The restoration work of old Buriganga channel near Kamrangirchar has not seen any significant progress in the last eight months. The Dhaka South City Corporation began the project in June, 2022 but the initial works are yet to be completed. The project includes demarcation activities, eviction drives, re-excavation and waste disposal. The old channel, which has lost its glory to pollution and encroachment, is located in the middle of Shahidnagar-Hazari bagh embankment (from the main Buriganga River) of Old Dhaka and Kamrangirchar. Various structures were built occupying the two sides of the area of about 7 kilometers.However, to give the old Buriganga back its glory, the DSCC took an initiative to reclaim the channel from encroachers in June last year. Almost a year has elapsed but the authorities are still working on the initial phase. Also read: Re-excavation of Buriganga old channel to start in February, says Taposh Talking to UNB, some DSCC officials said they are committed to recover the channel from illegal occupiers. The DSCC authorities have taken a project to restore the old channel of the Buriganga, also known as the capital’s lifeline, in three phases, costing almost Tk 22 crore, they said. They said the recovery of the channel will free Dhaka’s Hazaribagh, Lalbagh, Dhanmondi, and Kamrangirchar from waterlogging. The seven-kilometer-long channel will also make it easier for Dhaka residents to commute from Buriganga to the Turag River and the transportation of goods will be easy due to the reduction in cost. Read More: Sand lifting poses threats of river erosion in Faridpur According to the DSCC, walkways and separate cycle lanes will be built on both sides of the channel. During an election rally at Kamrangirchar on December 24, 2018, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pledged to take steps to recover the old Buriganga channel from encroachers. She also instructed the mayor to take necessary measures to make it happen. After detailed planning, the DSCC took the project to free the channel from encroachers.According to the plan, a 14-km walkway and a cycle lane will be constructed on both sides of the channel. Bridges will be built to attract tourists in addition to the residents of the capital. As part of the first phase, which is already underway, the authorities are working to clear the channel of silt, debris, and garbage from the sluice gate at the end of the old Buriganga to Islambag. The excavation cost of 1200 meters has been estimated at Tk 6.41. Read More: 250 illegal structures evicted from Bakkhali River in Cox’s Bazar General Secretary of the Poribesh Bachao Andolan, Engineer Abdus Sobhan said,“The commitment (to restore the channel) is not enough. The old Buriganga channel should be excavated according to Cadastral Survey (CS) records.” He also called on the authorities to stop the supply of electricity, water, and gas to the factories and houses built by occupying and filling the old channel and take effective steps to stop encroachment and pollution. “We demand the establishment of permanent pillars by demarcating the boundaries of the old channel of Buriganga according to CS records,” he told UNB.Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said the old Buriganga channel recovery project is ongoing despite the various obstacles posed by the encroachers. “There were many obstacles. Many cases have also been filed. Many case are pending with the High Court and are currently going ahead with the project.” He also said the authorities are committed to recovering the old Buriganga channel as per the project. Read More: Power generation at Kaptai plant drops severely as rivers dry Terming the restoration process expensive and difficult, the DSCC mayor said, “The old Buriganga channel has been narrowed down by encroachers and polluters from all sides over the past 50 years, and this is the first time we have undertaken any project to recover the old Buriganga. “And we have already been able to increase its width almost ten times, and our activities are ongoing,” he added. He said the plan to introduce modern facilities such as walkways, cycle lanes and bridge will attract tourists. “We are working to create a healthy and aesthetic environment here so that tourists can come and enjoy their time here,” Taposh said. According to the DSCC, the initial phase of the project was started with its own financing. The authorities have also hired consultants to support the project. Read More: Political parties must have river, water issues in manifestos: IFC Md Md. Rasel Sabrin, DSCC chief estate officer, told UNB that buildings and institutions that have been illegally constructed occupying the old Buriganga channel have already been identified by DhakaSouth City Corporation, Rajuk, National River Conservation Commission, the Public Works Department, BIWTA, the District Administration, and the Land Record and Survey Department. “The mayor has directed us to demolish the illegal extended part of those buildings identified,” he added.

A housewife apparently committed suicide following an internal family feud by drug overdose in Kamrangirchar of the capital. The deceased was identified as Moni Akhter, 27, wife of Al Amin of the area. read more: Mother kills children in Dhaka's Hazaribagh before committing suicide Md Bacchu Mia, In-Charge of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost, said that family members took her to DMCH but doctors pronounced her dead. The body was sent to the DMCH morgue for autopsy, he added.

Police in Keraniganj on Wednesday recovered the bodies of two youths from a plastic factory after getting a call from the national hotline number 999.  The deceased were identified as Meraz 19, and his friend Rubel, 18.  Kamrangirchar police station sub-inspector Aniruddha said on information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies.   Also Read: Unidentified man’s body found inside plastic drum in city However, police could not confirm the reason behind their death, he said.  Deceased Meraz used to work at the plastic factory.  Police are investigating the incident and details will be informed later, added the police official.       

A teenager was stabbed to death in the capital's Kamrangirchar area on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Sanwar Hossain (18), a match factory worker and son of Md. Omarchan of Lalbagh’s Posta area. Md. Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost, confirmed the incident. READ: Teenager falls to death in Hazaribagh He said the body was kept in the hospital morgue and the incident was reported to the concerned police station. Some of the people were to be interrogated, he said. Deceased's uncle Md Rubel said that he was stabbed by some people and left at Acharwala Ghat Mominbagh Madrasa alley, he was later rushed to DMCH, where the doctor on-duty declared him dead. READ: Chandpur: Teenager killed by lightning, man dies falling from tree Rubel said he did not know who stabbed his nephew but locals saw several people, including one named Nura, fleeing the scene.

A couple, who sustained severe burn injuries in Friday's building fire in Kamrangirchar, died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital barely 12 hours apart from each other. The deceased were identified as Abdul Matin, 40, and his wife Yeasmin, 35, of the capital's Kamrangirchar area. Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp, said Yeasmin succumbed to her injuries around 8.30 pm Friday while Abdul passed away around 7.30 am Saturday. READ: Locked inside a factory without fire exit, 52 lives go up in flames Five members of Abdul's family suffered burns when the fire broke out at the ground floor of their two-storey building in Dhaka's Kamrangirchar area early on Friday. The fire originated from the battery of an auto-rickshaw parked there for charging, according to fire and police officials. The other victims of the fire have identified as the couple's daughters -- Maisha, 9, and Ayeahsa, 5, and Abdul's nephew Raihan, 25. Dr Partha Shankar Pal, resident medical officer at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, said, “Abdul received 92% burn injuries, while Yeasmin sustained 95%. Maisha and Ayesha got around 40% burns, and Raihan 10-12 percent burns and he has been discharged after first aid.” READ: Factory fires: Bangladesh's recurring nightmare