Death of a river

Photo: Amdadul Huq / Driknews

Many civilizations grew up on riverbanks. Our capital city Dhaka was also born on the banks of Buriganga some centuries ago. But this very river is now clinically and biologically dead. The notorious grabbers have been shrinking its width filling earth and then making houses and buildings. At the same time we have polluted its water to such a level that no fish or any other aqua creatures can live in it. Now the Buriganga is not only without fish, none can touch its water, let alone drinking it. Chemical effluents of tanneries and other industries including dangerous dyeing materials, garbage etc have caused this condition of the once beautiful river. Even two or three decades ago the distinguished guests from abroad used to go on river excursion on our famous pedal steamers (Gazi, Ostrich etc) from/to Sadarghat. Now people get sick taking the bad smell of water. And from this river the polluted water is spreading to other regions of our country. It is high time steps are taken to stop pollution of the river.