Buriganga River - massive river pollution

Buriganga first bridge at Postogola built in 1989 (Bangla-China friendship bridge)

River at Ahsan Manzil Museum

River view near Pagla

River at Naval coast guard station


Ferry boat and tanker

Launches at Sadarghat

River at Badamtali ghat


Bathing ghat

River at Showari ghat

Rotting fish and organic materials cause massive pollution

Factory waste from Keraniganj and chemical waste of Hazaribagh tanneries

River channel narrowed by illegal land grabbers (pic south of first bridge)

Free for all on the western end at Amin Bazar

In the distant past, a course of the Ganges river used to reach the Bay of Bengal through the Dhaleshwari river. This course gradually shifted and ultimately lost its link with the main channel of the Ganges and was renamed as the Buriganga. Hundreds of years ago, the banks of the Buriganga were a prime location for trade when the Mughals made Dhaka their capital in 1610. It was the main waterway for trading. It is said that the water levels during high and low tides in this river astonished the Mughals.

40-50 years ago, a cruise on the historic Buriganga River in the capital used to be a must for visiting dignitaries. It was once the main source of drinking water for Dhaka residents, and the river is still crystal clear an hour upstream from the capital. But, these days they are confronted with foul smells and rotting fish caused by massive pollution. This stench is unbelievable. According to the Environment Department, up to 40,000 tons of tannery waste flows into the river daily, along with sewage from Dhaka, a city of more than 10 million.

Illegal structures have sprung up along its banks, narrowing the river and adding to the dirt, while ferries spill oil into its waters. It is now a dying river and the situation will get worse unless steps are taken urgently to reverse the trend.