PM orders coordinated action plan to curb pollution in rivers around Dhaka

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed authorities to swiftly formulate and implement a coordinated action plan to tackle pollution in the rivers surrounding the capital, calling for urgent and sustained measures to restore their environmental health.

The directive came during a high-level meeting titled "Improving Water Quality and the Environment of the Buriganga River" held at the Secretariat on Thursday morning (August 6).

The meeting reviewed the condition of the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, Shitalakkhya and other rivers around Dhaka, assessing key pollution sources and discussing long-term solutions. Officials identified untreated industrial effluents, inadequate sewage and drainage systems, reduced canal navigability, and poor solid waste management as the primary drivers of river pollution.

Participants stressed the need to ensure the effective operation of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) at industrial facilities, upgrade drainage and canal networks, intensify enforcement against polluters, strictly implement environmental laws, and strengthen coordination among relevant government agencies.

Public awareness campaigns and greater citizen participation were also highlighted as essential components of the strategy.

Under the decisions taken at the meeting, an inter-agency coordination committee will be formed under the supervision of the Prime Minister's Office. The committee will oversee implementation across ministries and agencies, monitor progress against set timelines, and submit regular reports to the PMO.

Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said river pollution has reached an alarming level and warned that protecting the country's waterways requires immediate, coordinated action. He emphasized that effective implementation, rather than planning alone, must remain the government's priority.

The meeting was attended by ministers from the Local Government, Environment and Commerce Ministries, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, and senior officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Dhaka WASA, Bangladesh Water Development Board, RAJUK, and the Dhaka North and South City Corporations, among other agencies.