Fire Service and Civil Defense Director Lt Col Tajul Islam Chowdhury on Thursday claimed that71 ponds were filled up in the capital Dhaka in the last five years,
He disclosed the alarming information at a dialogue organised at Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club in the city.
Lt Col Tajul Islam Chowdhury further said there were 100 ponds in the capital Dhaka in 2018. But this number has decreased to 29 in 2023.
The dialogue titled "Reason of Frequent Fire Accidents: What can be done to prevent it" was organised by the Development Journalist Forum, a platform of journalists.
The second in command of the FSCD also told that the number of reservoirs in Dhaka is decreasing day by day. He suggested that the agencies concerned must take effective measures in this regard.
It has become urgent, he opined.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Chief Executive Officer Md Mizanur Rahman said, "There is no denying that ponds and reservoirs are being filled up. However, the work of recovering the original channel of Buriganga has already been started.”
He further told that several canal development projects including that in Manda and Jirni cannals are being implemented.
Dhaka South City Corporation is working to protect water bodies and reduce disaster risk, he continued.