Land of (dying) rivers

Rivers no longer live; they merely exist. They exist as relics of their glory days, when rivers were wild, mysterious and free -- or as characters in their own story, told through poetry and music. Now they linger in inherited nostalgia. In 2009, the High Court granted rivers the legal status of "living entities". But in reality, almost all the country's rivers are struggling to survive under the weight of encroachment, pollution and sand-lifting.

On World Rivers Day, we look into the current state of our rivers and how these once majestic rivers are being held hostage to greed and negligence.

MAJOR POLLUTANTS 

• Industrial 
• discharge
• Waste  dumping
• Plastic pollution

BRAHMAPUTRA

UNDER ASSAULT -

DHAKA
Buriganga, Turag, Tongi Khal, Balu, Shitalakhya, Dhaleshwari, Ichhamati, Meghna, Khiru, Labondoho, Banar, Old Brahmaputra, Bangshi (Savar and Tangail), Chilai, Haridhoa, Sutia (Gazipur, Mymensigh), Karnatali
 

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Buriganga runs pitch-dark even in monsoon

BARISHAL
Sonai, Kathi, Kirtankhola, Sandhya, Payra, Bishkhali, Bholakhal, Ramnabad, Andharmanik, Khapradanga and Baleshwar
 

KHULNA
Pasur, Rupsa, Bhairab, Mayur, Chitra, Alaikuri and Mathabhanga
 

RANGPUR
Alaikuri, Ghagat, Khoksa Ghaghot and Shyamasundari Khal
 

SYLHET
Khowai, Sutang, Surma, Korangi and Jadukata
 

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The Khowai gasps for life

CHATTOGRAM
Titas, Karnaphuli, Bakhkhali, Matamuhuri, Halda, Naf, Chingri and Feni,
 

RAJSHAHI
Atrai, Karatoya

GRABBING -

• 63,249 grabbers identified in 776 rivers 
• 18,579 evicted (in 2020) 
• 490 polluting industries in Dhaka  

Shitalakhya

River and Delta Research Centre in its 2025 survey found at least 79 rivers either drying or have already dried up - 

Khulna: 25 
Rajshahi: 19 
Rangpur: 14 
Chattogram: 6 
Mymensingh: 5
Dhaka: 4 
Barishal, Sylhet: 3 each

MAHANANDA

Pollution 

• Physical survey and testing the water of 56 selected rivers in Dhaka, Khulna, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Barishal and Chattogram divisions, the Rivers and Delta Research Centre in 2022 found that each one of them is polluted
• Rivers around greater Dhaka remain polluted for over two decades, especially during the lean period.