Memories of water
It is like a broken aquarium- once a home for colorful fishes, now a dirty bowl containing memories of the past. Dhaka, a city that was build 400 years ago around the water bodies, across the river named Buriganga, Baluand, Turag, and Shitalakkha but now all the rivers and its tributaries have become knee-deep water bodies. 400 years ago the rivers, lakes, and ponds wrapped the city like a silver lining guarding the precious city, which was so lively. Now all that is left are memories of free-flowing fresh waters, as those exist in the old map of the city.
Water bodies and rivers have historically played an important role in spatial development, lives, and in general a great civilization of Dhaka. The ghats (landing piers) on the bigger water bodies were major community spaces where the daily activities used to take place such as bathing, washing, religious and commercial activities. History reveals that the relationship between urbanization and water bodies was complementary to each other. Lakeside parks, rivers, ponds, and ghats were community spaces and urban nodes. Now in recent times, Dhaka as the capital city of Bangladesh is at crossroads. Urbanization without considering the natural flow of water bodies during recent times has left a deep scar in the city’s environment.
Dhaka is a city that appears to be dissolving its roots by abolishing its past. Demolition and construction is everywhere on such a scale that I am unsure if what I am seeing is being building or destroying. Twenty years ago where rivers and canals were one of the transportation channels and boats was the mode of transportation. Now if you visit the place you will see only sand and under-construction sites for housing developments. Ironically when autumn has arrived the whole area is covered by grain grass. The wetland is lost but memory is still alive with the grain grass. The social context of Dhaka city with its water body is losing forever.
Water bodies and rivers have historically played an important role in spatial development, lives, and in general a great civilization of Dhaka. The ghats (landing piers) on the bigger water bodies were major community spaces where the daily activities used to take place such as bathing, washing, religious and commercial activities. History reveals that the relationship between urbanization and water bodies was complementary to each other. Lakeside parks, rivers, ponds, and ghats were community spaces and urban nodes. Now in recent times, Dhaka as the capital city of Bangladesh is at crossroads. Urbanization without considering the natural flow of water bodies during recent times has left a deep scar in the city’s environment.
Dhaka is a city that appears to be dissolving its roots by abolishing its past. Demolition and construction is everywhere on such a scale that I am unsure if what I am seeing is being building or destroying. Twenty years ago where rivers and canals were one of the transportation channels and boats was the mode of transportation. Now if you visit the place you will see only sand and under-construction sites for housing developments. Ironically when autumn has arrived the whole area is covered by grain grass. The wetland is lost but memory is still alive with the grain grass. The social context of Dhaka city with its water body is losing forever.