Industrial Waste Chokes Khiru River, Exposing Deep Failures in River Protection
The Khiru River in Bhaluka is turning into a black drain as hundreds of factories dump untreated waste and encroachers narrow channels, prompting urgent calls for enforcement and accountability.
The Khiru River, once a vital waterway flowing through Bhaluka upazila in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, is now on the brink of ecological collapse as unchecked industrial pollution and encroachment continue unabated.
Wastewater and untreated chemical effluents from more than 400 industrial factories are being discharged directly into the river, turning its water pitch black and foul-smelling. What was once a source of irrigation, fisheries and daily household use has become unfit for agriculture, livestock or human contact.
Environmental groups and local communities warn that without immediate enforcement, removal of encroachments and strict regulation of industrial waste, the Khiru River and its connected waterways may be lost permanently. They are calling for regular inspections, institutional accountability and urgent action to protect Bangladesh’s remaining rivers before the damage becomes irreversible.
“The water we once depended on has become poisonous,” said local farmer Shafiqul Islam. “We used to irrigate our fields and bathe our cattle here. Now even touching the water causes skin irritation.”
Local residents and environmental activists say most factories either lack effluent treatment plants (ETPs) or fail to operate them regularly. According to the Department of Environment (DoE), only around 30 of the nearly 400 factories in Bhaluka currently have functional ETPs. Although authorities claim that IP camera-based monitoring has been introduced in some industrial units, pollution levels in the river continue to rise.
Beyond pollution, years of illegal encroachment and land filling have severely narrowed the river. In many areas, the Khiru now resembles a drain rather than a flowing river. Fish and other aquatic species have virtually disappeared and the loss of natural water flow has affected connected canals and wetlands across the upazila.
For decades, the Khiru River supported thousands of livelihoods. Its fertile silt sustained agriculture while its waters served as a habitat for diverse fish species. Over the last two decades, however, rapid industrial expansion, weak enforcement and land grabbing have steadily stripped the river of its natural character. Similar degradation has affected nearby canals and wetlands, threatening the broader ecosystem of the region.
More than 400 factories have been built along the river and its tributaries, with land near waterways deliberately targeted. Although occasional eviction drives remove illegal structures, encroachment often resumes quietly, further restricting water flow and accelerating environmental damage.
In January 2023, the Bangladesh Water Development Board launched dredging projects to restore the Khiru River and its tributaries, including a 24-kilometre stretch of the river at a cost of Tk 150.5 million alongside dredging work on the Lauti and Bilaijhuri canals. However, less than half of the work was completed by mid-2024 and the projects were eventually suspended.
Soil excavated during dredging was dumped along riverbanks and nearby farmlands, much of which later slid back into the waterways, rendering the effort ineffective. Local residents say the partial dredging primarily benefited factory owners, allowing polluted water to flow further downstream instead of accumulating near discharge points. Despite the project, the river water remains heavily contaminated and farmers continue to avoid using it due to reduced crop yields and health risks.
Several canals feeding into the Khiru River, including the Dhopajan, Lauti, Gajaria, Adaiyer and Bilaijhuri canals, have also been severely encroached upon and polluted. In multiple locations, influential individuals have filled canal sections with soil and constructed boundary walls, further degrading water flow. Environmentalists warn that the cumulative impact on agriculture and biodiversity has been severe.
Kamrul Hasan Pathan Kamal, a leader of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) in Bhaluka, said the crisis extends far beyond a single river. “This is not just the death of a river, it is an environmental disaster for the entire region. Mandatory ETPs in every factory and strict punishment for polluters are essential,” he said.
Sohanur Rahman, executive coordinator of YouthNet Global, said the situation highlights a broader national failure to protect rivers despite existing legal commitments. “Bangladesh has already taken a progressive step by recognising rivers as living entities, but that recognition has not been reflected in action,” he said. “River pollution and encroachment continue as part of a culture of impunity. Many rivers across the country are already extinct and the remaining ones are in a highly vulnerable condition.”
“If rivers are living entities, they have rights to flow, to remain pollution-free and to exist,” Rahman added. “Government institutions responsible for river protection must be held accountable. Without strict enforcement and a shift in mindset, more rivers like the Khiru will disappear.”
Mymensingh Divisional Director of the Department of Environment, Sheikh Md Nazmul Huda, acknowledged the severity of the situation, saying authorities are monitoring the issue closely. “We are taking the matter seriously. Necessary measures are being implemented and legal action against offenders will continue,” he said
