In 2021, the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Atiqul Islam hit the headlines of newspapers as he conducted an operation to evacuate the Lautala canal in Mohammadpur area of the city. After the operation ended, he said to the media, “We’ll conduct evacuation operation to remove illegal establishments in every canal.” Three years were passed after the announcement of the mayor; however, even the Lautala canal wasn’t made possible to free from encroachment.  After that, in February 25 of 2024, the corporation conducted eviction operation and demolished 6 establishments including a 10 storied building.

In addition, there was an excavation process by deploying a floating excavator in Ramchandrapur canal on February 18 in 2022. After it, the mayor gave words for upcoming evacuation process. However, the promise and planning of the authority seemed to be unimplemented. In February of last year, the mayor went visit Ramchandrapur canal and ordered to fine Tk 3 lakh to a cattle firm situated on the bank of the canal. The penalty decision was implemented on the spot, but no other step regarding it was visible latterly.

Not only the Lautla and Ramchandrapur canals, the same situation is true of the 26 canals to be handed over to Dhaka South City Corporation and North City Corporation. They conducted several operations to clear the two canals and clear the illegal structures, but after a few days it was again occupied. The two city corporations of Dhaka took over these canals from Dhaka WASA on December 31, 2020. After the handover, the two cities began to scramble to clear the illegal construction of the canal to keep the metropolis free from flooding. In the last four years it has been evicted and occupied at times. However, even during this long time, they could not determine the list and boundaries of the occupants. Both organizations were limited to canal cleaning operations only.

It is known that Dhaka North and South City Corporation took over 26 canals from Dhaka Wasa on December 31, 2020. Among them, the canals in Dhaka North City Corporation area include Kantasur, Hazaribagh, Ibrahimpur, Kalyanpur, Abdullahpur, Ramchandrapur, Sutivola, Baunia, Bibba, Diabari, Rayerbazar, Baishteki and Shahjahanpur canals. And in the southern area there are canals in Jirani, Manda, Meradia, Ghazaria, Kasaibari, Shahjadpur, Dumni, Shyampur, Boalia, Rampura, Dholaikhal, Gobindpur, Segunbagicha and Khilgaon-Basabo areas. The two city corporations could not save even one of these canals, even though the two authorities have occasionally conducted evacuation operations. According to the city corporation, there are 69 canals in the capital. Of these, Dhaka has handed over 26 to Wasa City Corporation by the end of 2020. It has already been four years since the handover of the canals. So far the city corporation has not been able to rescue even one canal. Mayors have conducted public eviction operations at various times. However, if the canals are to be saved, the survey process and boundaries must be determined first. After that rescue and beautification along with the walking path creation should be done. Then the rescue of the canal will be sustainable.

Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) President Professor Dr. Adil Mohammad Khan told The Bangladesh Pratidin, “The ownership of the canals of Dhaka has only changed hands, but nothing really worked. The first task after acquiring ownership was to set boundaries. Neither the DSCC nor the DNCC can fully define the boundaries of a canal. The two city corporations are yet to construct an ideal canal where encroachment and pollution do not exist. On the contrary, billions of Tk have been spent in the name of canal cleaning and special operations. It is not a sustainable solution.”

 He said that the canal should be saved and trees should be planted on both sides of the canal and people should walk on its banks. At the same time, if there is space, the roads can be made. The more the involvement of canal-centered people can be increased, the more sustainable development will be done in canal reform.

Dhaka South City Corporation Supervising Engineer Md. Khairul Baker told The Bangladesh Pratidin, “Dhaka South City Corporation has taken up the project to renovate 4 canals. In the meantime, the work of demarcation of the canals is going on. Once the work is completed, the illegal constructions will be removed and excavation work will begin. After that the canal will be beautified. Walkways and cycle lanes will be built along the canal. Roads will also be built somewhere. At the same time, trees will be planted on both sides of the canal. Parks and fields will be created if there is space. All sewage lines in the canal will be closed.”

He also said that once the works of these four canals are partially completed, the rest of the canals will be reformed. Gradually all canals of DSCC will be renovated and beautified.

(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on March 23 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque Khan) ​​