Hatirjheel lake, built at a cost of about Tk 2,236 crore, is now under pressure from another government megaproject, the Dhaka Elevated Expressway. Its Eskaton section has been filled with sand to sink pillars for the expressway's Sonargaon link ramp, shrinking the lake and blocking its flow.

Desh Rupantor found sand dumped from the railway line at Karwan Bazar to the gate of the BIAM Foundation at Eskaton, behind the Sonargaon hotel and in the Moghbazar section. About 20 pillars have been sunk in Hatirjheel and 21 more may follow. Officials say the project is 77 per cent complete; the original plan had no link ramp over the lake.

Project director Md Golam Mortuza said some parts had been filled for the work and the lake would be restored once it is finished. Md Ashraful Islam, chief town planner at RAJUK, said the authority was not told before the feasibility study or design and gave permission under pressure of the government's wider plans despite trying to keep the pillars out. In 2023 RAJUK said it had given only verbal permission for the pillars and none for filling.

Besides the filling, sewage and dirty water from Panthapath, Tejgaon, Moghbazar and nearby areas flow into the lake through drains. The water has turned black and smells, especially behind the Sonargaon hotel, where hundreds of fish died about two years ago. A Tk 48.90 crore project to treat the lake's water in 2018 did not stop the sources of pollution.

Environmental groups including the Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) warned that filling the lake for 41 pillars would harm the reservoir and its flow. RAJUK chairman Engineer Riazul Islam said steps have been taken to keep the lake clean and protect its environment, and tenders for several improvement works are in process. The report is by Desh Rupantor's Foysal Khan.

Source: Desh Rupantor