Dhanmondi Lake will not be allowed to turn into a commercial zone: Dhaka South administrator

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Abdus Salam today (1 April) reaffirmed his commitment to preserving the natural environment of Dhanmondi Lake and preventing its commercialisation.

"Dhanmondi Lake is not a commercial area. Dhaka city already suffers from a severe shortage of open spaces for people to breathe. We want to preserve this lake in its original natural form," he said while speaking to journalists after visiting Dhanmondi Lake this afternoon.

During the visit, he expressed dissatisfaction over the presence of numerous restaurants and commercial establishments around the lake.

"Our main objective should be to preserve nature here. But it appears that the entire area has been taken over by restaurants, which is not desirable at all. We will soon restore a healthy and pleasant environment," he said.

Highlighting measures taken to ensure proper maintenance of the lake, the DSCC administrator said a monitoring committee comprising local residents and city corporation officials will be formed within the next week.

Development and maintenance activities for the lake will be carried out based on the committee's observations and recommendations, he said.

He also stressed the importance of local community participation in protecting the lake's environment.

"Long-term solutions cannot be ensured by the police or the city corporation alone. We want local residents to act as guardians of the lake," he said.

Salam also instructed officials to ensure that the cultural heritage of Rabindra Sarobar is preserved without causing any harm to the natural environment.

Responding to a question from journalists, he said the effectiveness of DSCC initiatives can only be sustained if citizens are actively involved.

With awareness and cooperation from local residents, Dhanmondi Lake will regain its familiar beauty, he added.