Barishal Housing Authority has sand-filled part of historic Lala’s Pond without environmental clearance. BELA and DoE say approvals are mandatory and warn legal action to protect the six-acre city waterbody.
A section of the century-old Lala’s Pond, adjacent to the upscale Rupatoli Housing Estate in Barishal city, has been filled by the Barishal Housing Authority without approval from relevant government departments, raising legal and environmental concerns.
The pond, covering around six acres, is a prominent waterbody in the city and is bordered by residential areas on three sides and a road to the west. A smaller portion, approximately 0.5 acres, is owned by the housing authority. Observers say the authority has separated this section from the main pond using concrete piling and filled it with sand over the past month. Local contractors confirmed that the work was carried out on instructions from the housing authority.
Under Bangladesh law, including the Water Bodies Preservation Act 2000 and the Bangladesh Water Act 2013, filling or altering a pond without prior permission from the Department of Environment is illegal. Lincoln Bayen, coordinator of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) in Barishal, said the housing authority cannot change the classification of the pond despite owning part of it and promised legal action.
Local authorities are monitoring the situation and environmental lawyers have indicated they will pursue legal measures to ensure compliance with waterbody protection laws.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension in Bangladesh between urban development pressures and legal protections for historic and ecologically significant waterbodies, reflecting broader challenges in balancing city expansion with environmental conservation.
Historically, the pond was leased for fish farming, but ownership disputes and political pressures have left it largely unused, with parts overgrown by water hyacinths. Anisur Rahman, a former local councillor and legal owner of a majority of the pond, said the filled section belongs to the housing authority.
Rafiqul Islam, administrative officer of Rupatoli Housing Estate, defended the action, saying the housing authority reclaimed its land, which had fallen within the pond’s boundary. “Since it is part of the pond’s embankment and not the pond itself, we did not seek environmental permission,” he said.
Assistant Director of the Department of Environment Kazi Saifuddin countered that any change in the classification of a waterbody requires prior approval. “No application or permission was obtained. If such work continues, legal action will be taken,” he said.
Arifur Rahman Shuvo, General Secretary of YouthNet Global, expressed concern over the incident, stating, “Historic waterbodies like Lala’s Pond are vital for our environment and communities. Unauthorized filling not only violates the law but threatens local ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who depend on them. Authorities must prioritize environmental protection over short-term development gains.”
