Setting a remarkable example of environmental transformation, a group of dedicated volunteers from home and beyond have turned a neglected and polluted lakeside area in the capital’s upscale Banani-Gulshan locality into a green, vibrant public park, offering a refreshing model of community-led urban renewal.

Despite being perceived as a posh and relatively pollution-free part of Dhaka, the lakes and its adjacent areas in Gulshan and Banani were long plagued by waste, abandonment, and criminal activity. That changed when a visionary community initiative titled ‘55Kodomtola: Greening Gulshan and Banani Lakeside’ began to reclaim and beautify the space.

On Friday morning, the recently inaugurated 'Banani Society 55k Adda Park' was buzzing with activity. From 7am, volunteers of all ages and professions were seen painting benches, fences, and walls to beautify the park. Among them was Mahmud Rahman, a renowned photographer and storyteller, and the initiator of the 55Kodomtola project.

“As a resident in this Gulshan-Banani lakeside 55 number road, I started cleaning this lakeside area and planting trees in January 2022. Over time, the work has expanded to cover nearly 4 kilometers, with our volunteer count now standing at 160,” Mahmud told UNB. “Then I asked myself—why shouldn’t this lakeside become a park? Why should it remain a dump site?”

Mahmud, who specializes in visual anthropology, said their recent effort to build the park was followed by a beautification drive led by volunteers like Julien Deur, Head of the Economic Department at the French Embassy in Bangladesh.

Julien, a resident of Dhaka for five years, shared with UNB how he became part of the movement. “Initially, I accepted the chaotic nature of the city and thought someone else—the authorities or NGOs—would take care of it; but then I noticed regular gardening activities around the lake. Curious, I learned that it wasn’t DNCC or any official body, but individual citizens.”

“I gradually got involved and witnessed how personal initiatives and community partnerships can bring people together,” Julien added. “Gardening, to me, is an excuse to build friendships, and these friendships give birth to public events—like the yoga session we organized here on International Yoga Day recently with 40–45 participants.”

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Julien highlighted how even rickshaw-pullers were intrigued by the park’s transformation. “This isn’t just gardening; it’s culture coming to the streets.”

According to Mahmud, the area was so neglected that “except for a human corpse, I found everything else while cleaning. People dumped everything from household waste to construction debris into the lake.”

To overcome obstacles, the group partnered with Banani Society, whose president Shawkat Ali Bhuiyan (Dilan) acknowledged the dire situation. “We were initially attracted by the promise of parks and lakes when we built homes here; but over time, pollution and misuse turned the lake into a disgrace. Thanks to Mahmud and his volunteers, and with our full support, this space is now being revived.”

Nayon Sorkar, a climate justice activist and key volunteer, said the park also acts as a “cooling zone” during the current hot season. “We’re planning to replicate this model elsewhere and have already initiated a mini jungle project in Kushtia.”

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He added, “Our team includes volunteers aged from 4 to 74, coming from all over the country. Anyone can join through our Facebook page. There’s no paperwork, just a will to serve the environment.”

This grassroots initiative not only reflects the power of community-driven action in reclaiming public spaces, but also serves as an inspiring blueprint for urban resilience and environmental stewardship across Dhaka.