The rivers in Narayanganj's Sonargaon upazila, have turned into black sludge resembling tar due to rampant industrial waste disposal, leaving the water unusable and severely impacting local lives, agriculture, and biodiversity.
Once a vital resource for residents and farmers, the rivers are now polluted beyond recognition, and protests by local communities have failed to stop this environmental catastrophe.
Reports indicate that untreated or inadequately treated industrial waste from more than 300 factories, including Meghna Economic Zone, Gaston Battery Factory, Chaiti Composite, Bengal, Tiger Cement, Fresh, and Bashundhara Paper Mill, is being discharged directly into the Brahmaputra and Marikhali rivers. Nearby dyeing factories in Araihazar are also releasing chemical-laden wastewater into the Brahmaputra River, further worsening the situation. Environmental activists have organized protests, petitions, and human chains to demand action, but the influence of industrialists has prevented significant change.
Local farmers and residents describe how the pollution has disrupted their lives. Farmers can only use the blackened water for irrigating rice fields, which has led to a sharp decline in crop yields. “We used to produce 45 maunds of rice per bigha; now, we barely get 20 maunds,” lamented farmer Zainal Hossain from Ladhur Char. He also noted that the water pollution worsens during the monsoon season, with rainwater failing to dilute the tar-like consistency of the river water.
Residents living along the rivers complain about the unbearable stench emanating from the water, which lingers throughout the year. The polluted water has also led to an increase in waterborne diseases. Children and adults who use the water for bathing often suffer from skin infections and other illnesses.
The situation has also had a devastating impact on biodiversity. According to Sonargaon’s senior fisheries officer, Mahmudah Akhtar, fish populations have drastically declined due to the high levels of carbon dioxide and other toxic substances in the water. Fish eggs and breeding habitats have been destroyed, leading to a collapse in fish production in the Brahmaputra, Marikhali, and Pankhiraj rivers.
Despite claims by some factories that their effluent treatment plants (ETPs) are operational, visible pollution contradicts these assertions. Chaiti Composite manager Mizanur Rahman stated that their ETP operates 24 hours to treat water before discharge. However, local residents and environmentalists dispute these claims, citing the apparent contamination.
The Department of Environment in Narayanganj claims to be monitoring the situation and imposing fines on polluters, but environmental activists argue that the penalties are insufficient to deter repeated violations. Mohammad Hossain, chairman of the Environment Protection Development Society, stated that efforts to raise awareness and stop pollution are ongoing but face strong resistance from powerful industrialists.
Sonargaon’s agricultural officer, Abu Saeed Tareq, warns that the high acid content in the polluted water is damaging soil quality and reducing agricultural output. Without immediate action to curb the discharge of industrial waste, the area may face an agricultural disaster.