Prime Minister Tarique Rahman ordered immediate restoration of Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake, prioritising sewage treatment, pollution control, improved water flow and coordinated action to protect Dhaka’s urban ecosystem.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to take immediate and coordinated steps to restore the ecological condition of Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake as concerns grow over pollution, untreated sewage discharge and solid waste accumulation in one of Dhaka’s key urban water bodies.
The directive came during a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka on Monday, where the current environmental condition of the lake was reviewed along with ongoing challenges in urban drainage, encroachment pressure and waste management failures affecting the water system.
Officials said the restoration effort will focus on stopping untreated wastewater from entering the lake, improving water flow through connected canals and strengthening long-term environmental management in the surrounding residential and commercial areas.
Integrated restoration strategy
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for an integrated and coordinated approach involving relevant ministries, city corporations and development authorities to address the multiple sources of pollution affecting the lake. Authorities were instructed to ensure stronger monitoring of building-level sewage connections and prevent direct discharge into the water body.
The meeting also discussed the need for sustained cleaning operations and improved coordination among agencies responsible for urban water governance, with a focus on long-term ecological recovery rather than short-term cleanup efforts.
Focus on sewage and waste management
A key priority of the plan is the installation and upgrading of sewage treatment systems to ensure that wastewater from surrounding areas is properly treated before entering the lake. Officials also reviewed options for improving solid waste management in adjacent settlements, including the Korail area, to reduce dumping pressure on the water system.
Senior officials present
The meeting was attended by Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Sumon, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahmad Sohel Monzur, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Shafiqul Islam Milton, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam and RAJUK Chairman Riazul Islam, along with senior officials from relevant ministries and agencies.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to improve urban environmental governance in Dhaka and restore the ecological health of the capital’s deteriorating water bodies.
