Heritage lost
Once there were six ponds in Ward-83 of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), offering a much-needed respite to the residents from the jaded city life.
The water bodies were a vital part of the ward, used by almost all. Besides being a natural haven and a centre to relax awhile, these ponds used to cater for households of the communities.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. But over the years four of the water bodies were lost to urban sprawl.
Of the remaining two, one is barely surviving due to the negligence of the authorities concerned. The other one is still in a relatively better condition.
Among the six, two were on the DCC base map where DCC mentioned that the ponds belonged to them. However, both have now disappeared due to a lack of protection.
The around 0.576 sq km ward comprises Gandaria, Postogola, Lal Mohan Poddar Lane, Dhaka Cotton Mills, Bangladesh Bank Colony and Dhalka Nagar Lane of Sutrapur among other areas.
It now falls under Ward-47 of Dhaka South City Corporation.
GANDARIA POND
The around five-bigha pond in the capital's Gandaria was not only a source of fresh water for the residents, it was also a part of their heritage, according to locals.
Due to the negligence of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), the water body is in death throes. Rampant encroachment and dumping of waste from the nearby households continue to threaten its existence.
If not immediately saved, the pond will disappear soon and remain just a whisper of the past, said locals.
Rajuk acquired the land for its residential project, Gandaria DIT plot, in 1962/63, said a Rajuk official.
When asked, he said they do not have any concrete plan to protect the pond.
Ali Hossain, a resident of the Gandaria DIT plot, said the pond was used by many. “We grew up with the pond. It's a vital part of the neighbourhood. Please do something to save our heritage,” he implored.
Unabated encroachment by influential persons continues to destroy the water body, said locals. One fourth of the pond has already been grabbed, they added. Also, incessant dumping of waste from the nearby households making the water, once fresh, dirty.
“For the last five years, due to the worsening quality of the pond water, no one uses it anymore,” said Anowar Hossain, a resident of the area.
Josna Akhtar, another resident, said she and her sister used to swim in the water body around 25 years back.
“We used to have so much fun swimming there during the warm summer days. Our children can't even imagine that nowadays. To them, it's just a dirty water body.”
She also requested the authorities concerned to save the pond.
Contacted, Rajuk's immediate past chairman M Bazlul Karim Chaudhury said necessary steps would be taken soon to protect the pond.
POND AT JURAIN GRAVEYARD
The pond was first turned into a playground during the 90s under the initiative of a local ward commissioner.
But the playground did not last long either. It was turned into an extended part of the Jurain graveyard after five years.
Ali Hossain, a resident of the area, said they had many fond memories of the water body during their childhood. The area used to be abuzz with people swimming in it or relaxing by the banks.
The 0.33 acre pond was on the DCC base map where DCC was mentioned as the owner of the water body.
CREMATION GHAT PUKUR
The pond was also on the DCC base map, mentioning it as the owner of the water body. It was turned into a cremation ground around seven years back.
The around 0.22 acre pond was inside the crematory area, which is now being used as a part of the crematory ground.
An official of the crematory said as the pond was under threat of being grabbed, and the DCC recovered the pond in 2010-11.
By that time, most of the pond was also filled up due to dumping of waste from the nearby re-rolling mills, he said.
“Also, there was a scarcity of burial place for some people of the Hindu community like the sweepers and Robidas, who bury the dead instead of cremating. So, after getting the pond from the DCC, the crematory authorities filled it up for extending the burial place in 2010-2011.”
CHHAPRA MASJID PUKUR
The around 1.53 acres of pond was located next to 44/2 Dhalka Nagar Lane in Sutrapur area since the Pakistan period. It was filled up during the last part of the 90s.
A resident of the area claimed that the water body was owned by the Nawab family, and later came under the Dhaka City Corporation in the 80s under the initiative of a local ward commissioner.
The pond was filled up and divided into around 20 plots, said a local wishing anonymity. He said a mosque was also built on the land around that time.
Now, there are around 20 multi-storey buildings in the area.
The DCC before its split in 2011 mentioned the pond as theirs in their documents.
Though the water body existed on paper, in reality, multi-storey buildings were constructed on the land where the pond once was, said locals.
EKRAM SHAHEBER PUKUR
The privately-owned pond was used by residents of the Dhalka Nagar and Sutrapur areas on a regular basis.
There were three ghats (landing spot) and water of the pond was clean, said locals.
But the owner sold the pond in 1989 due to a financial crisis, said Syed Mozammel Hossain, a family member of the owner. The pond was filled up around that time.
“I still miss the pond,” he said. “It would have been very useful during this hot weather. Not just for us, for everyone.”
Now, there are furniture shops and permanent and makeshift structures instead of the around one-bigha water body.
GOVT FLOUR MILL POND
The pond at the Government Modern Flour Mill in Postogola was dug up in the 50s around the same time the flour mill was set up, said Mofazzal Hossain, a resident of the area.
The around 1.5 bighas of water body is comparatively in a better condition as its water was found to be clean during a visit in April.
“Like many others, I used to bathe in the pond,” said Mofazzal. He said the pond was used by people from different areas even few years back. Now, access to the water body is limited as the mill has set up boundary walls surrounding it.
Contacted, an official of the flour mill said the boundary walls were set up around two years back for ensuring safety of the people and also for protecting the water body.
Julfikar Rahman, chief miller of the mill, said the mill was constructed in 1956, since then the pond is there. The mill was shut down in 2005 and reopened in 2015 after renovation.
“We want to keep the pond alive as it enhances the beauty of the area. Also, it works as a retention area, which will help a lot during any fire incident,” he said.
The water of the pond is clean and free of pollution, he prided.
(Edited by Hasan Meer)
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