Re-WET Dhaka: A project to rejuvenate the city’s lakes

Halima Begum was watering her gourd vines in front of her home in Korail. The vine has provided her with gourds multiple times this winter. As she waters it, the last of the white gourd flowers attract one or two insects — a rare sight in Korail.

The gourd vine is planted on the banks of the Gulshan-Banani Lake, popularly known as Korail Lake, along with other vegetables, fruits, and flowers. The species include cauliflower, spinach, pumpkin, drumstick, mango, ginger, and garlic.

“Nogor Abad gave us the seedlings, vermicompost and farming advice. As the last of the winter harvest will be over, they will provide us with seeds for the next season,” Halima said.

Like her, at least 50 people living in the Korail slum participate in farming on the banks of the lake besides their regular jobs. They created the cooperative named ‘Nogor Abad’ (Urban Farming) in 2022, and Re-WET provides them with funding, technical support and farming guidance.

“It’s them — the Korail slum dwellers — who turned this dumping ground green. Earlier, both residents and the city corporation used these banks as dumping grounds. They cleaned the bank and started gardening. And from Re-WET, we are trying to provide them with technical and financial support,” said architect Tanzil Shafique, one of the leaders of the project.

Even today, wastewater pipes are linked to the lake. But without treatment plants, the untreated waste eventually pollutes the water. Through Re-WET, efforts are being made to improve the environment and water quality through urban farming. 

“Back in the ’90s, we used to swim in the lake. Our parents planted vegetables and other plants on the slum lands. As urbanisation expanded, the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara area developed and Korail saw an influx of people from all over the country. Pollution increased drastically,” said Md Shaduzzaman Shamol, a volunteer of Nogor Abad.

In 2016, the team decided to revive the practice, and in 2022, with the help of the Re-WET team, they officially named their initiative Nogor Abad. The volunteer team integrates the people of Korail into farming.

That year, Re-WET, led by Tanzil Shafique, Professor of Environmental Policy Dr Ifadul Haque, and Professor of Climate Finance Saifullah Khaled, approached Nogor Abad. As an architect and urban planner, Tanzil has been involved with Korail for nine years. So this is a project he is very emotional about. 

Photo: Mehedi Hasan.

“We are planning to integrate at least 150 farmers. As more and more people will start farming, the lakes will slowly rejuvenate from pollution. This is our goal,” Tanzil said.

They want this model to be implemented across all lakes of the country. “This is one of the ways we can revive our wetlands,” he added. 

The idea of Re-WET Dhaka

Inspired by the Re-WET project in Europe, which commenced on 1 October 2022 and is scheduled to conclude on 30 September 2026, the Re-WET initiative in Dhaka aims to tackle similar environmental challenges.

The Climate Impacted Dwellers-led Agroecological Stewardship for Restoring Wetlands (Re-WET) project is designed to empower the communities living in and around informal settlements such as Korail in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Funded by the REDAA (Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia) program, the project integrates local knowledge with agroecological practices to mitigate climate change impacts, restore wetland ecosystems and improve community resilience.

Korail, Bangladesh’s largest informal settlement, is situated adjacent to Gulshan-Banani Lake — an urban wetland that provides critical ecosystem services such as flood mitigation and biodiversity support. 

However, the lake faces mounting threats from urban expansion, pollution and encroachment, worsened by the high population density and resource dependency of the Korail settlement.

It’s them — the Korail slum dwellers — who turned this dumping ground green. Earlier, both residents and the city corporation used these banks as dumping grounds. They cleaned the bank and started gardening. And from Re-WET, we are trying to provide them with technical and financial support.

Tanzil Shafique, a leader of Re-WET project

“Across Bangladesh, wetland ecosystems are rapidly deteriorating due to industrial effluents, untreated sewage, waste dumping, and unregulated urban development. The situation in Gulshan-Banani Lake is a reflection of this national crisis, where unchecked urbanisation has led to reduced biodiversity, increased flooding, and declining livelihood opportunities for communities dependent on these resources,” said Tanzil. 

The Re-WET project aims to tackle these issues by conducting a comprehensive economic analysis of wetland biodiversity and ecosystem services, focusing on their economic significance for the Korail community. 

This analysis will provide crucial evidence to inform strategies for community-led stewardship and sustainable wetland management, emphasising the integration of agroecological approaches to balance ecological restoration with community needs.

Agroecology and community participation

The project adopts an agroecological approach that incorporates sustainable farming techniques suited to wetland environments. By utilising organic compost, water-efficient irrigation and indigenous farming knowledge, Re-WET promotes food security while restoring ecological balance.

“One of the most critical aspects of the initiative is community engagement. The project actively involves Korail residents in decision-making and implementation processes, ensuring their traditional knowledge and lived experiences shape restoration efforts,” Tanzil added. 

Training sessions on sustainable farming, waste management and ecosystem conservation help empower residents to become active stewards of their environment.

Since its inception, Re-WET Dhaka has made significant strides. The banks of the Gulshan-Banani Lake, once used as dumping grounds, are now green with vegetable patches and fruit-bearing plants. Urban farming has not only improved food security among the slum dwellers but also provided them with a sense of ownership and responsibility toward their environment.

Looking ahead, the project envisions expanding its reach beyond Korail to other informal settlements across Dhaka. By fostering partnerships with policymakers, environmental groups, and academic institutions, Re-WET aims to develop a replicable model for urban wetland restoration that balances environmental sustainability with social equity and economic development.

source : tbsnews