Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh feared that parts of Dhaka South city may be inundated under water due to the filling up of Hatirjheel Lake for development works on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway.

He said this while addressing a discussion meeting on Day for a Safer City at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.

“Rainwater from Dhanmondi, Panthapath, Rasel Square, Green Road, and Rajabazar areas drains out through Hatirjheel. But due to the development works on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway, it is full, which will block the water runway. The draining of water will be slower, resulting in flooding,” he said. 

The DSCC mayor said that both the mayors of Dhaka opposed the plan of filling up Hatirjheel near the Sonargaon Hotel, but it was not paid heed to by the high-ups of the government.
Some professionals also join the bandwagon of the government to go with the plan, he added. 

Fazle Noor Taposh said that he would reclaim Manda Canal following the Water Act 2013, which defines 10 meters from the water line of the canal.

“I will recover the canal following the law. I will not give in to any pressure. I have to do it, and for that, many will oppose it. They will start crying. But when they grabbed it, it did remind them of the ultimate result. I have to do it; otherwise, city residents will not forgive me,” he added.