Burigonga River was the most
beautiful & recreational place for the city dwellers of Dhaka about 40
years back. But now it has become a death hollow because of it’s intensity of
toxicity. There is no living fish or even no micro-organisms in her water. The
color of water has been dark black for the continuous disposal of industry
garbage & color, tannery waste, hospital waste, human filth, launch oil etc. are continuing to pollute Burigonga’s water.
The main causes are the unpurified
or untreated waste from Pagla water treatment plant. It’s purification capacity
is 1 lack 20 thousands cm3 water but it purifies only 50 thousands cm3 of waste
water so others are directly dumped into burigonga. The greatest threat for
this river is the waste of tannery industries in Hajaribug. The whole waste of
about 250 industries of 22 thousands cm3 and 10 metric ton waste directly go
into the river.
One research showed that there are 62 types of
toxic chemical available in burigonga’s water. Amoxicillin, penicillin, ciprofloxacin,
azithromycin etc high captive antibiotics are mixed with in water. It’s come
from hospital wastes like tablet capsules’ cover, saline, bandages, etc. on the
other hand those toxic chemical can damage health of those people who use it
directly. Even more hospitals clothing’s are washed with this water. Some
people staying beside the river bank use it for bathing, washing purposes. This
can be imagined easily how threatening the fact is!!