Bangladesh’s environment watchdog has now halted sand-filling at Barishal’s historic Lala Dighi after complaints of illegal encroachment. DoE plans legal action as housing authority claims the area is embankment land.
Bangladesh’s Department of Environment (DoE) has ordered an immediate halt to land-filling activities at the historic Lala Dighi pond in Barishal after initial evidence of illegal encroachment was uncovered.
The inspection, carried out around 10:00 am by DoE Barishal Assistant Director Kazi Saifuddin and representatives from YouthNet Global, followed complaints that parts of the pond, which is over a century old, were being filled with sand without environmental approval.
Lala Dighi, located in the Rupatali area of Ward No. 24, spans approximately 5.8 acres and serves as both an essential urban water reservoir and a cultural landmark. Officials observed that nearly half of the southern section had already been filled with sand transported through pipelines and piling work was also visible at the site.
The alleged filling is being undertaken by the Rupatali Housing Estate Authority under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. Housing officials claim the land was acquired decades ago and that they are reclaiming possession. However, the Department of Environment confirmed no environmental clearance had been granted.
“On-site inspection confirms the land-filling activities,” said Kazi Saifuddin. “When asked, the authorities failed to present any valid documents or clearance. All activities have been ordered to stop immediately. Filling any part of Lala Dighi without prior approval is illegal and we are preparing to file a case under environmental law.”
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) has issued a legal notice opposing the housing project on the pond’s embankment. The notice, signed by lawyer S Hasanul Banna, requests explanations from nine senior officials, including secretaries of the housing environment and land ministries, senior environmental officials and local administrators.
Environmentalists say this dispute highlights a recurring legal grey area in Bangladesh, where parts of waterbodies are described as embankments rather than wetlands to justify development, despite their ecological significance.
YouthNet Global General Secretary Arifur Rahman Shuvo said Lala Dighi is vital for Barishal’s environmental balance. “This is not just a pond. It supports urban drainage groundwater recharge and temperature regulation. If filling continues, this historic waterbody will soon vanish. We demand an immediate stop to encroachment, eviction of illegal occupants and effective conservation measures,” he stated.
During the inspection, officials noted that sand filling and piling had already disturbed the pond’s natural water flow and reduced its capacity to hold water. Local residents warned that further delays in enforcement could make restoration increasingly difficult.
In response to the allegations, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, administrative officer of the Rupatali Housing Estate division, said the southern part of the land was acquired in 1977–78 and is being filled to develop housing plots. He claimed it is part of the pond’s embankment, not the waterbody itself.
Barishal City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Md Nezaul Bari, however, stated that the area in question is part of Lala Dighi, while acknowledging that the housing authority had previously acquired the land.
Bangladesh is home to a vast network of wetlands, including rivers canals beels haors and baors, covering approximately 700,000 to 800,000 hectares. However, wetland filling has surged sharply in recent decades. According to the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), around 42,000 acres of agricultural land and waterbodies are filled annually nationwide. Between 1999 and 2010, an average of 5,757 acres of wetlands were filled each year.
This destruction has long-term effects on communities dependent on wetlands and on biodiversity. Wetlands play a crucial role in cooling urban areas preventing monsoon floods reducing waterlogging replenishing water supplies and filtering waste.
Under the Natural Waterbody Conservation Act, 2000, the classification of playgrounds open spaces parks and natural waterbodies cannot be altered. Unauthorized filling or use can lead to up to five years of imprisonment, fines or both, with provisions for restoring the area at the offender’s expense. The High Court has also directed the government to protect canals parks and playgrounds nationwide.
Environmental experts and activists warn that ongoing loss of waterbodies like Lala Dighi threatens Bangladesh’s urban resilience to climate change. They stress that protecting wetlands is a collective responsibility. Effective enforcement of existing laws is essential to prevent further damage and safeguard the country’s ecological future.
Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, stated that the situation at Lala Dighi reflects a broader national crisis in wetland governance. “Bangladesh has laws to protect rivers canals and wetlands but enforcement is weak. Every year, thousands of acres of waterbodies are filled, often by politically influential actors, while authorities remain silent. Wetlands are not vacant land; they are life-support systems for our cities and communities. Ignoring the law is pushing our cities towards flooding heat stress and ecological collapse,” he said.
