By the serene water
Once Dhaka was adorned with several hundred ponds. Like canals, only a handful exist now. But they are also in death throes due to negligence of the authorities concerned. Although, according to the Playground, Open Space, Park and Natural Water Body Protection Act 2000, filling up of any water body including pond is illegal, it's going on unabated. The Daily Star found 63 ponds in the maps of undivided Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) in its 28 wards out of 90. A survey for the map was carried out between 2003 and 2011. But many of the water bodies were filled up before the period and also even after the survey. We are publishing the twenty second report of the series today covering the then DCC ward 28 and 27.
As one enters the place, he or she gets welcomed by a melodic chirping of birds and whiff of earth and wet grass.
With blue sky overhead and the air buzzed with laughter and chatter of people, noise from the busy streets also begins to dwindle.
Can you imagine this place -- a pond -- is located right in the capital?
Anyone can visit the reservoir and spend time with families or friends there and fish to their heart's content.
The pond is located inside Kalimata Mandir (temple) at Basabo.
It is frequented by around 20 people a day. Anyone can buy a ticket from the temple authorities and fish in the pond for the entire day. A fishing enthusiast will have to pay Tk 500 per fishing rod.
Abul Hossain, a retired National Board of Revenue staff, visits the pond on a regular basis. “I love to fish. It's a great way to spend time with family and friends.”
He brought his son and a friend along with him. “Fishing also teaches you patience.”
“Even when I was working, I used to drop by during the holidays. Since my retirement in 2011, I come here on a regular basis.”
The pond is filled with fish -- from small to huge ones, he said. Except for winter, people can fish here anytime they want.
“Not just here, we also go to the Dhanmondi Lake, Ramna Lake and the water bodies at Mirpur zoo for fishing.”
Meanwhile, Mohammad Kabir, a resident of Shantibagh, was all serious. “I started fishing since I was a boy.” Though he was talking to this correspondent, he kept his focus on the fishing rod he was holding.
“I even caught a 4kg Pangash just five days back. It was quite tasty,” he boasted.
Suddenly, he left the rod on the ground and smiled. “You know, I learnt to fish from my father. We used to fish together.”
Utpal Das, a staff at the temple, said they allow people to fish for six months. “We use the rest of the months to breed fish.”
HISTORY OF THE POND
According to legend, around five hundred years ago, Man Singh, Rajput Raja of Amber (now Jaipur in India), was travelling through the area. As the area had a scarcity of water, Man Singh, also a trusted general of the Mughal emperor Akbar, directed his soldiers to dig up the pond.
Since then, the several-acre pond is known as Ganga Sagar Dighi, said Lion Chittaranjan Das, president of the Baradeshwary Kalimata Mandir Committee. Later, people visited the area as a pilgrimage.
“If a person visits the pond, he or she will enjoy the time here as its water is very clean and perfect for swimming.” There are two ghats (landing spots) in it and the pond is surrounded by trees, said Utpal Das, a staff of the temple.
Aside from fishing, many still use the reservoir on a regular basis.
Uttam Chandra Das, a fish trader, said he bathes in it regularly.
While Profulla Sarkar, a resident of Basabo, said the pond is used by the people of Hindu community for performing rituals such as emersion of goddess Durga's idol.
Babu Chandra Rajbangshi, another resident of the area, said people not only bathe in it, but also use the water for household chores when they do not get water from the Wasa lines.
(Edited by HASAN MEER)
Left neglected
Once Basabo and Ahmedbagh were full of water bodies. There were at least seven ponds in the areas. But in course of time, most of them were filled up.
And, the ones alive are now struggling to survive.
Due to a lack of initiative from the authorities concerned, the reservoirs were replaced by buildings, schools, health complex and playground.
POND AT BALURMATH
The around two-bigha pond near the Balurmath (playground) in Basabo is there since the Pakistan period.
Hanif Shahid, general secretary of a committee to protect the playground, said the field used to be a jheel (water body) during that time. The then Pakistan government used its soil to construct the Kamalapur Railway Station.
Later, the place was handed over to the Public Works Department.
The area was earmarked as a jheel in Revisional Survey (RS), State Acquisition (SA) and even in the records of City Survey, he said.
It was turned into the field in 2003-2004. As people of the area put up a resistance against the move, a small portion of the water body survived. It is now being used as a pond.
Many still fish in it. But due to a lack of protection, its water has become polluted.
Babar Ali was fishing in the pond. The resident of Wahab Colony under Sabujbagh said he fishes here quite often. “Its water was very clean and many used to swim in it,” he said. “The water started getting polluted around five years back.”
Mohammad Yusuf, a resident of Basabo, echoed him. “I still fish here. It gives me much pleasure. I caught a small tilapia in it recently.”
The pond needs maintenance, he said.
POND NEAR AGOMON CINEMA
Though a portion of the pond on the eastern side of the Basabo's Agomon Cinema Hall is still intact, it will be turned into a stack of concrete soon as the owner of the reservoir has given it to a developer.
Disney Properties Limited will construct a multi-storey building there. Also, the privately-owned reservoir was filled up partially around 10 years back to make way for a market.
Mohammad Sabbir, a staff at Disney Properties, said they are waiting for Rajuk's approval to construct the 16-storey building. The pond is around two bighas, he said.
ABDUL AZIZ SCHOOL POND
Once there used to be a reservoir inside the Abdul Aziz School in Madartek. The one-bigha pond was tuned into a playground and a building in the 90s.
Mohammad Akbar Ali, a member of the school's governing body, said the school was established in 1962. A four-storey building on the western side of the school and a playground was created after filling up the pond.
Akbar said many used to bathe in it. “It was also being used for fish cultivation.”
POND AT BUDDHIST TEMPLE
The pond inside Basabo Buddhist Temple is there since the British period.
Pakistani ruler Ayub Khan allotted the land to construct the temple and an orphanage in 1960, said Anuj Barua, executive member of Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha. It was dug up during that time.
Surrounded by trees, the pond is being maintained properly by the temple authorities.
POND BEHIND SHISHU KALLYAN SCHOOL
Most of the pond behind Shishu Kallyan Primary School was filled up and several buildings were constructed there.
Jabed Ali, a resident of the area, said as its water became polluted, people stopped using it.
POKA SARDAR'S POND
Once, the around two-bigha pond used to be vibrant with activities. It had two ghats (landing spots) and many used to bathe and swim there, said locals.
But the reservoir is in death throes now. The owner has given it to a developer to construct a multi-storey building.
“We handed it over to a developer around eight years back,” said Adnanul Bari, a relative of the owner -- Poka Sardar.
“My great grandfather dug up the pond in the Pakistan period for my great grandmother so that she could swim and bathe in it,” he said.
POND AT AHMEDBAGH
The pond at Ahmedbagh has disappeared completely. Several multi-storey buildings were constructed on it.
Adnanul Bari said the pond was filled up around 10 years back.
Pond in middle of Ahmedbagh, Kadamtali
There is a privately-owned pond in the middle of Ahmedbagh and Kadamtali that has been lying neglected for years.
Kazi Nurul Amin, owner of a portion of the reservoir, however said it was not a pond, but rather a paddy field. “We purchased the land in 1983.”
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