We are fed up of river pollution. If we look at daily newspapers, we find photographs or reports of river pollution almost every day. Yesterday, we again got appalled by what we saw at the lead picture of the Daily Sun! Water of the Turag River, once the lifeline of Tongi, looked blue due to release of highly toxic effluents of the surrounding textile and dyeing factories into the river. Not only the Turag, but all rivers surrounding Dhaka are being polluted at an alarming level by industrial and other wastes. The rivers are being polluted in this manner, but the irony of the situation is that nobody seems to care it; the uncaring attitude of the authorities has resulted in the destruction of the rich biodiversity and fish resources at an alarming rate.

It has become an annoyance that the factory owners are continuously releasing toxic effluents of their factories disregarding the mandatory rule of setting up effluent treatment plants at their establishments. They allegedly dare to flout the rules by using their political links or by bribing people. As to why, chemicals and industrial waste contamination have turned the river water untreatable. People living on the riverbanks now face a serious health problem. The journalists are battling with the issue for a long time, but it’s getting worse. Much has been written over the issue, but to no avail. Now a question arises: Are the authorities concerned at all willing to prevent river pollution? Have they the required capacity to do it? They must have to answer to the queries.