The dysfunctional megacity: why Dhaka is bursting at the sewers

Cities can be dense without being overpopulated. But in the world’s most crowded city, the drains can’t cope – creating a grim new jobAfter decades cleaning the sewers of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s crowded capital, Sujon Lal Routh has seen plenty of misery. But the tragedy of 2008 was the worst. After a day of heavy rainfall left the streets flooded – as usual – seven workers were assigned to clear a blocked manhole in Rampura, in the centre of the city. Normally, cl