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Strengthen the Civil Society Capacity and Voice on

Water Co-operation

(Following the year of water co-operation 2013)

State of

Bangshi RiverMd. Hasan Masrur

Md. Bodrud-Doza

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State of the Bangshi River

Introduction

The Bangshi River (also spelt Bansi) encompasses the western periphery of

Savar town. It is originated at Jamalpur from the course of the old

Brahmaputra. At upstream the Bangshi is connected via the Dhaleswari-

Pungli river to the greater Jamuna floodplain, and at downstream it is

connected through the Tongi river with the Buriganga-Meghna river system.

Hydrologically, the Bangshi river is not an isolated river because many other

rivers are connected with the Bangshi and influence its flow.

It is hydrologically connected with Buriganga, Dhaleswari, Kaliganga,

Karnatali, Lauhajang, Tongi Khal and Turag. The Turag-Bangshi Rivermaking all the low areas becomes a connected sheet of water in the

monsoon.

At present, industrialization can be observed almost all over Dhaka. The

industries are situated near the rivers surrounding the Dhaka city. Most of

the industries and factories of DEPZ are situated on the banks of the

Bangshi or very close to the river system.

The Bangshi is one of the polluted rivers. The industries mainly textiles and

garments-cum dyeing factories mushroomed in this area without setting up

waste treatment units during the past decade. The sewage of the Savar

upazila is also thrown in the Bangshi river.

Fig: Satellite image of Bangshi River

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Major types of industries situated on the bank of the Bangshi

River or very close to river system:

Ceramic industry, beverage industry, press and publication, garments

industry, foot ware, jute mills, textile mills, printing and dying factory,transformer industry, automobile industry, biscuit and bread factory,

pharmaceutical industry, soap factory, brick field, cold storage, welding,

plant nursery, etc. Bangladesh Export Processing Zone is located in this

upazilla. The Cottage industry includes 8 Weaving, 100 goldsmith and 29

others workshops. The main exports are Jackfruit, papaya, flower, sapling,

dairy products, meat, transformer, fabrics, dye, medicine, readymade

garments, electronics and electric goods, shoe, brick, sweetmeat etc.

Fig: Satellite image of DEPZ area

There are approximate 80% are textile dying industries dispose their waste

water in Dhalai Beel that connected with Bonshi River. Textile dying

industries discharge huge amount of effluents, sewage sludge, and solid

waste materials directly into the surrounding area.

DEPZ BangshiRiver

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Fig: Map of Bangshi River

Types of pollutant found in Bangshi River

Heavy metal, odor, color, chlorides, sulphates, various dyeing chemical,

acids, various hazardous wastes contribute to the pollution of the river.

Fig: Polluted water of Bangshi River

Bangshi River

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Previous state of the Bangshi river

In the past, there were a significant amount of local people were dependent

on fishing. The river water was usueful enough for the people. The river

morphology and ecosystem was well balanced. After the establishment of the

DEPZ these scenario has been changed.

Present state of the river

The gradual deterioration of the river water quality has made a drastical

change in the way of living of the people. Now a days the people are forced to

search for a new profession as the river no longer provides any support as a

habitat for the fish species. The dark black color, lack of dissolved oxygen

and presence of harmful chemicals, there is hardly any aquatic species

found in the river. Moreover, some recent studies revealed that the fish

species found here accumulates various carcinogenic chemicals in their

body tissue that may result in cancer to those who consume these fishes.

Fig: Present scenario of Banghsi River

Socio-economic condition of the area

The pollution from the industries of DEPZ greatly influenced the physical

and chemical properties of the river. Due to the pollution aquatic organisms

are at threat. The water quality of the river influences the health and socio-economic condition of the people surrounding the river.

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The socioeconomic condition of the people is hard to express in one word.

Most of the inhabitants of the riverine villages are labors, fishermen, farmers

or potters. A significant amount of local people are farmers. Rice is the main

crop that is produced by the local farmers. But since the DEPZ started

polluting the river water which is widely used as irrigation water, the yield

has been reduced to a significant amount. The number of potter family is

gradually decreasing. Other traditional occupations are also in a changing

trend. The river Bangshi no longer provides fish for these fishermen. So,

they have no other choice but to find out a new profession.

The rate of literacy is yet not satisfactory in the area under study. It was

found from some persons opinion that most of the boys and girls leave

school after finishing primary school and try to get jobs in the nearby EPZ.

Health effect

Health sector is very much neglected in the area. There is no public hospitalin the surrounding area. Due to the contact of chemically active

pollutant mixed river water, almost all the local inhabitants suffers from

acute skin disease which eventually may lead up to cancer development.

Among the local people, respiratory disease, skin disease, gastro-intestinal

diseases are very common.

Recommendation

EPZ at Savar are the main reason for the pollution of water of the river. All

polluted effluent discharges in the river. Now the water is the reason of

pollution of soil and as well as ground water. Even crops production also

being damaged due to the highly polluted river water.

Wastewater discharged from DEPZ could be recycled for the remediation of

pollution in a sustainable and eco-specific manner. Different remediation

measures should be taken promptly to remove excising metal from

discharge.

The pollution can be minimized by raising awareness among the people. The

policy makers should be aware of the hazardous impact of the pollution. The

river water quality should be checked in a regular interval. Industrialistsshould come forward to maintain the environmental and ecological balance

of the river.

Common Mitigation Measures

Wastewater treatment is probably the most obvious mitigation measure

that can check the adverse environmental and social consequences. The

purpose of the wastewater treatment project is to reduce the current

amounts of untreated sewage that enters into natural ecosystem of river,

thereby allowing for recovery of the inherent natural productivity of the

water bodies and restoration of the economic benefits to be derived from ahealthy ecosystem.