Work has begun on the project to restore the Shubhadhya Canal
The main canal in South Keranigunj, across the Buriganga River near Dhaka, has turned into a garbage dump. The canal is now dying due to illegal encroachment and pollution. The canal is filled with garbage and plastic waste.
The canal is about 13 kilometers long and starts from Char Kaliganj in South Keraniganj, Dhaka and ends in Rajendrapur Bazar area, Keraniganj, Dhaka. The canal is at risk of disappearing due to land-grabbers and garbage dumped by locals on its banks.
Once upon a time, the Shuvadhya Canal connected the Buriganga River to the Dhaleshwari River. The canal has been used as a vital waterway since the Mughal period.
South Keraniganj relied solely on a water channel for transporting people and goods between the villages on either side of the Dhaleshwari River and connected channel. Currently, the canal is on the verge of disappearing due to encroachment and pollution.
The canal, once valuable for fishing and irrigation, is now filled with waste and plastic. In some areas, the canal is almost completely blocked, while in many locations, it’s so polluted that it can be crossed on foot.
There are hundreds of industries and businesses on both banks of the canal. All the waste from these industries and businesses is being dumped into the canal. Due to poor waste management, people are forced to dump trash, litter, and garbage into the canal.
Waste collection occurs daily in these areas under the supervision of the Union Parishad, but it’s not enough. Since there is no designated garbage storage on either side of the canal, excess waste is being dumped into it. Past efforts to re-excavate, restore, and renovate the canal have been unsuccessful.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board has launched a Tk 317 crore project to restore and re-excavate the canal. This time, the government has taken the initiative to implement the new project under the supervision of the army.
The canal will be restored by cleaning it, removing garbage, adding bank protection on both sides, and building walkways. In addition, sustainable waste management work and afforestation programs will be implemented under the project. It is expected that the canal restoration project will be completed in 2026.
On May 11, 2025, the Environmental Advisor inspected the Kaliganj and Shmashan Ghat areas of South Keraniganj to assess the progress of the canal project.
During the inspection, she said that the canal restoration activities have been taken with the people’s money. Therefore, the government is working to ensure that money is not wasted, is saved, and brings effective benefits. She urged both the government and local people to help protect the environment.
The environmental advisor said that after the excavation of this canal, a greening and afforestation program will be implemented on both sides in a natural way. This initiative is very important in the interest of protecting the environment.
