To accelerate communication, the Gazipur–Madanpur Asian Highway (Dhaka By-pass) is being widened into a 180-foot road. During the construction work, the government canal beside the road was filled with sand using dredgers. As a result, the natural flow of water has been blocked. For months, a large canal has remained filled up, yet no initiative for recovery is visible.
On the other hand, illegal structures have been built on almost every canal, cutting off their connection with the Shitalakkhya River. Now, even light rainfall causes waterlogging, forcing hundreds of families to suffer.
It is learnt that in 1981, under the “Narayanganj–Narsingdi Irrigation Project (NND),” the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) constructed embankments covering around 2,000 bighas of agricultural land in 20 villages of Kanchan Municipality, Murapara, Bhulta, and Golakandail unions. Roads were built on the embankments from Kanchan to Rupshi and from Kanchan to Bhulta Gausia. Land was acquired inside the embankments for water extraction and drainage to support agriculture. Later, canals were excavated with government funding—linking Baniadi in Murapara Union to Golakandail, Kaladi in Kanchan Municipality to Golakandail, Hatab through the middle of the beel via Baruipar–Tunnel–Dulurdia–Kushab to Golakandail, and Tekpara Tunnel to Kanibil–Maucha beel, joining Baniadi canal.
However, due to lack of maintenance, hundreds of small and large structures were illegally built on top of the canals. In the past three decades, as no re-excavation or maintenance took place, the canals are disappearing due to encroachment. In some places, even after acquiring land, canals were never dug. As a result, the normal water flow has stopped, and even light rain now causes waterlogging inside the embankment areas.
Farmers and locals said, “For years, canals have remained disconnected from the Shitalakkhya River. Sometimes officials come and conduct drives to recover small sections of canals, but they never focus on restoring river connections. Without reconnecting canals to the river, waterlogging will never be solved.”
On-site observation:
Inside the embankment areas of Kanchan Municipality, Murapara, Bhulta, and Golakandail unions—including villages like Kanchan, Trishkahania, Kaladi, Nolpathor, Kushab, Dulurdia, Tekpara, Baruipara, Hatab, Amlab, Shinglab, Pithaghuri, Berok, Panab, Sonab, Masumabad, and nearly 30 others—canals such as Tatkir, Sutalri, Dagirma, Maucha, and Kanibil canals exist to support 2,000 bighas of farmland. But in Hatab–Baroipara area, construction of garden houses on the Kanibil canal at Pithaghuri is obstructing water flow. Similarly, canals from Shitalakkhya to Tatkir, Sutalri, Dagirma, and Kaladi to Golakandail, adjacent to the 180-foot Asian Highway, have been occupied due to negligence of the contractors.
Additionally, illegal sand depots have sprung up in Kaladi, Nolpathor, and Kushabo areas; Atlas Toiletries & Soap Factory, NDE Readymix, Mangsang Servicing Center, and many other industries as well as fifty residential houses have been built directly over canals in the Handimarket area. Consequently, all canal connections with the Shitalakkhya River are cut off.
Thus, water flow is disrupted, while thousands of tons of excess sand from depots submerge farmland. Even light rainfall creates water bodies, while heavy rain brings severe waterlogging. Within the embankment irrigation project, this waterlogging not only disrupts agriculture but also threatens people’s livelihoods. Moreover, untreated factory waste released into open fields is spreading waterborne diseases among locals.
Local voices:
Abdus Samad of Tekpara said: “Four to five canals have been illegally grabbed, with around fifty permanent structures built over them. Earlier, villagers submitted written applications to the District Commissioner, but no results came. Ironically, the same people occupying the canals now join human chains against waterlogging.”
Shakhawat Hossain of Beltola area said: “Institutions like NDE Readymix, Metro Workshop, Index Power Plant, and Atlas Toiletries have filled government canals and acquired land to build permanent structures. Meanwhile, sand traders are running businesses by completely blocking water flow.”
When asked, Shakhawat Hossain, Reading Production Manager of NDE Readymix, said: “We haven’t grabbed any government canal for our factory. However, sometimes waste falls into the canal, which our workers clean up.” Atlas Toiletries General Manager Mizanur Rahman said: “I am not aware of canal grabbing issues. The owners would know better.”
Authorities’ response:
Dhaka Divisional Sub-Engineer of the Water Development Board, Rezaul Karim, said: “I have joined here recently. A petition has already been submitted to the Chief Advisor and the District Commissioner to recover all canals under the irrigation project. Recovery will begin very soon. During the widening of the Gazipur–Madanpur Bypass by the Roads and Highways Department, a government canal was filled. They were supposed to excavate an alternative canal.”
ASM Elias Shah, Chief Assistant Engineer (Management) of the Roads and Highways Department, said: “I am not aware of the canal being filled during road works. I will investigate and take immediate action.”
UNO Md. Saiful Islam said: “We are working to recover government canals, roads, and khas land. Already, several canals and roads have been freed through mobile drives. The operation is ongoing. Discussions with the Roads and Highways Department have been held, and excavation of the canals will begin soon.”
