People should see ponds, canals not as past, but as part of future

Once upon a time, Dhaka was a city of canals, ponds and rivers. Today, that aquatic network is disappearing under the pressure of encroachment and development. To the present generation, that image of Dhaka perhaps sounds like a tale, as most of its canals and ponds have now vanished into thin air. Journalist and writer Helemul Alam has been consistently working for over two decades on urban life, the environment and civic crises. His two recently published research-based books — “Oasis Lost to Urban Sprawl: An In-Depth Look into Dhaka’s Lost Ponds” and “Dhaka’s Canals on Their Dying Breath: An In-Depth Look at How the Capital's Waterways Are Being Choked” — have earned readers’ praise as significant documents of urban history and the environmental movement. Recently, on behalf of Views Bangladesh, General Secretary of the Urban Development Journalists Forum-Bangladesh (UDJFB) Faisal Khan interviewed him about his journalism, field research, childhood memories and commitment to protecting waterbodies in the capital.

Faisal Khan: Why did you choose ponds and canals as your subject?

Helemul Alam: Ponds and canals are invaluable assets of our lives. I grew up in Mirpur, Dhaka; as a child I swam in four large ponds and caught fish with a fishing rod. Today, markets and concrete have replaced those ponds. This personal memory and my field research drew me to the subject. One of the main causes of waterlogging and flooding in Dhaka is the disappearance of its natural reservoirs. Therefore, documenting them is not only about protecting the environment but also preserving our culture and history.

Faisal Khan: Tell us about your two books.

Helemul Alam: The book on Dhaka’s ponds is essentially a comprehensive documentation of the city’s lost reservoirs. It was based on a series of reports published in The Daily Star in 2017. At that time, I visited at least 100 ponds based on city corporation maps to collect data. Later, I added further research and published the book in 2023.

“Dhaka’s Canals on Their Dying Breath” is a research-based work on the city’s canals. It contains field investigations, personal experiences and analyses of reports from 2016 and 2024. The canals that were once vibrant with boats and human movement have now largely turned into drains. In the book, I have presented the past, present and potential future. I believe that with civic awareness and political will, many of the canals and ponds can still be revived.

Faisal Khan: How did you come into journalism?

Helemul Alam: I did not enter journalism with a set plan. While studying in the Department of Journalism at Dhaka University, the profession began to attract me. I started in 1999, and in 2001 I joined The New Nation, stepping into the world of English journalism. Later I worked at The New Age and am currently with The Daily Star. Journalism taught me that news is not just information; it creates public awareness and moves policymakers to act. This belief has kept me going.

Faisal Khan: How did your experience in journalism help in writing books?

Helemul Alam: Journalism has taught me technique, methods of investigation and the patience for verifying facts. News has speed; but a book demands depth — the combination of these two experiences gave life to my research. Field-based reporting was the key element that made the books grounded in reality.

Faisal Khan: What do you consider your greatest achievement in your career?

Helemul Alam: To me, the greatest achievement is people’s love. Once, I did a report against a housing company that had blocked the passage of several families by building a wall. The day after the report was published, the company demolished the wall. Later, the local residents sent me a written letter of thanks — that moment made me feel the true worth of journalism.

Of course, formal recognitions have also inspired me. So far, I have received the Best Reporting Award from the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) four times for four separate series — one of which was on the Liberation War. Besides that, I have received a fellowship from the Water Reporters Forum Bangladesh and the US-based social organisation Touching Souls International.

Above all, the most meaningful recognition for me is the DRU Literary Award 2023. Receiving this award in the research category for my first book made me feel acknowledged as a writer. It was a special milestone in my life.

Faisal Khan: How do you see the changes in journalism?

Helemul Alam: When I began, journalism was a simple medium to voice people’s stories. Now technology has made information flow faster, but the core principle remains unchanged — to seek the truth. The challenge today is to maintain reliability amid an abundance of information. For that, field-level investigation and verification of reality are more essential than ever.

Faisal Khan: Why does the ‘city’ keep returning in your writing?

Helemul Alam: A city is not merely a place to live; it is a living entity. I see Dhaka as a weary yet vibrant city. Its water, trees, canals and people together keep it alive. For me, journalism is a way to express love for this city. Dhaka’s light, air, fields and canals are all part of my upbringing. So, the decay of this city pains me, and that is why I try to preserve it through my writing.

Faisal Khan: What is your biggest concern about the current situation?

Helemul Alam: Firstly, unplanned urbanisation. Once the canals served as Dhaka’s natural drainage system; but after filling them up, waterlogging has become severe. Secondly, we have culturally forgotten the importance of waterbodies. Once ponds were places for social gatherings and canals were means of travel. Now we only see them as land — this mindset must change.

Faisal Khan: What is your advice for young journalists?

Helemul Alam: One must be patient and remain curious. Although the pressure to publish news quickly has increased, good journalism comes from depth. Spend time with people, ask questions, and seek the inner truth. And one more thing — no topic is insignificant. When I began working on ponds and canals, some people said, “This isn’t that important.” But later it became clear that the root of many big problems lay hidden there. So, one must trust their own feelings.

Faisal Khan: What message do you have for readers?

Helemul Alam: I want people to see ponds and canals not as relics of the past but as part of the future. In addressing climate change, water scarcity and urban waterlogging, natural waterbodies are indispensable. Above all, development does not only mean roads and buildings — it means a sustainable environment and cultural preservation. If my writing can inspire that understanding, I will consider myself successful. “A pond or canal is not just water — it is memory, community and the strength to survive. If we lose them, we lose a part of ourselves.”