Dhaka was once crisscrossed by numerous canals that were essential to the city’s life, livelihood, and water flow. Today, most have vanished beneath concrete, existing only in memories and old maps. The Paribagh canal, for instance, once flowed from Moghbazar through Banglamotor and Shahbagh, passing through the Dhaka University area before meeting the Buriganga. It was not merely a waterway but a vital part of the city’s pulse, connected to at least 50 other canals in areas like Karwan Bazar, Panthapath, Gulistan, Motijheel, and Old Dhaka. However, the landscape has shifted drastically over the last three decades. Unplanned urbanization, encroachment, and pollution have rendered these canals nearly invisible. In many places, they have turned into narrow drains or have been filled in to make way for permanent structures.
Currently, only 65 canals remain in Dhaka, and even these are plagued by severe issues. Many have shrunk, lost their current, and seen their biodiversity nearly wiped out. To recover these waterways, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) has outlined an extensive roadmap in its Detailed Area Plan (DAP) 2022-35. According to DAP estimates, restoring each canal, including its biodiversity, will cost between BDT 10 billion and BDT 15 billion. However, the cost will be lower for those canals that do not require land acquisition. Total estimates suggest that reclaiming Dhaka’s canal network could require an investment exceeding BDT 500 billion.
DAP officials have already completed a feasibility study to make the restoration plan realistic. The study focused on three critical canals — Kallyanpur, Rayerbazar, and Ramchandrapur — as models for the project. According to the study, returning these three canals to their original state will require at least BDT 10–15 billion. However, officials clarified that simple dredging or cleaning will not suffice to restore natural flow and biodiversity.
The primary challenge lies in reviving the “Blue Network,” a 574-kilometer-long integrated waterway system consisting of canals and rivers within the capital. Rejuvenating this network demands a coordinated, long-term initiative costing over BDT 500 billion. A significant portion of the budget for the Rayerbazar canal, in particular, would be directed toward land and building acquisition, as the canal has been heavily encroached upon or narrowed in many sections.
DAP officials emphasized that there is no alternative to removing structures occupying canal land. Furthermore, based on CS (Cadastral Survey) maps, some sections of canals are now so narrow that even normal water flow is obstructed, let alone navigation. Widening these canals will require additional land acquisition and the demolition of buildings, further driving up costs.
Highlighting the practical aspects of the plan, RAJUK Chief Town Planner (CTP) Md Ashraful Islam told Bonik Barta, “This initiative won’t be limited to just digging canals or banking the shores; rather, it will be an integrated urban development process.” The feasibility study for the Rayerbazar, Kallyanpur, and Ramchandrapur canals prioritizes the creation of people-friendly infrastructure, specifically the construction of walkways on both sides of the canals. He noted that since Dhaka faces an acute shortage of open walking spaces, the canal banks must be utilized to address this need.
However, a major challenge in this endeavour is the scarcity of land. Explaining the situation, RAJUK’s chief town planner noted that without sufficient space, there is a risk of narrowing the canal’s interior to construct walkways — a mistake made in the past that obstructed natural water flow. He further said that to avoid a recurrence, land acquisition is indispensable. He added, “The CS (Cadastral Survey) map will serve as the base for demarcating canal boundaries, and these won’t be reduced under any circumstances. In fact, initiatives may be taken to increase the width in certain areas to ensure both navigation and water flow. While such measures are costly, there’s no alternative if we want to keep Dhaka liveable. The investment required to restore the entire city’s ‘Blue Network’ is comparable to the cost of a single MRT line, which is well within the state’s capacity.”
According to DAP estimates, the Rayerbazar canal restoration requires around BDT 9.67 billion for land acquisition alone. Additionally, over BDT 1.34 billion is estimated for recovering buildings on the canal, around BDT 1.31 billion for dredging and embankment, approximately BDT 3.40 million for boat terminals, BDT 12.5 million for an amphitheater, around BDT 457.52 million for walkways, and around BDT 288 million for greening. In total, more than BDT 10 billion is needed for this single canal. Similarly, the restoration of the Kalyanpur canal is estimated at approximately BDT 1.5 billion.
Researchers, however, point out that a lack of transparency persists regarding the actual number of canals in Dhaka, with no unified statistics available. Researcher Tarun Sarkar, who has studied Dhaka’s canals for over three decades, told Bonik Barta, “There’s no definitive count for Dhaka’s canals. The same canal often carries different names in different areas, and branches extend across multiple areas. While the National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) identifies 65 active canals, the Dhaka District Administration cites 54. Meanwhile, the DAP mentions 219 canals across Greater Dhaka, complete with mapping.”
Experts believe that reclaiming these canals in phases could fundamentally transform Dhaka — reducing waterlogging, lowering urban temperatures, and providing a new aesthetic appeal. Many draw parallels to Venice, Italy, where canals define the city’s beauty as well as the primary means of transportation. Yet, the feasibility of such a massive project remains a question, as land recovery, political will, and the continuity of long-term planning pose significant hurdles.
Restoring Dhaka’s canals is not merely an infrastructural or environmental project; it is deeply rooted in justice, accountability, and good governance, according to urban planner Dr Adil Mohammed Khan. Alongside restoration efforts, he proposed publishing a comprehensive white paper on the history of canal encroachment and those responsible. Speaking to Bonik Barta, he said, “The government is planning to spend billions to reclaim canals today, but we must first ask: who occupied these canals for all these years? A detailed list of occupiers, including their political affiliations, must be made public. Furthermore, a forensic investigation is needed to determine the financial gains they accrued from these encroachments. If this data is brought to light, a significant portion of the restoration costs could be recovered directly from the occupiers.”
Noting that the reality is starkly different, he said, “No government has taken effective punitive measures against the encroachers of canals, rivers, or natural water bodies. There hasn’t even been a white paper published regarding them. As a result, these occupiers remain beyond reach, often maintaining influential positions openly.”
Dhaka, the capital of riverine Bangladesh, was once a city of canals and wetlands. A canal is not merely a waterway; it sustains a balanced ecosystem of fish, birds, vegetation, and overall biodiversity. According to environmental activists, numerous canals were spread across the city just three decades ago. However, flawed planning and short-sighted development have pushed this water-dependent city toward a severe crisis. Currently, Dhaka faces an acute shortage of safe water — not only for daily consumption but also for emergencies like firefighting. This is further exacerbated by rising temperatures; as canals and wetlands are filled, the city transforms into a “heat island” during the summer. In winter, air pollution often surges to levels that place Dhaka at the top of the global list of most polluted cities.
Muhammad Monir Hossain, chairman of the Bangladesh River Foundation, told Bonik Barta, “The biggest mistake made by policymakers was viewing canals solely as a medium for water flow. This perspective led to the conversion of critical waterways like the Paribagh, Panthapath, and Segunbagicha canals into box culverts, with roads constructed over them. Killing the canals in this manner did not just stop the water flow; it destroyed the entire surrounding ecosystem. Fish, birds, trees, and fresh air — everything has been destroyed. Consequently, today’s Dhaka has become a city of traffic congestion, overcrowding, pollution, and disease.”
Emphasizing that there is no alternative to canal restoration for restoring Dhaka’s liveability, he added, “To save Dhaka, existing canals must be recovered at any cost according to established standards. While this involves massive government expenditure, it will yield manifold long-term returns through environmental balance, improved public health, and a better quality of life for city dwellers.”
There are significant challenges ahead. According to urban planners, the hardest task will be reclaiming canals that have completely disappeared in areas like Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, Dhanmondi, Gulshan, Baridhara, and Old Dhaka. However, without these links, the benefits of recovering other canals and rivers will remain limited.
Project officials stated that the DAP proposes a functional model to address this. In areas like Shahbagh, where the canal network has vanished, road management will be restructured. Some roads will be converted to one-way traffic, and the reclaimed space will be used to recreate the canal network. If implemented, this would allow for easy cross-city travel via waterways. Simultaneously, the city would operate three parallel transport systems — waterways, MRT, and roadways — which would significantly reduce traffic congestion and improve the urban environment.
Regarding the plan, RAJUK Chairman Engineer Md. Reazul Islam told Bonik Barta, “The ownership of Dhaka’s canals has shifted from WASA to the City Corporations. A committee involving all relevant agencies has been formed for canal recovery. These canals will be reclaimed at any cost; the government is determined in this regard. We’ve had meetings with the Prime Minister, who is giving the highest priority to canal restoration.”