Once a water source, now a death trap: 350 years of history now a garbage dump

Special Representative (Chittagong)

June 18, 2026

There is no way to tell that it was once the lungs of Chittagong city and one of the main water sources. The nearly 350-year-old historic ‘Askar Dighi’ is getting lost in the crowd of modern multi-storey buildings around it.

This reservoir, located in the Jamalkhan area, the heart of Chittagong city, is now a living example of neglect, pollution, and encroachment.

History is covered in a veil of corruption

The clear water of the pond, which once quenched the thirst of the entire city, is now covered in thick green moss. From a distance, it looks like an abandoned field, and there is no way to understand that a huge 300-year-old reservoir is hidden beneath it. Due to years of lack of maintenance and the indifference of the administration, the pond has lost its own existence.

The reign of plastic and waste, unusable water

Due to the ignorance of local residents and passersby, this historic pond has now become a dumping station for household waste. Plastic bottles, polythene and biodegradable waste are being dumped freely every day. Due to the accumulation of this waste for a long time, the water of the pond has become severely polluted. The color of the water has changed to black and a strong stench is emanating, due to which it is now completely unusable.

Environmentalists and local activists claim that if this historic reservoir is not quickly rescued and renovated, this heritage of Jamalkhan will be lost forever and the environmental disaster in the area will accelerate.