Sutang in death grip
River’s water is so polluted that stench emanates, water-borne diseases occur
The Sutang river, which was a blessing of nature for the people surrounding it, has now become a curse due to extreme pollution.
Many people living on the bank of Sutang used to earn a livelihood by fishing in the river. But now its water has turned into a source of disease and germs.
Even, crops are affected, if the river water is used for irrigation. Humans and cattle are infected with different types of diseases if they consume or use the river water. Stench emits round the clock, said locals.
The Sutang is a transboundary river shared with India. Its length is around 82 kilometres in Bangladesh part. It goes through three upazilas in Habiganj. Its average width is around 36 metres, according to environmentalists.
The reason for this is that several hundred factories have been set up on the bank of the river over the last decade, mainly contributing to polluting the river by discharging toxic wastes. Most of the factories don't have effluent treatment plants (ETP), said locals.
Villagers alleged that the administration turns a blind eye to the nuisance.
A recent study by Rivers and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) has found that at least 56 rivers flowing through different parts of the country are suffering from extreme pollution during the lean period -- when the natural flow of rivers is at its lowest.
The Sutang has a dissolved oxygen (DO) level of 0.4 when the standard is 4.5 to 8 mg per litre, according to the study.
Environmentalists and locals say the lives of two lakh people of more than one hundred villages in Habiganj will be endangered.
"Once, the river was filled with different kinds of fish. Many people mainly depended on the river for their livelihood. But now the river has become so toxic that no fish can survive here," said Md Shafiqur Rahman, 65, a resident of Uchail village in Habiganj Sadar upazila.
"Even, we get infected with different types of skin diseases, if we use the water," he added.
Md Ershad Miah, a farmer of Paschim Katakhali village under Habiganj Sadar upazila, said, "Rice seedlings die when we use the river water to irrigate paddy fields. Even, our cattle are infected with disease, if we fed them the river water."
"Stench emits from the river water round the clock. We have to use face masks when we come nearer to the river," said Alauddin, former chairman of Rajiura Union Parishad in Sadar upazila.
"We have informed the matter to the district administration. But no effective action has been taken so far," said Abdul Kaium, a resident of Shahpur area Madhabpur upazila and an environmental activist.
Tofazzal Sohel, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) Habiganj district unit, said, "Sutang river's pollution began around a decade ago because of discharging industrial toxic waste. The pollution is gradually increasing day by day."
Pollution must be ended immediately for protecting biodiversity and human lives in this area, said Mutachirul Islam, chairman of Habiganj Sadar Upazila Parishad.
Contacted, Habiganj deputy commissioner (DC) Ishrat Jahan said, "We have already directed authorities of all the factories to ensure the use of ETP. Besides, we will take other necessary measures for freeing the river from pollution."