Government pond turns mosquito breeding zone

A century-old government pond in Beanibazar municipality in Sylhet has become a safe breeding zone for mosquitoes as it has been turned into a waste dumping spot.

The pond, covering 63 decimals of land, is owned by Sylhet Zila Parishad and is situated in the middle of Beanibazar municipality near Beanibazar Uttar Bazar Jame Mosque.

Md Joynal Abedin, who lives near the mosque, said there are no aquatic animals, including fish, in the pond and the water looks like tar and spreads a bad odour. 

Nibash Das, another resident of the same area, said the pond has turned into a dustbin due to indiscriminate dumping of waste into it, polluting the environment.

Beanibazar Press Club Secretary Milad Joynal said keeping the town neat and clean is the main task of the municipality authorities.

He urged the authorities concerned to take action against those who are responsible for ruining the pond by dumping waste. 

Abdul Wadud Ujjal, owner of City Digital Diagnosis Centre in Beanibazar town, said the ancient pond is losing its previous glory day by day. The pond had been used for various purposes in the past but it has become a dustbin now, he added. 

“I and many others used to take bath in the pond, but now the pond is polluted as the residents of nearby houses dump their waste into it,” Ujjal said.

Most of the people of the area said the pond may be a reason for occurrence of chikungunya and dengue diseases as it is a birthplace of mosquitoes.

Mohammad Ashraful Kabir, coordinator of Bhumi Santan Bangladesh, an environment and animal rights organisation, said many traders have set up makeshift shops illegally after grabbing the pond area. However, the authorities concerned are not doing anything in this regard, he added.

Beanibazar Municipality Mayor Abdus Sukkur said they have nothing to do in this regard as the pond is owned by Zila Parishad

Sylhet Zila Parishad Chairman Advocate Md Lutfur Rahman said they will clean the pond very soon.