Four rivers--Buriganga, Sitalakhaya, Turag and Balu surrounding the capital Dhaka are again under threat as encroachers occupy the rivers at various points violating government instructions.

Encroachers have built residential buildings, balumahal (sand quarry), truck stands and various commercial establishments on the banks of these four rivers.

On the other hand, water for these rivers has been polluted seriously marking no room for fish and other water animals to live.

On January 29, 2019, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) conducted a drive to free four rivers from grabbers. The drive continued during Corona pandemic in 2020 and 2021. During the drive, BIWTA evicted around 7,000 illegal establishments. It also formed a ‘River Guard’ on the test run to protect the rivers from re-encroachment and pollution. However, all these efforts have gone in vain.

Encroachers have built at least 13 commercial establishments, and nine residential buildings, and piled up seven spots of the Turag River from Gabtali to Abdullahpur.           

New industries have been established within the boundary of the Sitalakhaya River in Kaliganj upazila of Gazipur. Many spots of the Buriganga and Balu Rivers have once again been occupied by the land grabbers. 

Meanwhile, River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) has found excessive pollution at 56 rivers across the country during the last dry season. According to RDRC research, there is not enough oxygen in the water of Buriganga, Sitalakhaya, Turag, Balu and other industry-prone rivers to live for aquatic animals.

While talking to Bangladesh Pratidin, RDRC chairman Mohammad Ejaz said, “We regularly are observing the rivers. Pollution and encroachment both have increased compared to the past. The water of Buriganga, Turag, Sitalakhaya, and Balu turned into black due to industrial, household waste and human waste.”     

According to the 'Towards a Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management in Bangladesh' report prepared by the World Bank and Bangladesh Department of Environment, around 112 tonnes of waste have been dumped in Buriganga daily on average. Of the waste, a big amount is a plastic and polythene.  

National River Conservation Commission Chairman Dr Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury told Bangladesh Pratidin that around 90 per cent of illegal establishments in the Buriganga, Sitalakhaya, Turag, and Balu rivers have been evicted.

“Some parts have been re-occupied. We are trying to recover these spots. After constructing boundary pillars and walkways by the BIWTA, none can occupy the rivers. But the pollution is a big problem of these four rivers,” he added.

Lamenting that two city corporations and the Department of Environment did nothing to stop pollution in Buriganga, Turag, and Balu rivers after several letters, Dr Manjur said they declared the rivers an ‘ecological critical area’ in 2009. 

On the other hand, the government is implementing a project with a cost of Tk 1,181 crore to revive the four rivers of Dhaka by removing encroachment and pollution. Under the project, construction of boundary pillars, walkway, RCC stairs, bench, jetties, eco-park, boundary wall, water sewerage management, green wall and other works under underway. However, the work progress is still very slow after increasing the time frame several times.

Contacted, four rivers conservation project director Shahnewaz Kabir Mithu said they hope the project will be completed by June next year. 

BIWTA director (Land and Estate) AKM Arif Uddin said, “We have almost recovered the rivers from encroachment. All illegal establishments will be evicted during the refreshment drive while constructing boundary pillars. We have some cases with the High Court about a few illegal establishments. After the court verdict, we would conduct the drive. But now focus in Meghna as encroachers trying to occupy the river.”

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on March 25, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.