DWasa, Dhaka South City Corporation, and Dhaka North City Corporation on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this connection.

All the illegally grabbed canals of Dhaka city will be recovered through the combined efforts of the city corporations, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam said during the MoU signing.

“To make Dhaka modern and beautiful, all the grabbed and disappeared canals will have to be brought back to life The grabbed canals will be recovered and cleaned step by step come what may,” the minister said.

Also read: DSCC starts drive to bring canals back to life

The charge of draining Dhaka rainwater and solving the waterlogging woes have been handed to city corporations as they as they are capable and committed to doing the job, Tajul said.

The minister also said water transport could have been launched on the canals instead of grabbing them for building roads.  

Also read: Civic bodies to get charge of city canals: Minister

“Projects are on the cards to revive all the canals of the city, connect them and launch water transport. There are also plans to give the city a facelift with a walkway and cycle lane on both sides of canals.”

Dhaka South Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said, “A historic decision has been made today.”

Also read: Waterlogging: Excavation of ‘AD8’ canal begins on Saturday

All the canals of Dhaka city will be recovered and revived, Dhaka North Mayor Md Atiqul Islam said.

DWasa Managing Director Taqsem A Khan praised the minister for his role in the handover of the responsibility of the drainage system to the city corporations.

Also read: Kamal Ahmed suggests handing over Dhaka canals to DSCC, DNCC