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The 40-feet canal in Bosila, Mohammadpur, is set for a new lease of life as a five-day restoration initiative began on Saturday, October 10, aiming to revive the waterway and improve the surrounding environment.
The initiative goes beyond cleaning up a canal. It seeks to restore the relationship between local communities and nature, tackle urban pollution and create a cleaner, greener and more liveable neighbourhood in the capital.
Once an important part of Bosila’s natural environment, the canal carried rainwater, helped drain surrounding areas and provided a habitat for aquatic life. For nearby communities, it was an essential part of the local ecosystem.
However, rapid urbanisation gradually transformed the area. The expansion of residential buildings, roads and other infrastructure placed increasing pressure on the waterway. Waste disposal, encroachment, sediment accumulation and the narrowing of the canal gradually undermined its natural functions.
The 1.5-kilometre canal, which once served as a valuable drainage channel, has increasingly become a source of pollution and environmental degradation, while its diminished capacity has added to concerns over waterlogging.
Monir Uddin, a local resident, recalled a time when boats could navigate the canal, saying it was now on the verge of disappearing.
“We are very happy that the canal restoration work has begun today. We hope it will regain its former condition,” he said.
Another resident, Mohammad Hafiz, said restoring the canal and keeping its water clean would bring tangible benefits to the community.
He noted that the polluted waterway had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and expressed hope that restoration would help reduce the nuisance and suffering caused by them.
The restoration initiative has brought together environmental advocates, volunteers and local authorities to address the long-standing problem.
Footsteps Bangladesh, in partnership with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and City Bank PLC, launched the five-day cleanup and restoration programme for the 40-feet canal in Bosila, Mohammadpur, scheduled to run from October 10 to 14, 2026.
Syed Ridwan Muhammad Rhittik, local impact and outreach lead at Footsteps Bangladesh, said the initiative aimed to remove accumulated waste, restore the canal’s natural water flow and improve the surrounding environment.
More than 400 volunteers are expected to take part in the programme, helping address a persistent urban environmental challenge, he said.
Volunteers gathered along the canal bank to participate in the restoration work, expressing their determination to clean the waterway and help revive its degraded environment.
DNCC is also expected to support the removal of the collected waste, an important step in preventing rubbish from accumulating again along the canal banks.
For the volunteers, however, the work involves more than removing waste. Every section cleared offers hope for improved drainage, reduced pollution and a healthier neighbourhood.
Rhittik said walkways would be established along the canal banks to help maintain the area and make it more accessible to residents.
He added that Footsteps Bangladesh would maintain the canal for one year after the restoration work was completed.
The initiative also highlights a broader challenge facing Dhaka, where canals and other waterways have been affected by pollution, encroachment and unplanned urbanisation. These pressures have weakened their ability to drain rainwater and sustain the natural environment.
While cleaning the Bosila canal is an important first step, maintaining its condition will require sustained efforts beyond the five-day programme.
Proper waste management, regular maintenance, protection against encroachment, public awareness and cooperation between residents and authorities will be essential to preserving the waterway.
Local residents also have a role to play. Avoiding the disposal of household waste into drains and canals, participating in community cleanups and reporting pollution can help ensure that restoration efforts produce lasting results.
The Bosila canal initiative sends a message that environmental recovery begins when people recognise that public spaces belong to everyone and that protecting them is a shared responsibility.
The real measure of success will not be the volume of waste removed during the five-day drive, but whether the canal remains clean and functional in the months and years ahead. If the initiative encourages lasting changes in public behaviour and stronger environmental management, its benefits could extend well beyond the waterway itself.
Monir Uddin said restoring the canal alone would not be enough unless everyone took responsibility for keeping it clean.
Osman Gani Shahjahan, former president of Mohammadpur thana BNP, said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had emphasised the recovery of canals and rivers across the country, adding that the Bosila canal restoration was part of that broader initiative.