Volunteers Walk Across Garbage-Choked Paris Canal in Dhaka Cleanup Drive

The cleanup drive was organised by Dhaka North City Corporation in collaboration with 1,200 volunteers from BD Clean. The operation targeted the Paris Canal in Mirpur, where decades of accumulated waste had severely obstructed the flow of water.

Mayor Md Atiqul Islam also joined the volunteers in the effort to clear the canal and restore its water flow. The extensive garbage accumulation had effectively transformed the waterway into a solid blockage, creating conditions that contributed to flooding.

The February 2, 2024, cleanup footage resurfaced in late 2026, bringing renewed attention to the pollution crisis affecting Bangladesh's growing cities. The images of volunteers walking across the trash-filled canal underscored the extent of waste accumulation and the challenges facing urban waterways.

The operation demonstrated the scale of community participation required to tackle longstanding waste-related problems, while highlighting the role of coordinated civic action in addressing pollution and restoring obstructed waterways.