The government on Saturday launched restoration work on 44 ponds (khas) and waterbodies in Dhaka and its outskirts under, aiming to rebuild and preserve key waterbodies, protect natural drainage system and strengthen environmental balance.
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan inaugurated the climate resilience project funded by the Climate Change Trust Fund at Daripara Government Primary School field in Keraniganj.
Speaking at the event, the adviser said preserving khas ponds and waterbodies is a national responsibility.
The adviser said Dhaka district and the metropolitan area have 113 khas ponds listed in government records, of which 44 have been selected for the first phase of restoration.
“Under the project, authorities will demarcate boundaries, remove illegal encroachments, install boundary pillars, re-excavate ponds, build embankments, clean polluted water, replace water where necessary, and construct ghats, walkways, benches and green zones,” she said.
The measures are expected to help reduce waterlogging, store rainwater, support fisheries and agriculture, create buffer zones and offer eco-friendly recreational spaces for residents, she added.
Rizwana said conserving natural waterbodies is vital for tackling the impacts of climate change, especially as many ponds in Dhaka face encroachment, landfilling and pollution.
She urged the district administration to prepare a list of the remaining waterbodies and move forward with their restoration in phases to ensure a sustainable environment for future generations.
She added that the project will involve local communities, including fishing groups, to ensure environmental conservation and socio-economic benefits.
Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sharaf Uddin Ahmad Chowdhury, Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Tanvir Ahmed, Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman and Keraniganj UNO Rinat Fowzia attended the program as special guests.
