The rivers in and around Dhaka are being polluted with industrial and household waste, posing serious threat to the environment and public health. Despite several steps by the authorities concerned, efforts to curb pollution have proven insufficient. A recent study titled ‘Surface and Groundwater Quality Report 2022’ conducted by Department of Environment (DoE) has revealed a dire situation, saying that pollution level in the rivers around Dhaka remains critically high, particularly during the dry season.
The four rivers--Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Turag and Balu which surround the capital, are among worst affected. In some parts of Buriganga, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels dropped as low as 0.1 mg/1 in April 2022, compared to minimum 5.0 mg/1 required to support river life. DO levels that dip below 1-2 mg/1 may lead to deaths of fish, indicating the rivers’ poor condition. While the rivers’ water quality improves during the rainy season due to increased water flow, this seasonal improvement cannot hide the underlying crisis. Once thriving ecosystems, the rivers are now on their death throes because of continuous discharge of industrial, household and medical waste.
Beyond the capital, the rivers’ contamination spreads to other places, such as Chattogram and Khulna, where the Karnaphuli and Moyuri rivers face similar ruins. Although the main rivers like the Jamuna, Ganges and Teesta have managed to avoid severe pollution so far, their long-term condition is not specific. As the DoE’s Director Masud Iqbal Shamim pointed out, the Meghna River, one of the country’s primary sources of drinking water, is facing increasing threat from nearby industrial developments, which could pose substantial risks if preventive measures are not taken rapidly.
Despite the government’s various initiatives, including the declaration of several rivers as Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA) in 2009 and the relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar in 2016, progress has been limited. A big project initiated in 2011 to channel fresh water from the Jamuna to the Buriganga, costing over Tk 100 crore, has failed to deliver noticeable results. Even the Savar tannery estate's central Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) has not functioned as expected, partly because many industries do not operate their ETPs to reduce costs. As a result, untreated industrial waste continues to flow into the capital’s rivers, further aggravating the pollution crisis.
The continued contamination of the
capital’s rivers is not just an
environmental ruin but a
public health crisis.
A lack of effective implementation remains a critical issue. The DoE, responsible for monitoring compliance, is woefully understaffed. With only 67 checkers overseeing thousands of polluting industries, the department cannot ensure that factories follow environmental regulations. Despite nearly 2,500 industries with ETPs, lack of execution means many bypass pollution controls, releasing untreated waste directly into the rivers. This lack of accountability has led to a situation where pollution persists despite technical solutions.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has stressed that while immediate actions— such as controlling municipal garbage dumping and enforcing stricter industrial regulations— are necessary, the more challenging and long-term task is addressing the issue of untreated sewage discharge. This will require substantial financial resources and a long-term commitment but without it, the rivers will never be restored to a sustainable condition.
The continued contamination of the capital’s rivers is not just an environmental ruin but a public health crisis. A huge number of people depend on these rivers for their livelihood and the ongoing pollution poses a serious threat to water security, agriculture and biodiversity. The situation demands urgent and decisive action.
Policymakers must now focus on strengthening implementation mechanisms and scaling up sustainable contamination control strategies. It is essential that the government not only holds polluters accountable but also commits to long-term investment in sewage treatment and industrial waste management. The time for delay is over; the capital’s rivers are on the edge of ruin. Comprehensive, coordinated action is the only way to restore these lifelines and secure a healthier, sustainable future for Bangladesh’s people and its environment.
