Shitalakkhya now dying

Staff Correspondent, Narayanganj 

The Shitalakkhya River no longer murmurs with life. Once a source of sustenance and pride, it now flows sluggish and sickly—devoid of fish, clarity, and hope. Its surface is coated with a murky sheen, fetid air hangs heavy around it, and poisonous foam floats aimlessly—turning this once-lifeline into what many now call a “living death.”

 Standing at the riverbank, 55-year-old local fisherman Md. Abdul Halim reflects on a vanished way of life: “This river used to feed us. Now, when I cast my net, I don’t catch fish—only shredded chemical waste.” Halim’s experience is echoed across river-adjacent areas like Kusumpur, Khanpur, and Hajiganj, where families who once lived off fishing have been forced into alternative—and often unstable—livelihoods. Many are now jobless, drifting from one temporary employment to another, as the Shitalakkhya’s lifeblood turns increasingly toxic.

 According to local sources, there are around 450 small to medium dyeing, washing, and finishing factories in Narayanganj. Additionally, nearly 200 river-adjacent industries are regularly dumping untreated waste into the river, often without operating Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs).

 A recent on-site visit revealed that many factory drainage pipes discharge directly into canals and open drains, which ultimately feed into the Shitalakkhya. In some places, the water has turned pitch black—resembling spilled ink more than a natural river.For residents, the consequences are severe. Pregnant women, children, and the elderly are increasingly suffering from skin diseases and respiratory ailments. A doctor at Narayanganj Sadar Hospital, requesting anonymity, said, “In the past year, the number of patients from river-adjacent communities has doubled. Most are suffering from water-related illnesses.”AHM Rashed, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment (DoE) in the district, stated, “We’ve fined 130 polluting industries and cut off gas and power to several. Regular monitoring is ongoing.”

 However, local residents remain skeptical. “Is this monitoring on paper only?” one asked, noting that pollution continues to worsen, not abate.

 Mohammad Hossain, chairman of the Environment Protection and Development Society, argued, “Fines alone won’t solve this. Until strict punitive actions are enforced, factory owners will continue treating the river like a dumping ground.” During a recent project inspection, Brigadier General (retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, advisor to the Ministry of Shipping, acknowledged the scope of the crisis: “This requires a collaborative effort. The Department of Environment or the Ministry of Shipping cannot solve this alone. We must work together.” Yet, how far this “collaboration” has progressed remains unclear.Experts insist on immediate action: first, making ETPs mandatory for all industrial units; second, prioritizing environmental clearance during license renewals; and finally, increasing the manpower and budget of the Department of Environment. “This isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a fight for survival,” said Runa Islam, a leader of the environmental advocacy group Poribesh Andolon Moncho. “If the Shitalakkhya dies, so do we.” Where people once drank its waters and lived off its fish, now they see only plastic and poison. This is not just the death of a river—it is the silent death of a community.

If action is not taken now, the pages of history may one day record that we killed our own river with our own hands.