Kaptai Lake, one of Bangladesh and South Asia’s largest reservoirs, was created in 1960 with the construction of a dam on the Karnaphuli River for electricity generation. Spanning around 725 square kilometers, it supplies fish to meet local demand and supports approximately 26,500 fishermen in Rangamati and Khagrachhari. However, encroachment and illegal occupation are steadily shrinking this vital artificial lake, putting livelihoods at risk and threatening the ecological balance of the region. Immediate measures are needed to protect it.