More than 1,000 ponds have vanished across Barishal district in the last decade, raising environmental concerns over waterlogging, declining groundwater levels, and potential land subsidence, especially in Barishal city. This finding comes from a survey conducted in January by the Department of Fisheries, which identified 20,692 ponds in the district—approximately 5 percent fewer than the number recorded in 2015.
Dr. Md Hadiuzzaman, district fisheries officer, attributed the loss primarily to widespread pond filling, encroachment, pollution, and unplanned urban development. He noted that influential individuals have been filling ponds to build residential plots and other structures for sale. The disappearance of over 1,000 ponds threatens the district’s ecological balance, particularly impacting water recharge and underground water tables.
In the Barishal City Corporation’s (BCC) 2011 master plan, 436 ponds were documented within the city boundaries, including over 155 owned by the government. However, current assessments suggest that nearly half of those ponds are no longer visible or have been completely filled. Saidur Rahman, chief architect of the BCC, highlighted the environmental ramifications, stating that potable groundwater was accessible at depths of around 800 feet in 2011 but now requires drilling below 1,000 feet.
Recent observations reflect ongoing challenges. More than 60 percent of a pond adjacent to the Chest Disease Hospital was filled by a group claiming land ownership. Despite complaints to authorities, hospital officials reported no effective response for nearly 20 days before BCC intervened to halt the encroachment. Similarly, partial filling occurred at a pond owned by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) opposite Barishal Diabetic Hospital, and at two ponds near the Barishal Nursing College, all of which were later addressed by city officials.
Other affected water bodies include parts of Sitaram’s Dighi in Kashipur, several ponds along Kawnia Branch Road, Baidyapara, and Kaunia, as well as the pond inside the court compound. A large pond near Bell’s Park was filled to accommodate the construction of a government Model School and College. Reports also suggest further encroachment on government ponds across the city.
Environmental authorities attribute much of the pond loss to unauthorized activities often linked to influential persons. Department of Environment officials noted that complaints regarding the filling of government ponds have increased, with cases involving changes in pond classification to facilitate land occupation. Kazi Saifuddin, assistant director of the Department of Environment in Barishal, confirmed that notices have been issued to at least 10 private and government entities in the past three months, including three government offices, and that five legal cases have been filed. He added that, in some instances, pond filling continues even after land reclassification.
Activists also expressed concern over the trend. Subhankar Chakrabarty, an environmental campaigner, estimated that at least 200 privately owned ponds in Barishal city have been filled over the past decade. Likewise, Lincoln Bayen, divisional coordinator of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, reported that the organization has issued notices to three institutions and individuals involved in pond filling within the last year, including two government bodies. The ongoing loss of these water bodies poses serious questions for Barishal’s environmental sustainability and urban planning frameworks.