Killing The Karnaphuli

The Karnaphuli river is dying. Over the years the rampant occupation of its shores and mindless pollution have left the river by the port city in this sorry state. According to a 2015 study, there are 2,500 illegal structures on the Karnaphuli between Chittagong city and the estuary of the river. Many of the illegal structures are factories that dump untreated toxic waste straight into the river. Many vessels are also beached on the banks and repaired or dismantled. All this has resulted in the shrinking of the river and its water turning black.

Photo: Anurup Kanti Das