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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to strengthen coordinated efforts to prevent pollution and improve the environment of the Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Niketan and Dhanmondi lakes in the capital.
He stressed stopping sewage discharge into the lakes, ensuring regular waste removal, installing sewage treatment plants (STPs) and speeding up activities by the relevant agencies.
The directives came at a meeting chaired by the prime minister at the Cabinet Division conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday (September 17).
The meeting reviewed the current condition of the lakes in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan, sources of pollution and ongoing renovation and development plans. Tarique also reviewed the progress of renovation, sludge removal and a pilot project at Dhanmondi Lake undertaken by Dhaka South City Corporation.
Officials informed the meeting that six primary and six secondary points had been identified through which sewage and polluted water enter Gulshan Lake. A technical committee presented short-, medium- and long-term recommendations to address the problem.
The meeting stressed blocking sewage outlets, installing building-level STPs and conducting a detailed survey of the existing sewerage network. It also discussed conditional collection of sewerage bills in Gulshan-Banani and improving drainage through the development of catchment areas.
To accelerate cleaning efforts, the prime minister ordered the number of mechanical boats used to remove floating waste to be increased from two to 10. He also stressed removing accumulated sludge from lakebeds using floating excavators and maintaining regular cleaning operations.
The meeting emphasised ensuring the installation of STPs in applicable buildings within the stipulated timeframe under the Dhaka Metropolitan Building Rules 2025. Dhaka WASA and Dhaka North City Corporation were advised to jointly identify illegal sewerage connections from residential and commercial buildings to rainwater drains or lakes and shut them down.
Other proposals included installing aerators to increase dissolved oxygen in lake water, using combined biological and chemical methods to reduce foul odours, and developing a long-term sanitation network.
The meeting was informed that five special teams comprising 42 personnel have already been deployed under RAJUK to ensure the preservation, cleaning and overall maintenance of lakes under its jurisdiction.
Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam, DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar and senior officials concerned attended the meeting.
The government has previously directed coordinated action to protect the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake and improve sewerage and waste management in the area.
