Buriganga Pollution: Reasons & Prospects

Nadia Sultana Fahima

Department of Law
Stamford University Bangladesh

Abstract

When water becomes contaminated by unexpected substances, it is considered as

harmful for human and aquatic lives. This water is termed as polluted water. Various
causes are responsible for polluting water. Some natural causes are mixture of
biodegraded portion of animals and plants to pure water, situation by erosion of river
banks etc. Domestic wastes, industrial wastes, fertilizer etc. are manmade pollutants of
water. The state of surface and ground water pollution in Bangladesh is alarming.
Especially the Buriganga is largely polluted Dhaka city. Necessity of water for each
and every living beings needs no description. They intake water directly or indirectly
for physiological activities. If this in taking water is polluted, it will do harm that is
for sure. The worst parties this bad impact transport to others through food chain.
Therefore, we must be aware of the adverse influence polluted water may have on us.
At present, we cannot prevent water being polluted cent percent, but minimization is
very much needed. It is time we took some steps to start working on it.

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1. Introduction
The Buriganga River ("Old Ganges") is the main river flowing beside Dhaka city,
capital of Bangladesh. Because of the tanneries in the riverbank of Buriganga and for
using the river as dumping ground for the liquid and solid wastes, the river is now
under threat of extinction. The pollution because of the Tanneries and health hazards
provided by them should be controlled immediately to save Buriganga. How can we
recover Buriganga River from Hazardous pollution and makes sustainable development
for Dhaka city?

2. History of Buriganga
In the distant past, a course of the Ganges River used to reach the Bay of Bengal
through the Dhaleshwari River. This course gradually shifted and ultimately lost its link
with the main channel of the Ganges and was renamed as the Buriganga. It is said
that the water levels during high and low tides in this river astonished the Mughals.The
water tables even is very astonishing due to pollution of polythenes deposited beneath
water. The materials from breaking of buildings of the river banks also add hazardous
substances in the river.
The course of the Padma has changed considerably during the period 1600 to 2000 AD.
It is difficult to trace accurately the various channels through which it has flowed.
The probability is that it flowed past Rampur Boalia, through ChalanBeel, the
Dhaleshwari and Buriganga rivers, past Dhaka into the Meghna estuary. In the 18th
century, the lower course of the river flowed further south. About the middle of the
19th century the main volume of the channel flowed through this southern channel
which came to be known as Kirtinasa. Gradually the Padma adopted its present
course.1

3. Economic significance of Buriganga

The Buriganga is economically very important to Dhaka. Launches and Country Boats
provide connection to the other parts of Bangladesh, a largely riverine country. Due to
siltation, large steamers can no longer go through the river channel in the dry season. In
1989, a bridge (the Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge) was built over the river for
vehicles and pedestrians. In 2001, a second bridge over the river was built at
Babubazar for vehicles and pedestrians.

1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buriganga_River

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4. The Real Scenario of Pollution in Buriganga
If dissolved oxygen in water lessen below 6, it will be impossible for the aquatic
animals and plants to survive. The study in the last January shows that at 4 among the
total 9 points in Buriganga, the value of dissolved oxygen is 0 and at the rest 5, the
average value of dissolved oxygen is 1.8. The Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
also reflects the pollution rate of water. The capability of water to destroy germs in it
signifies the value of the BOD. The lower the value of the BOD in water, the lower
will be the pollution rate in it. The tolerance limit of BOD in water is 2-6. But the
study by BUET Civil Department in January, 2007 shows that the BOD in
Buriganga at Hazaribagh area is 28.

The electric conductivity of the water of Buriganga is also higher than the tolerance
limit that represents the presence of solid particles in water with high concentration. If
the value of pH of water is greater than 7, it represents the basic characteristics of water
which is harmful for skin. The average value of pH of Buriganga is 12. The value of
dissolved chloride is also higher than the tolerance limit in Buriganga.

Figure 01: Buriganga Pollution by (a) oil discharge of the water vehicles and (b)
tannery and other industries’ pollutants and (c) Connected Canals of Keraniganj to
Buriganga

5. Reasons behind Pollution

According to the experts, major reason of the pollution in Buriganga is the
HazaribaghTanary. The Tannery is 46 years old but no treatment plant has been
introduced yet to neutralize the noxious materials it produces. That’s why it
continuously pollutes the water of Buriganga. The industrial and the seepage wastes of
riverside Textile Mills, Dying and other industries and Dhaka-Demra-Naraynganj
Industrial Zone also pollutes river. The industries of Kamrangir Char area dump their

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wastes in Buriganga. Dhaka WASA is in lack of sufficient recycling plants and dump
seepage wastes in river. More than 5 thousand tons of solid wastes are produced
daily from domestic uses in Dhaka City and 63% of them are dumped in the
river. As a result, Buriganga is now in serious trouble as well as the surrounding
environment. 2
6. Hazaribagh Tannery
Tanneries are the oldest industries in Bangladesh of which 95 percent are concentrated
mainly in Hazaribagh area of Dhaka city (Alam and Sultana, 1996). It is also a
potentially rich manufacturing sector in terms of both financial return and social
benefits (Rahman, 1997). Manufacturing includes those activities by which man
changes the form of nature of raw materials (Miller, 1982).

The first tannery industry in Dhaka was established a century ago. Chrome and bark
tanning was practiced successfully, but the factory could not survive for long. A
fresh move for the establishment of tanneries was made after the partition of the
Indian subcontinent. Some large plots were made available to
entrepreneurs in 1 9 5 6 . Initially a b o u t 2 0 t a n n e r i e s w e r e established,
which have now grown to 196.2.3 The following statistics reflect current levels of
activity:

Table 1: Information about tanneries

Total number of tanneries established 196

Operating for the whole year 53
Ceased operation due to Government ban on wet blue leather 47
Operating only a few months of the year (after Eid-ul-Azha) 96
Source: Bangladesh Leather, 2004.

Most of the tanneries were built on land either purchased or acquired by inheritance,
mortgage and temporary lease or rented on a monthly basis. The land covered by these
industrial enterprises ranges in size from small (around 29 decimal), through medium
(around 48 decimal) to large (around 98 decimal). Apart from the tanneries there are two
paint factories, plus 70 manually operated glue factories and one mechanized glue
factory in the industrial area. The Hazaribagh tannery complex and other industries,

2
Ahmed, R. 2005, Existing Environmental Status of Hazaribagh, Dhaka. Training
Institute for Chemical Industries, Narsingdi.
3
Source: Bangladesh Leather, 2004.

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primarily the glue and paint industries located in the same general area, have affected
water and air quality in a large poorly drained area locked behind a 9 meters high
flood control embankment constructed in 1989-1990 in south- west Dhaka City. Up
until the time of embankment construction, the contaminants were washed to the
Buriganga River by annual flooding. At present, the existing sewage outfalls, the
sewage lift operations consisting of 16 pumps and local residential drains are not
adequate to properly and efficiently remove all the waste products generated by the
factories and population of the affected area. This is partly a maintenance problem but
an environmental problem was created by the discharging of wastewater with
excessively high solids content and a dangerous level of chromium among other heavy
metals and toxic materials.4

7. The Toxic Chemicals used in the Tanneries of Hazaribagh

Hazaribagh, an area of 25 hector located on the southern periphery of Dhaka City, is the
nerve center of the entire leather industry of Bangladesh. There are 17 tanneries
owned by Bangladesh Tanneries Corporation and 131 tanneries owned by private
enterprises. About 53 tanneries are operating round the year. Nearly 10,000 people
rely directly on the tanneries for their source of income. These tanneries use two types
of tanning processes are used in manufacturing:Chrome Tanneries:using chromium
sulphate, CaO, Na2S, NH4Cl, Oropan bate, NaCl, H2SO4, chromosal B, soda to
produce blue leather.Combined Chrome and Vegetable Tannery: using NaCl,
hydrobisulphide to produce soft blue leather. For dying, Nigrosine, violet, COD oil, TRC
oil, Pigme-t, black, glycerine is used. For polishing slug, Casin, Ammonia liquid,
Nirtobenzine, Formaldehide, Soliside are used to produce finished leather. Daily
discharge of wastes from these tanneries is about 18000 liters of liquid wastes, 115 tones
of solid wastes during peak time and 75 tones during off-peak time. In summer when the
rate of decomposition of the waste is higher, serious air pollution is caused in the whole
of Hazaribagh area by producing intolerable, obnoxious odor. Tannery wastes include
liquid arsenic, soft sodium sulfate, lime, ammonium sulfate, chromium sulfate and
colored pigments. Especially hexavalent chromium is carcinogenic. The hides absorb
only 30% of the chromium while the remaining 70% is discharged into as effluent. The
maximum concentration of chromium in the Buriganga River is about 4 mg per liter.
Liquid wastes are mostly dumped into the river Buriganga while part of these wastes is
4
Alam, S. and Sultana, S. 1996. Atlas of Urban Geography, Dhaka. Bangladesh.

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trapped inside the Dhaka Flood Control Embankment. Solid wastes from fleshing and
shaving are dumped on the streets or in and around garbage bins when available.
Currently, local shoemakers use about 90% of the finished trimming wastes. Fifty
percent of the tanneries reuse part of the solid waste. Health impact from disposal of
wastes from the tanneries are either death or increased probabilities of death and
sufferings by illness including skin diseases, fevers, headaches, respiratory diseases
etc. It has been found that on average the incidence of illness among the people living in
Hazaribagh is 16% higher than the people living in the control area. Cost of human
health impact from the tanneries varies from $26 to $150 per annum per person. Two
options have been proposed to address the pollution caused by the tanneries in
Hazaribagh. One is to relocate the entire industry from Dhaka to Savar. Another is to
provide a suitable treatment plant for pollution reduction of tannery waste before final
disposal. Stabilization ponds (lagoons) are widely used method of waste treatment in
hot and tropical climates. It is difficult to bear the cost individually. However, if it is
shared by the proportion of production of all the tanneries, it may become cost-
effective.5

8. Tanneries Discharge 21,600 Liters of Liquid Wastes Daily

Tanneries in the city's Hazaribagh area discharge some 21,600 liters of liquid
wastes everyday. "These harmful wastes, including chromium, lead, sulphur, ammonium,
salt and other materials, are severely polluting the capital city and the river Buriganga,"
State Minister for Environment and Forest Jafrul Islam Chowdhury said this while he
was visiting the Hazaribagh industrial area yesterday(UNB, 2003).

9. River Pollution
The major pollution aspects of Hazaribagh are tannery wastewater, solid wastes,
sludge, bad odor, narrow zigzag roads and lanes/bilanes, unplanned drainage system,
over flow of drains, stack of garbage from tannery and municipal by the side of road,
transportation of raw and semi processed hides, unplanned construction of residential
buildings, slum dwellings, densely populated area etc. It is to be noted that a total of
about more than 15 thousand cubic meter liquid tannery waste is discharged everyday
from the Hazaribagh area. At present wastes can’t be discharged into the River
Buriganga due to obstruction created by Dhaka flood control embankment. As a

5
Source: Bangladesh Leather, 2004.

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result it seeps through the embankment and wastes accumulate in the low land lying
between Hazaribagh and Dhaka embankment (western bypass). This causes
inconvenience for the local community and passerby. The pollution rate is most terrible
in the North Gajmahal and Sonatangor in the study area. The condition of
Moneshwor West, Gajmahal and Hazaribagh Road are better than the previous two. But
the pollution rate is not severe in Jigatola, Moneshwor East, Tallabagh, Ganaktuli Lane
and Jigatola Govt. Quarter as like the other zones of the study area. Common pollutants
released from the tanneries with their proper sources and associated health effects
are illustrated below by a table:

5. Sulfuric Acid Pickling process, Aggravates respiratory diseases,

Chrome tanning. impairs breathing, irritates eyes and
respiratory tract.
6. Arsine (Arsenic) Tanning process. Breakdown red cells in blood,
damage kidneys, causes jaundice.
7. Nitrogen Oxides Tanning, Polishing, Aggravates respiratory and heart
Finishing. diseases, irritates lungs, injures
respiratory systems.
8. Nitric Acid -Do- Same as Nitrogen oxides.

Source: 1. Miller (1982), 2. Jorgensen and Fath (2008)

For this toxic discharge of tannery industries different components of environment
such as soil, air, and water are being contaminated. But the contamination level is not
equal in all the surrounding zones.6

10. Health Hazards

A house-to-house survey was made of 200 randomly selected households to
determine the types and numbers of health problems that exist in the Hazaribagh area at
present. The present illness and disease levels were compared with previous periods.
The survey revealed that a number of health problems were particularly prevalent.
These include diseases that may or may not be related to the tannery waste disposal
problem although the tannery industry is highly suspect. The diseases are listed in the
order of the highest

Number of households affected in the sample group, during the preceding ten years.
Public health concerns in this area are serious. Levels of various diseases are high
compared to other parts of Dhaka City. This study concludes that the toxic discharge

6
Source: 1. Miller (1982), 2. Jorgensen and Fath (2008)

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from factories in Hazaribagh had worsened the quality of life in the area and may have
a serious affect on public health, although that affect has not been pinpointed. Although
many toxic chemicals are used in the tannery, paint and glue factories operating in this
area, one of the most serious threats is related to high chromium levels in tannery
effluent which far exceed the maximum pollutant levels allowable for chromium as
determined by environmental protection agencies in Asia (see Table
3). Therefore, the chromium issue was focused on in this study.
Table3: Percentage of households suffering from various diseases
Disease Per cent of Households
Abdominal discomfort Fever 100
Conjunctivitis 90
Scabies and skin ulcers Diarrhoeal 80
diseases Dermatitis 75
Asthma 57
Respiratory/lung diseases 32
19
Other 15
100

The area does not have a functioning sewage disposal system or an operating
sewage treatment plant. The local sewage lift operation had ceased due to technical
problems at the time the Bangladesh survey was made. Its present status is
unknown. Roadside drains and waterways as well as factory ponds, low-lying swampy
land and stagnant ponds next to the embankment were all seriously contaminated at the
time the Bangladesh report was submitted to the United Nations. Channels and drains
are frequently plugged resulting in the spillage of contaminated water into nearby
residential areas and the flooding of low-lying land with sewage.7

11. Proposals
11.1 Protection from the pollution of Buriganga
The revival of Buriganga is not so easy. There is no effective manual process to
purify the water, it’s a natural process. We have to take some vital steps so that no
more toxic materials can be added to the water. For that reason: Each and every
industry on the bank of Buriganga or the industries which use the river for their

7
Islam, M. M. 2003. Jomi Jomar ain o Alochona, Jomin Prokashona: Dhaka,
Bangladesh.

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sewerage purpose must be provided with Effluent Treatment Plan(ETP) and
relocation should be undertaken if necessary.
To protect the connected Khals of Keraniganj, Water Treatment Plant Should
be introduced at each connection point of the khals and Buriganga River.
11.2 Steps Taken by Government: Relocation of the Hazaribagh Tanneries
In 1993-1993 GOB has taken decision to relocate it a suitable position.
The Hazaribagh Tannery Relocation Project (HTRP) worth over Tk 1.75 billion is
likely to be completed by the end of this year.
The HTRP was undertaken by the Industries Ministry in 2003 to save the capital city
and the Buriganga River from toxic pollution.
The government is bearing the entire cost of the project from its own coffer
while Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) is
implementing this project at Kantiboilapur, Chandranarayanpur and Charnarayanpur in
Savar .
Sources said the project was made following the guideline prepared and submitted
by experts of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in
1996.
Under the project, all tannery industries will be relocated to Savar from the
city's Hazaribagh area and waste treatment plants will be set up to save the environment
from further pollution.8

There is a plan to import water from the river Jamuna to increase the flow of
water in the surrounding rivers in Dhaka City. The projected cost is tk850 crore. In
2005, plan of plantation by the riverside was taken by government. In 2004, Dhaka
WASA undertook the project of repairing 150km seepage line. In 2005, a project of
modernizing & increasing the capacity of the Pagla Recycling Plant with sanction of
250km new seepage line was undertaken. Under the project of North Dhaka
Expansion, project of sanction of three new recycler plants with adequate
sewerage line was undertaken. Dhaka City Corporation will implement the project of
sanctioning 4 new “Garbage Dumping Yards” and the cost will be tk 510 crore. As the

8
Rahman, M. A. 1997. A Study on Selected Water Quality Parameters along the
River Buriganga, Bangladesh. IJEE an Official Peer Reviewed Journal of Babol
Noshirvani University of Technology.

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tanary will be transferred at the northwest part of keraniganj, a integrated buffer of a
khal and forest will be produced to protect the entire settlement and agricultural field.9

12. SavarTannery Complex to be Ready by This Year

The Hazaribagh Tannery Relocation Project (HTRP) worth over Tk 1.75 billion is
likely to be completed by the end of this year. The HTRP was undertaken by the
Industries Ministry in 2003 to save the capital city and the Buriganga River from toxic
pollution. The government is bearing the entire cost of the project from its own coffer
while Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) is implementing
t hi s project at Kantiboilapur, Chandranarayanpur a n d Charnarayanpur in Savar. "We
have already completed 70 per cent work of the project. After the completion of the
earth filling work within a couple of months, we will start installing water and power
lines", said a BSCIC official. To implement the project, the BSCIC acquired 200 acres
of land in Savar and started development of the land at the beginning of this year.
Of the total amount, Tk 1.0 billion was earmarked for development of land and other
facilities for the tannery industries, while Tk 700 million for setting up the waste
treatment plants and other works. "The project has been undertaken at the directive of
the Prime Minister, who expressed her concern on different occasions over the
adverse impact of tannery industries, which are increasingly polluting the river
Buriganga and the urban environment," said the official. Hazaribagh is home to almost
200 tanneries, which produce several thousand tonnes of toxic wastes and industrial
effluents daily, causing environmental pollution and exposing the city population to
great public health risks. While taking to the FE the BSCIC official said a total of 195
industrial plots will be developed on 145 acres of land and the remaining 55 acres
will be used for construction of roads, BSCIC offices, hospital, and mosque. BSCIC
will develop four types of industrial plots -- A, B, C and S. Under 'A' category, some
26 plots will be developed with each having 80,000 square feet each at a cost of Tk
7,144,000. There will be some 39 'B' category plots having
40,000 square feet each at Tk 3,572,000. Under 'C' category, some 114 industrial plots
will be developed, 20,000 square feet each at a cost of Tk 1,780,000. Once the project
is completed, it will have a production capacity of 74,000 tonnes of leather goods
annually. Sources said the project was made following the guideline prepared and
submitted by experts of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
9
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC)

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(UNIDO) in 1996.10 Under the project, all tannery industries will be relocated to Savar
from the city's Hazaribagh area and waste treatment plants will be set up to save the
environment from further pollution. A three-member UNIDO team visited
Bangladesh in November 1996, to see the overall situation of industrial waste
treatment and management. They visited Hazaribagh t a n n e r y industries, t h e
Furigana R i v e r and exchanged views with the people concerned, including
government officials about the possible solution to the problem. In its report, the
UNIDO suggested the government to take up a plan for pollution control and treatment
of tannery effluents at Hazaribagh. Other UNIDO suggestions included installation of
Chromium Recovery and Reuse Unit (CRRU) at each tannery and setting up of a
Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP). 1 1

13. Further scope of the Study

The study has some further scopes for future studies:
The impact of relocation of the Hazaribagh Tanneries to Savar area on Buriganga.

The reviving process of Buriganga.

Improving the water quality of Buriganga.

14. Conclusion
The pollution rate in Buriganga is such an alarming phenomenon it’s now become a
threat to the survival of Dhaka City. Proper Steps should be taken immediately to
salt away Buriganga as well as its surrounding for the sustainable development of
Dhaka.

10
United Nations Industrial Development Organization Bangladesh (UNB). 2003.
11
The Financial Express, May 28, 2005

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References

Ahmed, R. 2005, Existing Environmental Status of Hazaribagh, Dhaka. Training

Institute for Chemical Industries, Narsingdi.

Alam, S. and Sultana, S. 1996. Atlas of Urban Geography, Dhaka. Bangladesh.

Islam, M. M. 2003. Jomi Jomar ain o Alochona, Jomin Prokashona: Dhaka,

Bangladesh.

Miller, C. 1982. Coupling of water and ion fluxes in a K+-selective channel of

sarcoplasmic reticulum. Biophysical journal 38(3): 227-230.

Rahman, M. A. 1997. A Study on Selected Water Quality Parameters along the River
Buriganga, Bangladesh. IJEE an Official Peer Reviewed Journal of Babol Noshirvani
University of Technology.

The Financial Express, May 28, 2005.

United Nations Industrial Development Organization Bangladesh (UNB). 2003.

www.law.ed.ac.uk/ahrb/publications/online/varkey.htm. [Online] July 14, 2003.

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