World Environment Day
Non-stop river pollution threatens water security
Laws, rules, HC directives go in vain
Rashad Ahamad
No pragmatic step is yet to be taken to protect the four rivers surrounding Dhaka even after declaring them ecologically critical 13 years ago.
In September 2009, the Department of Environment declared the four rivers Ecologically Critical Areas under Section 5 of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act. There are total 13 ECAs in Bangladesh.
The government formulated the Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA) Management Rules 2016 for implementing the act, including
river pollution
Cleaning up of Buriganga proves futile
All steps to revive the Buriganga river from persistent pollution have turned into a fiasco, as dumping of garbage and untreated industrial effluents into the river is going on unhindered. People living on the banks of the river continue to dump garbage into the Buriganga, even though the government has already spent Tk. 16.53 crore under a pilot project to clean the river.
Action against offending house owners ordered
Sewerage disposal into drains
Action against offending house owners ordered
The government on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned to take action against the house owners who dispose of their sewerage into the storm sewers, ultimately
polluting the rivers around the capital.
The task force responsible for ensuring the navigability and natural flow of the
Pollution of rivers around Dhaka
Increasing threats to life
Mohammad Tareq Hasan
With a population of over 15 million Dhaka is one of the most congested cities of the world. This rapidly growing city is located on the northern bank of the river Buriganga and surrounded by other rivers, namely, the Turag to the west, the Tongi Khal to the north and the Balu to the east. The rivers surrounding Dhaka are an advantage to it and essential for the survival of the mega city as these provide drainage system, drinking water, different kinds of fishes and also waterways for traveling. However, being the capital of Bangladesh
Chitra river rots with jute
A portion of the Chitra river has become seriously polluted, as farmers are rotting jute plants in it.
The pollution that extends some 40km on both sides of the river very badly affected nearly 40,000 people of Narail sadar and Kalia upazilas of the district.
Fishes and other aquatic creatures are dying in hundreds, and their decomposed bodies are making the situation worse for the locals.
Those living by the bank cannot go near the water they were habituated to use for cooking, drinking, washing and bathing until three months ago. The water reeks of dead fish and
Result close to ZERO
Court Directives, Govt Warnings, Public Outcry
Result close to ZERO
Pinaki Roy
Encroachment and pollution of the Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Turag and Balu rivers in and around the capital continue despite the government’s pledges to put an end to those.
In response to a campaign by the media, the government in June 2009 pledged to restore water flow in the rivers, stop pollution and encroachment, and recover the grabbed land.
In May-June that year The Daily Star ran two series of reports on encroachment and pollution of the four rivers–the lifeline for the densely