Staff Correspondent, Narayanganj 

Mizmiji Taltola Club area in Siddhirganj. It’s 8:30 in the morning. Around 25 people, mostly locals, are gathered at the end of the alley. Some are recording videos on their phones, others watching the work of army personnel in awe. An elderly man standing nearby remarked, “Son, I used to see boats travel through this canal when I was a child. Now it looks like a garbage dump.”

 As part of the DND (Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra) project, the army-led canal cleanup and eviction drive began on June 3. The operation is being led by Engineer Major S.M. Sakib Azwad of the 19 Engineering Construction Battalion. Illegal structures built over the canal are being demolished, and years of accumulated polythene, garbage, and water hyacinths are being removed.

 Engineer Major Sakib Azwad said, “Due to the rain, water had accumulated in several parts of the DND project area. Our target was to drain it within 48 hours, but we managed to do it within 24 hours. However, unless the canals are clean, this kind of drainage won’t be sustainable. That’s why we’re now cleaning the canals one by one.”

 Kansh River—Now Just a Memory : The canal currently being cleaned by the army in the Mizmiji area was once the Kansh River. The river no longer exists—only a narrow, sewer-like waterway remains. Locals say this river was once an integral part of their lives—providing water for agriculture, bathing, and even transportation by boat. Now, instead of water, it holds plastic bottles, detergent packets, and dark, foul-smelling liquid. Shuly Akter, a garment worker from Mizmiji, said, “We can’t sleep at night because of the stench. Just cleaning is not enough—people must also be educated not to dump waste into the canal.”

 The DND project area is infamous for severe waterlogging during monsoon seasons. Every year, rain brings knee- to waist-deep water in some areas. Although the project has brought some improvements, the core issue lies in the neglected state of the canals.

 According to the army, the canals are cleaned annually, but due to a lack of public awareness, they quickly fill with waste again. Particularly, canals in Siddhirganj, Mizmiji, Hirajheel, and Jalkuri are nearing closure due to illegal encroachment and dumping. Major Sakib stated, *“Eviction will continue in phases. But just army efforts won’t be enough. The public also has to step up. If we fail to save the canals, the benefits of the DND project won’t last.”

 Beyond the DND: Grim Picture of Waterlogging : While the DND project covers parts of Narayanganj Sadar and Siddhirganj Police Station areas, it does not extend to places like Lalpur, Isdair, and Gabtali in Fatullah, which also suffer from severe waterlogging. Rafiqul Islam, a resident of Fatullah, expressed his frustration: “People in the DND area get some benefits. But we’re left stuck in the mud. No one cares about the drains or canals in our area.”

 Sustainable Solution Impossible Without Public Engagement : Experts say the army’s initiative may provide a temporary fix, but long-term improvement requires a combined effort by local government and the public. Urban planning professor Dr. Maksudur Rahman said, “To protect a canal or river, the first step is eviction of encroachers, followed by regular maintenance. But the most important factor is changing people’s mindset. As long as we treat canals as garbage dumps, this problem will persist.”

 How far this army operation will go, and how lasting its impact will be, only time will tell. But for now, the sight of garbage being removed from the canal has sparked a sense of hope among locals. An elderly man standing beside Taltola Club said, “After so many years, it feels like someone is finally doing something. May Allah keep this work going.”