Old Buriganga channel to be revived to restore its original shape

The Dhaka South City Corporation has taken an initiative to reclaim now dead old channel of the river Buriganga on the western part of the capital which was once the main stream of high tide Old Ganges.

According to the city authority, the 7.5-kilometre channel would be reclaimed from grabbers and restored to bring about a scenic look in the riverine area.

The regeneration will give a comfortable environment for millions of people living in the part of the capital as it will also create facilities including transportation and recreation.

DSCC Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh recently said excavation would start in February.

The initiative comes as part of a mega project of building a Central Business District (CBD) to be developed in Kamrangirchar.

“We will build a CBD in Kamrangirchar. So we need smooth communication network with central Dhaka, and for that we need to build two bridges,” Taposh said.

Officials said the excavation will rid the city people of waterlogging. The river banks will be built to facilitate multipurpose transportation and provide a recreational environment for the residents of South-West Dhaka.

The channel from Islambag to Rayerbazar Graveyard was once the lifeline of the city but was gradually grabbed at Section, Hazaribagh and Kalunagar on its way disrupting the flow.

DSCC Superintending Engineer Khairul Baker told The Business Post the old channel will be reclaimed demolishing over 100 structures including some multi-storied buildings built after occupying the river land. Primarily, the river restoration project cost has been estimated at Tk 300 crore.

Once implemented, officials say, it will improve the quality of life of people in Kamrangirchar, Islambagh, Lalbagh, Muslimbagh, Shashanghat, Shahidnagar, Jhauchar, Hazaribagh section, Kalunagar, Boubazar, Sikder Real Estate and Sikder Medical College areas.

There will be beautiful green open spaces and recreational spots on both sides of the channel. In addition, a sufficient number of bridges and overpasses will be constructed to maintain communication.

“Everything will be planned and public friendly,” Khairul said.

The engineer said DSCC will immediately start removing waste from a portion of the river as part of its preparation to fight waterlogging.

“We are planning to introduce green vehicles particularly non-motorized boats, bicycle lane and walkway in the area.”

The south city authority is planning to develop an upscale central business district in Kamrangirchar, an island of 1,200 acres to the west of Dhaka surrounded by Buriganga River, to attract global business tycoons as well as offer comfort to those who will set up businesses there.

Officials said many businessmen in the country have their corporate offices in Singapore and elsewhere in the world, and DSCC wants to offer them international standard facilities in Kamrangirchar.

A 50-storey trade centre, an international convention centre named after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a buffer zone, resorts, hotels, parks, and different types of playgrounds, among other facilities, will be set up on 81 acres of land, the core area of the business district in Kamrangirchar.