Only exists on map

The pond was not just a source of water for the households.

On hot summer days, both children and adults alike used to enjoy the cooling and soothing effect of a cold swim in the water body.

While, the elderly would sit under the shades of trees beside the pond and relax.

The around one-bigha pond was situated beside Lalmia Sarkar Road in the capital's Muradpur of Jurain under ward-88 of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation (now Ward-52 of Dhaka South City Corporation).

Like many other ponds in the capital, its fate was also sealed. As soon as the owner of the pond passed away in 1992, his sons started to fill it up.

Now, a poultry house, tailor, furniture and medicine shops occupy the pond land.

And, it is impossible to imagine that the six shops at 108/11 Lalmia Sarkar Road used to be a water body used by all even around a decade ago.

The pond was a source of water for the households in the area comprising Muradpur 1 (holding 1-46) and Muradpur 2, 3 and 4 of Jurain -- around 0.536 sq km.

According to locals, it used to be the only pond in the area.

The water body was owned by one Abu Member, who also let others use it, they added.

“After the death of my husband, all of his properties were distributed among his successors,” said Bulu Begum, 50, his wife. She said her eldest son inherited the pond, who eventually sold it.

“But my youngest son later bought it back.” By that time, the pond was filled up completely, she said.

Bulu Begum said the pond water was clean and locals also used it for drinking.

Mariyam Akhtar, daughter of Abu Member, said, “Filling up of the pond began around 1995. It was done partially. A few years later, it was completely filled up.”

Mariyam said she heard from her mother that the pond was there since the British period. “She said it was the only pond in the area, which was useable.”

As the water was clean, people would come from far to use it, she said. “But after my father's death, my brothers set up boundary walls around the water body. Since then, only family members had access to it.”

Harunur Rashid, a resident of the area, said, “My friends and I used to take baths in the pond even before 1992. But the family put up boundary walls afterwards, and eventually filled it up.”

However, according to the base map of Dhaka City Corporation, whose survey was carried out in 2006, there is still a pond in the area.

(Edited by Hasan Meer)