Rajshahi officials have restarted excavation of the Ahmedpur pond after illegal filling attempts, following protests by residents and activists demanding enforcement of court orders and long-term protection for urban water bodies.
Local authorities have launched a re-excavation of the Ahmedpur pond in Rajshahi (a metropolitan city and a major urban, administrative, commercial and educational centre of Bangladesh) following repeated attempts to illegally fill the water body, highlighting the ongoing struggle to protect urban ponds in the region.
The pond, located next to Ahmedpur Government Primary School in Bospra under Boalia Police Station, came under threat on October 7, 2024, when several individuals attempted to fill it. On that day, residents, along with youth activists from Youth Action for Social Change (YAS), formed a human chain in front of the pond to demand its protection and restoration. Officials from the Department of Environment, the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Boalia and other authorities intervened, halted the filling activities and installed a warning sign.
However, the sign was later removed and attempts to fill the pond gradually resumed, prompting the local administration to begin a renewed excavation operation today.
The original protest was presided over by YAS President Md Shamiyul Alim Shawon and moderated by General Secretary Atikur Rahman Atik. Speakers included local residents Salauddin Ahmed Manik, Mohammad Shimul and Abdur Rahim, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Rajshahi, as well as environmental and youth leaders Nazmul Hossain Raju of the Environment Movement Unity Council, Subash Chandra Hembram of the National Indigenous Council and Nadim Sinha of the Bangladesh Students’ Federation, Rajshahi Metropolitan unit.
Activists said that although the site is officially classified as non-agricultural pond land, it had allegedly been illegally reclassified for residential purposes. According to the Rajshahi district administration, 952 ponds in the district are protected under High Court directives, underscoring the legal obligation to preserve Ahmedpur pond.
Following the protest, YAS submitted a seven-point memorandum to the Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner, demanding an immediate halt to the filling, conservation and restoration of the pond and accountability for those responsible. Copies were also sent to the Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Rajshahi Metropolitan Police and key ministries, including Environment, Water Resources, Land and Local Government.
The administration’s re-excavation marks a crucial step in protecting urban water bodies that are vital for local water management, biodiversity and climate resilience. YAS and local residents have pledged to continue monitoring the pond to ensure its long-term preservation.
