Posted on October 9, 2026
The Dhaka South City Corporation yesterday began dredging and development work at Dhanmondi Lake to restore its navigability and improve its environment and appearance.
Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam and DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam inaugurated the Tk 26 crore project, which is expected to be completed in around a year.
The 3.10-kilometre-long lake, with an average width of 56 metres, has accumulated an estimated 1,62,534 cubic metres of sludge. DSCC plans to remove it using two floating excavators and four barges.
The approximately 86-acre Dhanmondi Lake area, including a 55-acre waterbody, was developed in the 1960s from remnants of the old Pandu river.
Minister Rabiul Alam, also the local lawmaker, said the prime minister had approved two projects for Dhanmondi Lake — one for sludge removal and another for overall renovation as per detailed design.
He urged visitors and local residents to help protect the lake’s environment.
The DSCC administrator announced plans for a modern open-air cultural and recreational centre named “Nazrul Sarobar”, modelled on the Rabindra Sarobar concept, as part of DSCC’s Tk 75 crore plan to restore Dhanmondi Lake and turn it into a modern recreational destination.
Of the total allocation, Tk 50 crore will be spent on renovating the lake and related infrastructure, while Tk 25 crore will go towards constructing Nazrul Chattar (Bidrohi Chattar).
The Nazrul Chattar cultural complex will be developed on 50.967 kathas opposite the Kazi Nazrul Islam Institute in Dhanmondi.
