Bangladesh is advancing plans to establish a modern, data-driven system for monitoring river water quality, with technical support from the South Korea-based Green Transition Initiative (GTI).
A Korean expert team is currently mapping major pollution sources around Dhaka using GIS-based technology, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said.
The initiative falls under a proposed project titled "Strengthening Water Quality Monitoring Systems in Bangladesh."
A meeting on the project was held Tuesday at the Ministry, chaired by Additional Secretary Mohammad Navid Shafiullah. Senior officials from the Ministry, the Department of Environment, and representatives from KEITI and EMC Co. Ltd. attended.
A Korean expert team is currently mapping major pollution sources around Dhaka using GIS based technology
The Korean team will design an evidence-based sampling protocol - covering sample depth, monitoring points, and sampling frequency - to standardise river-quality assessments. They will also prepare a detailed project proposal for submission under the GTI 2026 Cooperation Project's Feasibility Window.
If approved, the project will pave the way for a fully automated water-quality monitoring system across Dhaka's river network between 2027 and 2030. Capacity-building activities and technical training are scheduled for this December, with a final report summarising current-phase work to follow.
Participants also discussed long-term possibilities, including a national automated monitoring network, a River Health Assessment protocol, and a River Health Card. They considered selecting one river corridor as a pilot zone for close monitoring and enforcement by the Ministry or the Department of Environment.
Chairing the meeting, Additional Secretary Shafiullah emphasised the need for real-time monitoring, digital water-quality platforms, and stronger data-sharing among agencies. He said the collaboration would deepen Bangladesh-South Korea cooperation and expand opportunities in environmental technology.
