A recent study by US-based environmental watchdog, the Blacksmith Institute and Green Cross, Switzerland has merely given further credence to what had already been known. That, the continued presence of tanneries at Hazaribagh area of Dhaka city is a constant threat to residents of the city. The survey put Hazaribagh in the top 10 list of the "World's Worst Polluted Places". Apparently 22,000 cubic litres of toxic waste is being dumped into the lifeblood river of Dhaka city, the Buriganga that also serves as the principal water supply of the city.
With some 160,000 people suffering various forms of diseases, we are exasperated by the lack of decisive action of the regulatory authorities to stop tanneries from poisoning Dhaka residents and start relocating to Savar. This drama has been going on for a good many years now. The principal argument against relocation has been the establishment of a central effluent treatment plant (CETP) at the new location. The question that begs to be answered is precisely how many more studies it will take to convince the government that the continued presence of tanneries at Hazaribagh pose a real menace to public health. Perhaps when the European Union decides to ban leather goods from Bangladesh for foot dragging on the CETP issue, it will serve as a wakeup call for both government and industry. However, should that happen, we can safely say goodbye to this more than Tk 60billion per annum export market.