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Editorial

Plan to revive Buriganga

Discharge of waste into the river needs to be stopped


Bangladeshpost
Published : 21 Nov 2020 09:04 PM | Updated : 22 Nov 2020 12:37 AM

It is good to note that the government has embarked on a mega plan to restore the previous appearance of the Buriganga. Reportedly, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has taken an initiative to restore about 7.5 kilometers of the river area, which has been occupied either by grabbing or through filling.

We have come to know that apart from restoring the occupied river land, about 15-kilometer road will be built on both sides of the river and the area will be modernised and given a facelift like Hatirjheel.

Experts are of the opinion that restoring the occupied river land would not be an easy task as influential quarters have occupied the original channel of the Buriganga and constructed various institutions.


Restoring the occupied river land would not be an easy task as 

influential quarters have occupied the original channel of the 

Buriganga and constructed various infrastructures


The mighty river Buriganga, once the lifeline of Dhaka, is now on the verge of extinction due to unabated grabbing, rampant dumping of waste and pollution. Environmentalists have long been crying hoarse for devising intervention on the part of the government to save the river Buriganga.

Thames River is an inevitable example of how a dead river can be saved by implementing actions fuelled by consciousness and concerted efforts of the people concerned. In 1957, The Natural History Museum had declared the Thames River biologically dead. Now, Thames is one of the cleanest city rivers in the world. 

A concrete British consciousness and concerted efforts from the parts of the London city administrators revived the river. Hence, we still can be optimistic about giving Buriganga a new life. What is needed is to rethink the sewage system of the capital and take necessary steps to compel people about being conscious of dumping waste in Buriganga. The first thing to do is to stop the continuous discharge of thousands of tons of industrial waste, garbage, and sewage.

A strategic, holistic and sustainable waste management practice should be reinforced both by the concerned authorities, factory owners and conscious citizens. The government should formulate and implement necessary policies and develop legal and strategic framework based on a new and reinvigorated perception on the present condition of the Buriganga.