Due to the lack of a proper drainage system, large parts of Rayenda union in Bagerhat's Sarankhola upazila remain waterlogged with stagnant floodwater long after the monsoon has ended.

As a result, around 200 to 250 families — including those living near RKDS Girls' School, the old post office area, and Rayenda Bazar Dakhil Madrasa area in the union — continue to suffer while trapped in knee-deep water.

The lack of clean and pure water has left families struggling to meet their basic needs, with many forced to use foul-smelling water for daily tasks such as washing and bathing.

Ponds and canals overflowing with rainwater have flooded the area, leaving knee-deep water over gardens and homestead yards, residents said.

They said unplanned construction has filled in the area's natural water channels and blocked all outlets to the nearby Baleshwar river, causing waterlogging.

As bad odour is coming out of water, 50-year-old Setara Begum, a resident of Kadamtala area, said, "We use this water for all our washing because we have no other option."

Another resident, Salam Hawladar, said, "The whole area is full of foul water. However, we have to use this rotten water for everything – washing clothes, bathing – all our work."

Sarankhola Upazila Health Officer Priyo Gopal Biswas told The Daily Star, "Bathing or washing in dirty water can cause various skin diseases, itching, and deitisrmat, and may also increase the risk of urinary infections among women. Drinking polluted water can lead to diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, and hepatitis B."

"About 20 percent of the patients coming to our hospital are suffering from skin-related ailments, mostly children and women," he added.

He urged locals to boil or filter their water and maintain good hygiene to avoid illness.

Sharankhola Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sudipto Kumar Sinha said the administration has tried several times to dig channels and install pipes to drain the water, but the work was halted after some landowners refused to cede their land for the project.

He said discussions are now ongoing with local leaders to find a viable solution.

Residents, however, said no effective measures have been taken despite repeated appeals. "Waterlogging has become part of our daily lives," said one resident, adding that despite numerous complaints, no proper drainage system has yet been implemented.