The Buriganga River, once the lifeline of Dhaka, is now a grim example of environmental degradation. Despite repeated promises, clean-up drives, and public awareness campaigns, the Buriganga remains one of the most polluted rivers in Bangladesh in 2025. From toxic waste and untreated sewage to illegal encroachments, the river continues to suffer — threatening public health, biodiversity, and the capital city’s sustainability.
This article delves into why the Buriganga River is still polluted, the main contributing factors, its socio-environmental consequences, and the actions that must be taken to revive it.
Buriganga River: Historical and Economic Importance
- The Buriganga flows through the southwestern outskirts of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
- It once served as a major waterway for trade, transportation, and household use.
- Historically, it contributed to the city’s growth and prosperity, earning the title “lifeline of Dhaka.”
However, rapid urbanization and industrialization since the 1980s have turned this vital river into a toxic drain.
Why Is the Buriganga River Still Polluted in 2025?
1. Industrial Waste Dumping
Tanneries and Textile Factories
- Major industries in Hazaribagh and Savar continue to release untreated or poorly treated effluents into the river.
- Although the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Savar was meant to solve this, it operates below capacity and often malfunctions.
- Heavy metals such as chromium, lead, and arsenic are regularly found in the river water.
Chemical Waste
- Dyes, acids, and bleaching agents from textile units are often discharged directly into drainage canals that empty into the Buriganga.
- The toxic mix leads to blackened water, loss of aquatic life, and severe contamination.
2. Untreated Sewage
- Dhaka generates over 2.5 million cubic meters of sewage per day, much of which is dumped untreated into nearby rivers.
- Only 30% of the city’s sewage is treated by the Pagla Sewage Treatment Plant, which is outdated and overburdened.
- Open drains and canals connected to the Buriganga become direct conduits for human waste.
3. Solid Waste Disposal
- Approximately 5,000 tons of solid waste are generated daily in Dhaka.
- Waste collectors and residents often dump plastic, medical waste, household garbage, and other debris directly into the riverbanks.
- Floating waste forms garbage islands, blocking water flow and breeding mosquitoes and disease.
4. Illegal Encroachments
- Slums, commercial buildings, and even government projects have encroached onto the riverbanks and floodplain.
- These settlements often lack sanitation facilities, leading to direct disposal of waste into the river.
- Grabbed land also hampers any attempt to build embankments, walkways, or restore the river’s flow.
5. Lack of Effective River Governance
- While various agencies exist (e.g., BIWTA, DoE, WASA), there’s overlap and lack of coordination.
- Rules exist on paper, but enforcement is weak or politically influenced.
- Anti-pollution drives are often short-term, targeting symptoms, not root causes.
6. Corruption and Political Inaction
- Environmental laws are flouted with impunity due to corruption, bribery, and lack of political will.
- Factories often operate without Environmental Clearance Certificates, paying off inspectors or officials.
7. Urbanization Pressure
- Dhaka’s population has crossed 22 million in 2025, increasing demand for housing, water, and services.
- The riverbanks are under constant pressure from construction and population overflow.
Consequences of Buriganga’s Pollution
a. Public Health Crisis
- Waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis are rampant among riverbank communities.
- The water is not fit for drinking, bathing, or irrigation.
- Fishermen, boatmen, and waste-pickers suffer from skin diseases and respiratory problems.
b. Loss of Biodiversity
- Once home to dozens of fish species, the Buriganga now shows extremely low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels.
- Aquatic life cannot survive in most stretches of the river.
- Migratory birds and wetland species have vanished.
c. Decline in River-Based Livelihoods
- Traditional riverine communities have lost income sources due to dead fish stocks and unusable water.
- The ferry and water transport industry also suffers from clogged and shallow waters.
d. Environmental Degradation
- The polluted river contributes to urban heat island effects, mosquito breeding, and reduced groundwater recharge.
- Waterlogging is more frequent due to clogged canals and storm drains.
Government Actions and Limitations
1. Relocation of Tanneries
- In 2017, the government shifted tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar Tannery Industrial Estate.
- However, the CETP there is non-functional or inadequate, simply shifting the pollution upstream.
2. Clean-Up Drives
- Occasional campaigns remove floating waste and sludge.
- While symbolic, these don’t address the underlying pollution sources.
3. Eviction of Illegal Encroachments
- Eviction drives are launched, but resettlement issues and political interference delay progress.
- Evicted areas are often re-encroached in the absence of proper monitoring.
4. River Dredging
- BIWTA regularly undertakes dredging projects to deepen the Buriganga and improve navigability.
- But dredging is a band-aid solution without source control of pollution.
Hope and Emerging Solutions (2025 and Beyond)
a. Smart River Monitoring
- Environmental watchdogs are now using satellite imagery, IoT sensors, and AI to monitor pollution levels in real time.
- This data is being used for legal action and public awareness.
b. Community-Based River Protection
- NGOs like Waterkeepers Bangladesh and BAPA are working with riverbank communities to promote eco-consciousness.
- Clean-up events, education drives, and citizen science are gaining popularity.
c. Eco-Tourism and Riverfront Development
- There are renewed proposals to develop riverfront walkways, parks, and cycle lanes to restore public connection with the Buriganga.
- Eco-tourism models may help fund river restoration and keep public attention focused.
d. Environmental Courts and Citizen Litigation
- More environmental lawsuits are being filed to hold polluters accountable.
- Courts have occasionally fined or ordered closures of non-compliant factories.
e. Policy Recommendations
- Mandate full operationalization of CETPs and install Effluent Treatment Units (ETUs) in every factory.
- Update and expand urban sewage treatment infrastructure to handle growing population needs.
- Strictly penalize industries and municipalities that dump untreated waste.
- Ensure independent audits and citizen oversight of environmental programs.
What Can Citizens Do?
- Report illegal dumping via environmental hotlines or apps.
- Support eco-friendly businesses that comply with waste regulations.
- Participate in local clean-up drives and advocacy campaigns.
- Educate others about river conservation and pollution hazards.
Conclusion
The Buriganga River remains polluted in 2025 because of a complex web of industrial negligence, weak governance, sewage mismanagement, and public apathy. While some progress has been made, sustainable, long-term river restoration requires systemic reforms, citizen engagement, and unwavering political commitment.
Saving the Buriganga is not just about water — it’s about preserving heritage, public health, livelihoods, and the future of Dhaka itself.