Bangladesh’s Department of Environment has ordered Jagadish Saraswati Girls’ High School to restore its century-old pond after it was illegally filled overnight. YouthNet Global and local residents triggered the intervention amid rising concerns over Barishal’s rapid loss of natural waterbodies.
Authorities halted the illegal filling of a century-old school pond in Barishal after an overnight attempt to cover the waterbody with sand, prompting swift intervention from environmental officials and youth activists.
The pond at Jagadish Saraswati Girls’ High School on Kalibari Road, long used as a natural drainage reservoir for the school and surrounding neighbourhoods, was reportedly filled using sand transported in city corporation waste vehicles. Local residents said the operation took place under the watch of the school’s headmaster and assistant headmaster.
YouthNet Global and the Department of Environment (DoE), Barishal, inspected the site after receiving complaints from the community and confirmed that the pond had been illegally filled. On Sunday (7 December), the DoE issued a written notice ordering the school authorities to restore the pond within three working days or face legal action.
Headmaster Md Ismail Hosain and assistant headmaster Md Kawsar Hossain acknowledged the violation and pledged to restore and beautify the pond.
Under Bangladesh’s Environment Conservation Act 1995 and the Natural Waterbody Conservation Act 2000, filling or altering any waterbody, including privately owned ponds, is strictly prohibited. A 2020 High Court ruling further expanded the definition of “natural waterbody” to include all privately recorded ponds, reinforcing protections against land-use changes.
“Even minor rainfall floods areas like Fakirbari and Kalibari,” said Arifur Rahman Shuvo, Secretary General of YouthNet Global. “This pond was crucial for drainage. Its illegal filling is deeply disappointing. We demand immediate restoration.”
YouthNet Global’s executive coordinator, Sohanur Rahman, said ponds serve as “lifelines” for urban areas. “Protecting them is essential for environmental balance, flood mitigation and public well-being. Authorities must enforce the law, and communities, especially youth, must remain vigilant.”
Kazi Saifuddin, assistant director of the DoE in Barishal, said the agency had verified the encroachment and would take “strict measures” if the school failed to comply with orders.
The incident highlights a growing challenge across Barishal, where rapid encroachment and unplanned construction have led to the disappearance of traditional ponds, worsening waterlogging and urban flooding. Environmental groups say restoring and protecting such waterbodies is critical to the city’s resilience.
“The quick response by YouthNet Global and the DoE shows that Barishal’s ponds can still be saved when communities and authorities act together,” said Lincon Bayen of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Barishal office.
Local residents said the school pond had long served as a natural buffer against rainfall and tidal water. “Destroying these waterbodies puts the whole neighbourhood at risk,” one community member said.
