Encroachment on Kaptai Lake

Kaptai Lake in Rangamati, one of the largest reservoirs in Bangladesh and South Asia in terms of size and beauty, was created in 1960 when a dam was built on the Karnaphuli River for electricity generation. Covering nearly 725 square kilometers, the lake supplies fish that meet the demand of local communities and are distributed to various parts of the country. Approximately 26,500 fishermen across eight sub-districts of Rangamati and Khagrachhari depend on the lake for their livelihood. However, due to encroachment, this artificial reservoir is gradually shrinking day by day.