For centuries, water has shaped the identity of Bengal. Bangladesh’s rivers and canals are more than waterways—they are lifelines for agriculture, transport, and resilience against floods. Bengal’s history even shows that irrigation canals were dug nearly three thousand years ago.
Dhaka itself once boasted around 65 canals, connecting neighborhoods and easing monsoon waterlogging. Today, surveys vary: some list 43–50 still functioning, while others suggest only 26 remain. The decline has been stark. A study by the River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) found the capital lost nearly 120 km of canal length—about 307 hectares—since the 1940s to encroachment and neglect.
Dhaka: Once a “City of Canals”
Long before cars and concrete, water shaped Dhaka’s story. In the Mughal era, the city was called the “Venice of the East.” Canals like Dholaikhal, Segunbagicha, and Narinda were busy trade routes. They connected rivers to markets and carried boats full of jute, spices, and textiles.
When Subedar Islam Khan made Dhaka the capital of Bengal in the early 1600s, he ordered the digging of Dholaikhal. It boosted trade and also protected the city from floods. These canals were more than waterways—they were part of Dhaka’s culture, economy, and safety. Losing them is not just an environmental issue. It also means losing part of the city’s identity and history.
