The document discusses pollution in the Buriganga River in Bangladesh. It notes that the river was once a source of drinking water but is now severely polluted due to waste from mills, factories, households, and other sources. Major pollutants come from tanneries and chemical industries located near the river. Existing laws aim to restrict waste disposal in water bodies but are not properly enforced. As a result, hundreds of industries illegally discharge untreated waste into the Buriganga. Relocating polluting industries, stronger law enforcement, and expanding sewage systems are proposed to improve conditions.

1. Anisuzzaman Minto
Nazia Sultana
Saba Sanwar
Lamiya Kabir

2. Introduction
 Buriganga river is a stream In Dhaka division,
Bangladesh with the region font code of Asia Pacific.In
the 20th century the water table and river became
polluted by polythenes and other hazardous
substances from demolished buildings near the river
banks.The water of the Buriganga is now so polluted
that all fish have died, and increasing filth and human
waste have turned it like a black gel. Even rowing
across the river is now difficult for its smell so bad.
This vital river however has become extremely
polluted and close to biological death for several
reasons.

3. Before 50 years ago Burigangga
 * During 1610 Buriganga was a prime location for
trade for Mughals, made Dhaka their capital.
 * Buriganga was once the main source of drinking
water for Dhaka residents and The river was crystal
clear.
 * In the past Buriganga was economically very
important to Dhaka

4. • The Buriganga river is afflicted by the intolerable
problem of pollution. The chemical waste of mills
and factories, household waste, medical waste,
sewage, dead animals, plastics, and oil are some of
the Buriganga's major pollutants.
• Pollutants are mainly generated in and around the
city through domestic, commercial and industrial
activities .
• Hazaribag tanneris and chemical industry
Pollution Source

5. Pollution Scenario

6. Existing law enforcement in
liquid waste management

7.  Liquid Waste
 Liquid waste from residential areas
 Liquid waste from commercial areas
 Liquid waste from industries areas
 Strom water

8. Existing legislation on waste
management
 The Dhaka Municipal Ordinance, 1983: The
ordinance authorizes Dhaka City Corporation (DCC)
to take the responsibility of removal, collection and
disposal of refuse, management of latrines and urinals,
control on dyeing and tanning skins, bricks, kilns,
medical practice on infectious diseases and direction
towards house scavenging, cleaning drainage,
cleansing of streets etc

9.  The Environment Policy, 1992: The Environment
Policy, 1992 intends to restrict disposal of municipal,
industrial or agricultural wastes in any water bodies
like rivers, ponds and drains. It also discourages open
truck transportation during daytime collection of
waste.

10.  The penal Code: It provides with six months
imprisonment or fine to Taka 2000(BDT) or both for
causing public nuisance

11. The gap between the existing
law and reality

12.  According to section 6A of Bangladesh conservation act
1995,
Restrictions on manufacture, sale, injurious to environment
 Despite an official ban on the production and use of
polythene bags in Dhaka, some 250 factories are still
illegally making and supplying these bags to approximately
6,000,000 city dwellers every day. On average, 52% of the
bags are used only once, and then discarded into drains
and canals across the city, ultimately flowing into the
Buriganga. The non‐degradable polythene bags sink to the
riverbed and accumulate, thus creating dead zone layers
along the river bottom. The layer is estimated to be up to 2
meters deep in some sections of the Buriganga.

13.  According to schedule 1 with section 12 of environmental
law , there is category to institute industry.
Well its highly doubted to be maintained.
 Industries are located on the rivers surrounding Dhaka
reported by different government agencies. Due to the lack
of enforcement of environmental laws in Bangladesh,
industries are not held accountable for maintaining
adequate waste treatment facilities, and they find it easy to
discharge untreated effluent into the rivers. At least 400
industrial plants are discharging untreated wastewater
directly into the Buriganga. The most significant source of
industrial pollution on the Buriganga is from tanneries
within the Hazaribagh area in the western part of
DhakaMajority of the industries of Bangladesh are located
on riverbanks. There are approximately 2,500 factories.

14. The way forward to prevent

15. Necessary steps
 Control Disposal of Solid Wastes
 River dredging
 Increase water flow of Buriganga
 Planned Drainage System
 Population Control & Make public Awareness

16. Is it ever going to improve?
1. Law enforcement
2. Relocation of minor factories like dyeing and battery
factories.
3. Alternative Way
4. EPZ in Gazipur

17.  By enforcing proper law, the Department Of Environment can help to reduce the
pollution of river water adjacent pollution. The Hazaribagh area, along with its surrounding
area, suffered from severe pollution and health issues. As of March 2017, 148 industries have
been asked to relocate to Savar. However, the relocation process was prolonged due to the
area’s central effluent treatment plant not being constructed even after the High Court’s
verdict of relocating the industries. Although, as per local information from 2019, the
majority of the sector has transferred locations.
 This relocation process solved the Hazaribagh area’s pollution issue in a very minimum
way. The quality of Buriganga water has improved slightly following the relocation of
tanneries to Savar. The government should now take strong measures to shift the dyeing
factories located at Shyampur on the bank of the river to another place as those have become
a major threat to it.
 Low scale industries like battery industries are also causing the same pollution and
damages. As the solution to fight with this problems are very hard to get but taking some
alternative measures can help. As The Government took initiative to relocate 148 industries
to Savar, if formation of EPZ at that place, consist of both high and low scale industries, will
support this step. Only by clearing out the whole industrial area around the Buriganga river
can make improvement to increase the water quality of that river.