Dhaka Lakes Shine on Banks, But Dirty Water Worries Residents
The lakeside in Gulshan-1 now looks very nice. This is an upscale area of Dhaka. New walking paths and sitting areas have been built. People enjoy walking and taking photos there. However, the water itself tells a different story.
The lake water is dark and murky. Plastic waste floats on the surface. Piles of garbage gather in some spots. Often, a bad smell comes from the water. Residents in Banani also see the same problem.
Mahfuzul Haque lives in Banani. He said new concrete paths are good. But he added, “If the lake water stays polluted, the development is not complete.”
A project to improve the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara lake system started in 2010. Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) led this work. The project included digging the lake and building roads and walkways. Trees were planted, and streetlights were added.
The project cost was first set at Tk 4.1 billion. It was meant to finish by 2013. But delays happened due to legal problems. In 2025, the project was revised. The cost increased to Tk 5.55 billion. It is now planned to finish by December this year.
An official report in June found a big issue. The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) said sewage lines still connect to the lake. There is no other way for dirty water to go. This harms the project’s goal to make the environment better.
RAJUK sources say 85 percent of the water entering the lake system is sewage. This makes the water smell bad. It means the large sum of money spent on development is not fully effective.
Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) manages sewage in the capital. WASA Chief Engineer Alamgir Hossain Ahmed said their pipeline network is not finished. So, sewage cannot reach the treatment plant. Instead, it flows into the lakes, especially during rain.
City corporations and WASA often blame each other. City corporations say WASA’s network is poor. WASA says new buildings need proper sewage tanks. They argue that many buildings illegally connect to drains.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a meeting on July 6. He discussed cleaning the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara lakes. He told ministries and agencies to work together. They must remove waste and stop water pollution.
Urban planner Adil Muhammad Khan spoke about the lakes. He said they are important natural water bodies. He believes connecting sewage to the lake must stop first. Otherwise, the lake will not survive, even with new improvements.
The IMED report stated that for true success, sewage lines must be fully cut off. Water quality needs careful checking. Only then can the lakes become ideal places for people to enjoy.
