‘Save Buriganga at all costs’

A parliamentary committee yesterday strongly recommended to save the river Buriganga, the lifeline of the capital, from pollution within the next one year.

The parliamentary standing committee on the shipping ministry came up with the recommendation at a meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with ruling Awami League MP Maj (retd) Rafiqul Islam in the chair.

The parliamentary watchdog also directed the shipping ministry to work jointly with the Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to carry out the job.

According to the World Health Organization, Buriganga is one of the most polluted rivers in the world.

This is caused by the over 60,000 cubic metres of toxic waste dumped by the city into its waters every day, according to news published in different media.

Dhaka is practically losing all its rivers to unprecedented pollution and indiscriminate encroachment.

Untreated human waste, heavy metals, toxic chemicals are indiscriminately dumped into the rivers, making the water hazardous to drink. Tanneries, textiles and other industries without effluent treatment plants have poisoned the river.

In 2009, the HC declared all four rivers including the Buriganga flowing around Dhaka as ecologically critical area.

According to Department of Environment report, the level of dissolved oxygen in the waters of Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Turag and Balu was found to be almost zero, especially during the dry season, from January to May.

The minimum level of dissolved oxygen in water must be at least 5 mg per litre in order for fish and other aquatic lives to survive.

Though the government shifted tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar in 2016 in a measure to improve water quality, this initiative didn't work much to free the river from pollution and grabbing.

In the meeting, the parliamentary body recommended that a letter be sent to the education ministry to involve children in the development of the environment and include the issue of protecting environment in the text curriculum.

The committee was also informed by the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) that the Bangladeshi ship "Bangla Sammriddhi" damaged in the Ukraine will be rescued, repaired, and added to the BSC fleet.