A dead canal in Dhaka breathes again — and so do Ramchandrapur's residents

Even a week ago, Mohammadpur's Ramchandrapur Canal looked more like a long, open garbage pit. Thick layers of plastic, rotting food and household waste floated on the surface. The water was dark and oily, barely moving, and gave off a sharp, sour stench that hung in the air.

Flies buzzed constantly, and swarms of mosquitoes rose from the stagnant water. The banks were slippery with slime, and even nearby shops and homes seemed to hold their breath. It wasn't just polluted — it felt dead.

But if you go there now, you may be surprised to see that things have taken quite a dramatic turn.

The canal is still far from ideal, but a certain level of improvement is undeniable. Today, the water's surface — though still murky — is finally visible. Large clusters of plastic waste are gone, allowing light to reflect off the canal for the first time in months.

Today, the water’s surface — though still murky — is finally visible. Photo: Courtesy/Footsteps Bangladesh

The banks have been cleared enough to reveal the edges of the walkway and a hint of greenery. It no longer feels like a dumping ground; it feels like a neglected waterway beginning to breathe again. The transformation is not perfect, but it offers hope that with sustained effort, this canal can be reclaimed.

Before-and-after images of the canal have already taken social media by storm, prompting many skeptics to admit that with proper planning, determination, and effective execution, meaningful change is indeed possible.

The credit for this rare and refreshing turnaround goes to Footsteps Bangladesh, a development-based social enterprise that dared to take on what many considered a lost cause.

Through its 'Cholo Khaal Bachai' (Let's Save Canals) campaign, the organisation led a two-day clean-up on 20 and 21 June, bringing together 150 waste workers and 180 volunteers with a shared mission: to revive the flow of one of Dhaka's most neglected canals and restore its place in the city's drainage and water management system.

But the task at hand was far from easy.

"Plastic, polythene, household refuse, discarded furniture, and even human faeces were removed during the drive. Teams had to wade through knee-deep sludge, clear clogged drains, and manually haul heaps of garbage from both the canal and its banks," said Ebrahim Daud Abir, Head of Programs at Footsteps Bangladesh.

"Many volunteers reported that the stench made them physically sick, while others struggled to stay balanced on the slippery edges," Abir added.

But still they carried on, because they had to make a statement to both the administration and the local public. 

According to them, local residents claimed they were dumping waste there in the canal because there was no specific dumping zone in the area. Furthermore, they were unwilling to pay the bill to Dhaka North for waste collection. Therefore, they considered this canal the easiest and most convenient option. 

Many residents even threw garbage from their windows directly into the canal. Consequently, the canal was in such a state that not only animals but even people could walk across the piles of garbage. 

To ensure a sustainable cleanup effort, the organisers initially selected a two-kilometre stretch about a month before Eid ul-Adha. However, they did not start the cleaning work abruptly, knowing that such an approach would have little lasting impact.

Instead, they conducted thorough background research and careful planning before taking to the field on 20 and 21 June, in observance of World Environment Day 2025.

"Our main goal was to direct the waste materials towards the sluice gate, so the city corporation could remove them with an excavator. In addition to cleaning the canal, we also cleaned and painted the walkways and bridges alongside it," said Abir.

Furthermore, one team visited nearby homes, shops, and tea stalls to raise awareness and discourage dumping in the canal. They also placed waste bins at several key points in the area to encourage proper disposal.

But the organisers believe this is just the beginning, and to make a lasting impact, there is still a long way to go.

"Our cleanup efforts so far have only addressed the surface level. This isn't the end," said Shah Rafayat Chowdhury, co-founder and president of Footsteps Bangladesh, who was honoured as one of Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in 2022 and received the Global Citizen Youth Leaders Award in 2024.

"If we don't tackle the root of the problem, the canal will return to its previous state within a month or two. That's why sustainability is crucial," he added.

Rafayat went on to explain that there are two key issues in this regard.

Firstly, Dhaka North does not regularly collect waste in this area. Now, a request has been made for the city corporation's waste trucks to conduct regular garbage collection.

Secondly, the pipelines in the canal are direct outlets. Ideally, every house should have a septic tank where waste is treated before entering the water system. However, since that is not the case here, waste is directly contaminating the canal water. Therefore, an application has been submitted to the Department of Environment to install a centralised septic tank.

Rafayat also emphasised that while these are crucial systemic changes, behavioural change is equally important. "The people in that area have grown accustomed to dumping garbage everywhere, including in this canal. Changing their habits won't happen overnight; it requires persistence," he said.

Overall, Footstep Bangladesh's current goal is not just to clean the canal once and stop. Rather, they aim to maintain the canal for at least a year.

"Because, at the end of the day, our main objective is to bring about sustainable change. We want to work in this area and create an adaptable model that others can later follow — not only for this canal but for others across the city as well."

To achieve this, Footsteps Bangladesh is working closely with its partners to secure resources aimed at maintaining the canal for at least one year. Cholo Khaal Bachai has received support from IDLC Finance Limited, Dhaka North, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and medical partner Ekagra.