This project connects directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Berger Paints has also worked to reduce pollution. The company now makes lead-free, low-VOC, and APEO-free paints. It even launched Bangladesh’s first anti-pollution paint that absorbs greenhouse gases. But beyond products, the real lesson is in the model: a business, a youth nonprofit, and the community working together for urban renewal.
Policy & Governance Challenges
Yet, big challenges remain. Dhaka WASA, RAJUK, and the city corporations all share canal responsibilities, but their coordination is weak. Laws exist to stop land grabs, but enforcement is poor.
Encroachment continues. Developers, sometimes powerful ones, take land along canals. Cleanup drives are launched, but garbage and illegal structures often return within months. Without stronger oversight, these efforts risk becoming symbolic instead of lasting.
Experts say Dhaka needs one lead authority for its water bodies. They call for tougher law enforcement, community monitoring, and long-term planning to make canal recovery permanent.
