralized inspection mechanism, no dedicated oversight body, and worst of all, no meaningful legal action even after fatalities occur. Each tragedy is met with the same tired cycle:
A few temporary bamboo barricades
A press statement expressing regret
A promise of “investigation” that quietly fades into silence
These gestures are not solutions—they are symbols of systemic neglect.
What’s truly missing is a sense of urgency and institutional care. The absence of accountability, transparency, and planning turns our urban streets into deadly traps. Until that changes, manhole deaths will remain not just preventable—but unforgivable.
How Other Cities Prevent Such Disasters
Around the world, cities have taken proactive steps to eliminate the risks posed by open or faulty manholes. From structural engineering to smart technology and civic accountability, these cities demonstrate how foresight and responsible governance can turn a potential hazard into a well-managed system.
3.1 New York City, USA
Locking the Danger Away
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Smart manhole in USA |
In New York City, manhole covers are designed to be nearly immovable by the average person—many weighing up to 250 pounds (113 kg). Utility companies like Con Edison take responsibility for regular inspections and maintenance. After several incidents of manhole fires and explosions in the early 2000s, the city responded with a set of reforms: Bolted or locked covers to prevent unauthorized access Heat-resistant insulation to prevent cable fires A GPS-enabled mapping system to track infrastructure A public 311-reporting hotline, allowing citizens to quickly report any hazards These measures have drastically reduced the frequency of accidents and increased response speed when issues do arise. 3.2 Tokyo, JapanWhere Art Meets Accountability |
| Environment friendly manhole in Japan |
Tokyo’s manholes are globally admired for their beautiful designs, often depicting local culture, flora, or city emblems. But beneath the beauty lies a serious commitment to safety:
Heavy-duty, lockable lids prevent casual removal
Many are embedded with sensors that monitor for water levels, gas leaks, or tampering
Responsibility is clearly assigned to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Urban Infrastructure Department, ensuring regular audits and maintenance
Tokyo proves that aesthetic value and technical efficiency can co-exist in public safety.
3.3 Singapore
Precision, Planning, and Punishment
Singapore is known for its strict urban planning and zero-tolerance policy towards administrative negligence. When it comes to manhole safety:
Covers are tightly sealed, sometimes electronically locked
Inspection cycles are digitized and monitored in real-time
Contractors or agencies responsible for negligence face hefty fines and blacklisting
The city also uses smart manhole technologies that trigger alerts during floods or unauthorized access attempts, making it a model for real-time urban safety.
3.4 Stockholm, Sweden
A Culture of Citizen Empowerment
In Stockholm, urban safety is a shared responsibility. While the city ensures structural integrity, citizens are empowered through:
A mobile app that allows real-time reporting of hazards
Public awareness campaigns about open infrastructure risks
Collaborative planning with local councils and engineering teams
Moreover, fibre-optic sensors are now being tested to monitor manhole vibration and displacement — part of Sweden’s “smart city” framework.
3.5 Seoul, South Korea:
Smart Infrastructure
In Seoul, IoT-enabled manhole sensors are common in flood-prone zones. These devices monitor water levels, issue warnings, and automatically trigger closure mechanisms when needed. The Seoul Metropolitan Government enforces strict inspections and maintenance schedules, particularly before the monsoon season.
3.6 Amsterdam, Netherlands:
Water Management Expertise
Known for its intricate canal and drainage systems, Amsterdam places heavy emphasis on safe access points. Covers are routinely checked, clearly marked, and maintained by a single coordinating authority—Waternet. Citizens can report hazards via apps, and the response time is often within hours.i
4. Why Bangladesh Lags Behind
The core issue isn’t the lack of technical knowledge or resources. It’s systemic negligence and poor governance. Bangladesh has engineers, urban planners, and capable institutions—but they’re rarely aligned or held accountable. Here’s why:
Fragmented Responsibility: WASA, city corporations, and LGED often don’t know who owns or maintains which manhole.
Lack of Mapping: Most cities have no updated GIS or digital records of drainage infrastructure.
Reactive, Not Preventive: Maintenance typically happens after an incident—not before.
No Real Penalties: Even after deaths, no agency faces legal consequences or financial penalties.
Absence of Civic Involvement: Citizens don’t know how to report open manholes, and when they do, complaints go unanswered.
5. What Bangladesh Can—and Must—Do
5.1 Immediate Actions
Launch a National Manhole Safety Audit, starting with major cities.
Mandate visible warnings and temporary barriers around any uncovered access point.
Introduce a 24/7 hotline or app for citizens to report hazards, backed by a guaranteed response time.
5.2 Medium-Term Reforms
Establish a unified drainage authority in each city that oversees and maintains all manholes.
Require identification tags or QR codes on all covers for easy tracking and maintenance.
Enforce legal accountability, including charges of criminal negligence in fatal cases.
5.3 Long-Term Strategy
Invest in smart infrastructure, including IoT sensors for flood-prone areas.
Integrate manhole data into GIS systems for digital mapping and planning.
Launch civic awareness campaigns in schools, media, and through NGOs to promote reporting and safety behavior.
6. Hope Through Civic Power: A Shift from Silence to Action
Open manholes are more than just urban flaws—they are reflections of a society’s values. When lives are lost and no one is held accountable, it sends a message: some lives don’t matter. But that narrative can change.
In Barisal, a local community started marking open manholes with bamboo sticks wrapped in red flags after the tragic death of a student. In Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area, school students started a street-mapping initiative identifying risky infrastructure points and reporting them to local wards.
Change doesn’t require miracles—it requires urgency, empathy, and accountability.
Conclusion:
The Street Is Not a Death Sentence
Infrastructure is meant to protect, not harm. Every manhole left open is a test of a nation’s conscience. As Bangladesh dreams of becoming a smart, modern country, it must ask itself—can it ensure the basic safety of walking down the street?
The technology exists. The expertise exists. What’s missing is the will.
Bangladesh must act—before the next step becomes someone’s last.
Reader's Question
Have you or someone you know encountered an open manhole or dangerous street condition in your city? What was the response from the authorities? Share your experience in the comments below.
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