Preserved with love
Sujan's eyes were filled with determination. Patiently, the ninth-grader stood by the edge of the water while the afternoon sun shone brightly upon him.
Suddenly, he felt a tug at the end of his fishing line, attached to a hook. He tried hard to reel the catch in. Two of his friends, standing next to him, also joined in.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The boys were pulling with all their might by pumping and lifting the rod vertically while simultaneously reeling. But all of their efforts went in vain as the cord tore.
“It must have been a big one,” said the student of Pole-star School, wiping off sweat from his forehead.
Though unsuccessful, there was no bitterness in his voice. Even his friends were congratulating him for his effort.
They started fishing again in the pond next to the Shahi Mosque in the capital's Lalmatia.
“We often come here after school,” said Arif Hossain, a class-VIII student of Arup Mission Pilot School in Lalmatia. He said he caught a half-kg fish already.
Right away Sujan, who was fixing his hook, said, “The one I caught last week was almost 1kg.”
The boys were fishing on the western side of the pond.
The pond is full of fish. It is being maintained with care by the authorities of Lalmatia Shahi Mosque. Several including students bathe in it on a regular basis.
It has been said that the pond is there since the time of Mughal Subahdar (governor) of Bengal Shaista Khan. Faruk Ahmed, principal of Jamia Islamia Lalmatia Madrasa, a part of the mosque, said the mosque was constructed by one Suraiya Bibi during Shaista Khan's period. It was dug up so that the devotees can use it for ablutions.
The name of the mosque used to be Bibir Mosque, which was renamed Lalmatia Shahi Mosque Complex during the Pakistan period, he said.
A madrasa, orphanage, library and the pond is under the complex and the reservoir is being maintained by the mosque authorities since 1949.
It is being maintained with care and affection by the authorities, which becomes evident from its serene surrounding and clean water.
“We clean it twice a month and put lime in it twice a year,” said the principal. He said they do not allow anyone to use soap while bathing to keep the water clean.
Abdul Mannan, khadem of the mosque, said the total area of the mosque is around 14 acres and the pond around 1.5 acres.
POND AT RESIDENTIAL MODEL
The pond inside the Dhaka Residential Model College in Mohammadpur was dug up in 1983. Surrounded by trees, it is being maintained by the school authorities on a regular basis.
It was renovated in 2015. The depth of the pond is 15 feet and it is 245 feet long and 95 feet wide.
The school authorities released different kinds of fish in it. The pond is also fenced and students are not allowed to swim in it.
“Swimming is not permitted for ensuring safety of the students,” said Zulfikar Ali, assistant security officer of the college.
A sign of hope
The capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area is still adorned with many ponds and most of them are being maintained with care.
There used to be eight ponds in the area. Six of them are still alive while the other two were lost to urban sprawl.
4 PONDS AT AGRI UNIV
There used to four ponds inside the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University. Of them, three are being maintained and used for fish cultivation and irrigation. The fourth one was filled up to construct an administrative building of the university.
The university was established in 1938 and the reservoirs were there since then.
POND NEAR FAZILATUNNESA HALL
The around 2-acre pond is being used as a retention area, said Prof Dr Forhad Hossain, proctor of the university.
He said children from the nearby government staff quarter swim in it. Also, the pond is being used by the people of Hindu community for performing rituals.
“We also use the pond for irrigation research,” said the proctor.
POND NEAR AGRI FACULTY
The around 1.25-acre pond near the faculty of agri-business management is mainly used for irrigation and cultivating fish.
POND AT SHEIKH HASINA HALL
The pond beside the Krishak Ratna Sheikh Hasina Hall is surrounded by coconut trees. It is fenced and there are benches by its banks for people to sit. POND AT SHEIKH KAMAL BHABAN
The reservoir was filled up in 2015. The Sheikh Kamal Bhaban, a road and a field was constructed on the land, said the proctor.
POND AT NIOH
Even around a decade ago, there used to be a pond on Sayed Mahbub Morshed Avenue in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. The National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH) was built there after filling it up.
The construction work started in 2006, said Mohammad Rakibul Hossain, administrative officer at the hospital.
POND AT AGRI TRAINING INSTT
The pond inside the Agriculture Training Institute is in a good condition. It is also surrounded by trees.
The around half-acre pond was dug up in 1997/98, said Mohammad Shahjalal, a staff at the institute.
2 PONDS IN CHANDRIMA UDYAN
There are two ponds inside the Chandrima Udyan. One of them is in a relatively better condition while the other one needs maintenance.
Mohammad Rafiqul, a security guard, said the authorities concerned restored the reservoir and its banks after the water became polluted and almost dried up.
Mohammad Milon, a vendor in the area, said the reservoir was renovated around nine months back.
About the other pond, he said the water body is in dire straits for the last 15 years. The size of the pond will be around two acres.
(Edited by HASAN MEER)
Comments