What seems to be small islands in the Karnaphuli are actually mounds of polythene dumped from all over Chattogram city stacked in the river.

The most economically and environmentally important river of the port city now has almost 25 feet of polythene layer on its river basin.

Thirty-seven canals that carry this non-compostable polythene from all over the city have left heaps of waste wherever they meet Karnaphuli.

The Daily Star reporter Mizanur Rahman has visited the sites and tried to understand the extent of this pollution. Star on the Spot presents his experience.