FIELD REPORT

ON
THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS
OF INDUSTRIALIZATION ON BANGSHI RIVER
AND ADJACENT REGION
Submitted To:
AHM Saadat

Dr. Mahfuza Sharifa Sultana

Associate Professor

Professor

Department of Environmental Sciences

Department of Environmental Sciences

Jahangirnagar University

Jahangirnagar University

Abdul Kadir Ibne Kamal

Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Sciences
Jahangirnagar University

Submitted By:
M. Rubaiat Islam
Graduate Student
Department of Environmental Sciences
Jahangirnagar University

SUBMISSION ON: March 30, 2013

Acknowledgement
Department of Environmental Sciences of Jahangirnagar University arrange Field work
program each year that aims at the development of the problem solving capability of the
students. Like the other years, we, the fourth year students of session 2008-09 went on a
field visit to Bangshi River, DEPZ and adjacent area. Besides theoretical education, we are
lucky to have such opportunity to implement various environmental methods and
techniques in to solve potential environmental degradation as well as maximizing
beneficial incidents. This helps us a lot to watch the nature more closely and deeply that
increases our ability to solve various complex environmental phenomena easily and
effectively.
We would like to pay our profound gratitude to our honorable Chairman, Dr. Shafi
Mohammad Tareq for arranging such wonderful field work program. The relentless hard
work of our honorable teacher Abdul Kadir Sir can never ever be forgotten. Without his
immense patience and excellent management skills, we may not have succeeded to
complete our mission.
We are extremely grateful to our honorable teacher AHM Saadat Sir. Ignoring his sickness,
he gave us company during our fieldwork and without his parent-like care and all time
supervision, it would have never been possible for us to arrange such arrangement.
In the last, but of course not the least, we would like to pay our gratitude to all the group
members and friends for making this fieldwork memorable, enjoyable and instructive at
the same time. Special thanks to Mr. Shahid Mallick for valuable assistance in collecting
information about the region. Without those valuable information, it would have miss a
lot of things.

Abstract
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh has been growing at a very high pace especially over the
last three decades. To meet the ever increasing needs of the increasing population the
area of the city has been expanded several times. In 1951, the city occupied a space of
only 85.45km2 and by year 2000 it is estimated to have reached about 1500km2.
To meet the demands of the increased population, new industries are popping up with
regular basis. But ultimately these industries dump their waste materials to either any
lake, river or a water body. These lake, river and water bodies are closely intertwined lives
and livelihood of the riverine population. From the homeless farmer to the richest
fisherman will be adversely affected if the state of these water bodies become seriously
altered.
Since the initial stages of industrial development in Dhaka city, we are consistently
polluting the rivers around Dhaka city. The once powerful Buriganga River became a
biologically dead river. The state of the Balu River is even worse. With pitch black water
color and highly objectionable odor, this water no longer be able to serve any daily needs.
Another important river is the Bangshi. The state of this river is also critical. Especially
after the inception of the second Export Processing Zone in Savar at the bank of the river,
significant change has been experienced in not only the river course but also in water
quality and biological properties. It has been found from the literature that the river is at
real close to become biologically dead. The river water no longer supports any form of fish
and aquatic species. Moreover, highly dark color and objectionable odor, explains the
level of pollution in the river. This fieldwork aims at studying the actual state of the river
Bangshi. A very important aspect of this study is to investigate the potential impacts of
industrialization and urbanization on Bangshi River and search for a suitable remedial
measures.

Table of Contents

Chapter

Topic

Chapter-1:
Introduction

1.1 Study Background

1.1.1 Dhaka: The Mega City

1.1.2 Rivers and Bangladesh

1.1.3 Industrialization and Economic Development of Bangladesh

1.2 Aims and Objectives

1.3 Methodology and Data Sources

1.4 Limitations

2.1 Export Processing Zone (EPZ)

2.1.1 Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ)

2.1.2 Location of DEPZ

2.1.3 Geology and Hydrogeology

10

2.2 Bangshi River

2.2.1 River Morphology

Chapter-2:
Literature Review

Page

12
12

2.2.1.1 Drainage Basin

13

2.2.1.2 Tributary and Distributary

13

2.2.1.3 Structural Change of Bangshi River

15

2.2.1.4 River Flow and Seasonal Variation

15

2.2.1.5 Composition of the river bed and banks

16

2.2.1.6 Erodibility of the river bed and banks

16

2.2.1.7 Sediment Deposition

16

2.2.1.8 Interconnected Drainage System

17

2.2.2 Fish and fisheries

2.3 Riverine Environmental Pollution

17
18

2.3.1 Discharge of pollutants from industries

18

2.3.2 Dumping of sewage and domestic wastes

19

2.3.3 Agricultural runoff

19

2.3.4 Oil Spillage

20

2.3.5 Encroachment

21

2.3.6 River Bank Erosion

21

2.3.7 Introduction of alien invasive species

22

23

3.2 The Bangshi River

24

3.3 The Dhaka Export Processing Zone

26

3.4 Impacts of industrialization

27

Chapter-5:
Recommendation

Chapter-4:
Results and Discussion

Chapter-3:
Field Observation

3.1 Geomorphology

3.4.1 Environmental Impact

27

3.4.1.1 Environmental Pollution

27

3.4.1.2 Ecology and Biodiversity

28

3.4.2 Social Impacts

28

3.4.2.1 Economy

28

3.4.2.2 Education

30

3.4.2.3 Religion

30

3.4.2.4 Health

30

4.1 pH

34

4.2 Total Dissolved Solid (TDS)

34

4.3 Electrical Conductivity (EC)

35

4.4 Flow Rate estimation of polluted Khal

37

5.1 Common Mitigation Measures

38

5.2 Restoration of River

39

Reference

4142

Appendix 1: Questionnaire Survey

i-v

Appendix 2: Questionnaire layout

vi-ix

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 Study Background

1.1.1 Dhaka: The Mega City
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh has been growing at a very high pace especially over the
last three decades. Dhaka was declared a mega city by the BBS in 1991, when the
population was 6.4 million. However, during the previous census (1981), the population
was 3.4 million. Two decades back, in 1961, the population of Dhaka City was less than a
million. By the beginning of this century, the population stood at 10.7 million although the
growth rate slowed down by a half.
Likewise the aerial expansion of Dhaka City (according to BBS statistics) has been
tremendous. In 1951, the city occupied a space of only 85.45km2 and by year 2000 it is
estimated to have reached about 1500km2, denoting a 17.5 times increase. The city spread
laterally by more than 2.5 times from 1961-1974, especially after the war of independence
when it received the status of a capital city. The following table illustrates the areal
expansion and population growth of Dhaka City during the last five decades:
Table 1: Areal expansion and growth of Dhaka City (1951-2001)
Year

Area
(km2)

Decadal
Increase (%)
-

Decadal
Increase
(%)

Annual
Growth
Rate (%)

411,279

Population

Density
(persons/km2)

1951

85.45

4,813

1961

124.45

45.64

718,766

74.76

5.74

5,776

1971

335.79

169.82

2,068,353

187.76

8.47

6,160

1981

509.62

51.77

3,440,147

66.32

7.53

6,750

1991

1352.87

165.47

6,487,459

88.58

6.55

4,795

2001

1528.00

10.88 10,712,206

65.12

6.00

7,011

Source: Bangladesh Census 2001

Based on population projections for the period 2001 to 2035, the following table
summarizes the projected population of the Greater Dhaka region:

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Introduction
Table 2: Projected population of the Greater Dhaka City (2001-2035)
Year

Population

2001 (census)

7,548,160

Annual Growth Rate (%)

-

2011 (Projected)

11,268,777

4.1

2015 (Projected)

13,090,878

3.8

2020 (Projected)

15,653,956

3.6

2025 (Projected)

18,551,051

3.5

2030 (Projected)

21,782,314

3.3

2035 (Projected)

25,422,390

3.1

Source: Dhaka WASA Master plan, 2011

Figure 1: Projected population density within the expanded Dhaka City in 2035.

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Introduction
Based on expected growth rates within the Greater Dhaka area, the above map (Figure 1)
indicates the target area and associated population densities expected at year 2035. In
general, the population densities are very high within the DWASA service area, except for
the region between Demra and Narayanganj. Further, population densities are expected
to be high in the Savar and Narayanganj municipalities and at areas adjacent to the DWASA
service area where development overspills the border (e.g. Tongi and Keraniganj).

1.1.2 Rivers and Bangladesh

Bangladesh is said to be the land of rivers. Although this global recognition is largely
attributed to the floods and not the extensive network of rivers and other water bodies
that this country is blessed with, the fact remains that lives and livelihood in this riverine
country are intertwined with its rivers and the innumerable number of other water bodies.
It is often argued that if the definition of wetlands as given in the Ramsar Convention is
applied, then two-thirds of the total area will be recognized as wetlands (Ahmed, 2009).

Figure 2: A Map showing major Rivers of Bangladesh

According to Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the country has as many as
310 rivers of which 54 major rivers are shared with India while 3 are shared with Myanmar.
The Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Brahamaputra, Teesta, Surma and Karnaphuli are
3|Page

Introduction
considered the principal rivers of the country which are also at the same time, the play land
of nature as cyclone, seasonal floods and river erosions are very common. The above figure
(Figure 2) shows a map showing major rivers of the country.
Rivers have traditionally been important to the culture, livelihoods, transportation,
irrigation and drinking water source of this deltaic lands people. It was the main
communication means in and outside the country until 1970s and total waterways was
24000km, which have reportedly shrunk in to 3800 km at present (Mallick, 2012). The
reasons for shrinking of waterways is said to be linked with local, national and regional
policy and perceptions to rivers and its importance. A map showing the inland water
transportation routes of Bangladesh is given in the following figure (Figure 3):

Figure 3: Inland water transportation routes within Bangladesh

1.1.3 Industrialization and Economic Development of Bangladesh

The Economy of Bangladesh is historically an agrarian in nature. So, these rivers are not
only considered as a mode of transportation but also they are considered as a very useful
natural resource by the local people. As an agrarian society, a huge amount of water is
necessary for the agricultural production. For the last hundreds of years, farmers of the
country are using the river water for the purpose of irrigation. With the death of these
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Introduction
rivers and surface water sources, our farmers will have no other choice but to use
groundwater for irrigation purpose which will result an excessive production cost.
Moreover, our groundwater level will eventually become deeper and deeper as the
extraction rate will be faster than the infiltration rate. This will also cause scarcity to
drinking water.
As of today, the contribution of agriculture in GDP is highest 22% and absorbing largest
48.1% employments of the country while industrial production and manufacturing
contributes 17% in GDP but no data available of absorbent of labor force (BBS, 2009).
Industrialization can play significant role in development which will provide the necessary
economic boost that will help us becoming a poor country to a middle economy country.
By realizing this fact, our policy makers took decision about encouraging industrialization
and export-oriented industrial setup. For achieving the cherished goal, the Government of
Bangladesh undertaken a giant project involving different foreign investors to setup export
processing zones or commonly known as EPZs. The first EPZ was established at the port city
Chittagong in 1983 while second one was established at Savar in Dhaka near river Bangshi
in 1993 (Mallick, 2012). Since the initiation of DEPZ, the Banghsi River is consistently being
polluted by industrial waste disposal which in turns threatened the natural environment of
the riverine areas.

1.2 Aims and Objectives

Behind any work, there must be some aim and objective. The main concern in this study
was to understand and explain how industrialization and its pollution to rivers induce social
change and affects the environment, ecology and livelihoods around the River Bangshi and
adjacent. A very important objective of this trip is to identify the problems of the area and
their possible mitigation process. Major objectives of the field investigation were:
To observe the environmental change in ecosystem.
To observe the impact of bund on bank erosion.
To observe the water discharge status of the river in up & down stream.
To acquire knowledge about the seasonal deposition.
To acquire knowledge about the socio-economic condition of the surrounding area
To identify changes in biodiversity due to urbanization and industrialization
To identify potential hazard and disaster in the study area.
To find out environmental problem and their mitigation.
To know how to collect the data from field observation.
To acquire knowledge about sample processing, analysis and data representation
To learn how to prepare the fieldwork report
To know how to take sample and preserve the sample.

5|Page

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

Literature Review

Chapter 2

Literature Review

2.1 Export Processing Zone (EPZ)

An export processing zone (EPZ) is defined as a territorial or economic enclave in which
goods may be imported and manufactured and reshipped with a reduction in duties /
and/or minimal intervention by custom officials (World Bank 1999). The objectives behind
setting up these EPZs are:

Promotion of foreign (FDI) & local investment

Diversification of export
Development of backward & forward linkages
Generation of employment
Transfer of technology
Upgrade skills of the local people
Development of management

EPZ mainly attracts the local and foreign investors to make investment for industrial activity
which mostly provides:

Plots/factory BLDG in custom bonded area

Infrastructural facilities
Administrative facilities
Fiscal & non-fiscal incentives

Until date, there are 8 export processing zones in Bangladesh. They are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Chittagong EPZ
Dhaka EPZ
Mongla EPZ
Ishwardi EPZ
Comilla EPZ
Uttara EPZ
Adamjee EPZ
Karnaphuli EPZ
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Literature Review
2.1.1 Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ)
According to the economic enhancement policy of the country the first EPZ was set up at
the port city Chittagong in 1983 followed by second EPZ at Savar in Dhaka near river
Bangshi in 1993 (Banglapedia, 2006). As a result a vast area of prime agricultural land has
been converted in to non-farm usage including build up areas for both housing and
uncontrolled development of industrial establishment.
The trends of social and environmental degradation at the surrounding villages around
river Bangshi started during the 1990s. As on today there are 224 industries along with two
major export processing zone (EPZ), exclusively meant for export oriented industrial
product (Upzila statistic 2012). Among those there are chemical, ceramics, medicines and
drugs, leather, dyeing, garments and other heavy and light industries.
The location of many of these industries either on river/other open water bed and either
way drainage it with rivers. Most tend to release hazardous wastes like acids, organic
chemicals and solvent of organic wastes, without treatment thereby causing serious impact
on human life and livelihoods (Hafiz 2010).
The special industrial zone along with many other local industries began discharging all of
their industrial waste into the river and other open water body, undermining the health,
environment and livelihoods of the people. Again it is not that, county has no policies and
laws, but it seems their action is occasional. Such as DEPZ is built in a 355.83 acres of land
and there are 300 industries are there but its seriously affecting more than 1000 acres of
high productive paddy field at Dholai beel (The daily star, May 7, 2009).

2.1.2 Location of DEPZ

The Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) belongs to Dhamsona Union under Savar Upazila
of Dhaka District. It is about 35 km from Dhaka City and 25 km from Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport in the NW direction and represents a limited extend of landscape yet
having distinct morphological features. Topography of this area comprises irregular
elevated land blocks on which people live and surrounding low-lying area which are mostly
cultivation lands and water bodies.
There is however, moderately elevated paddy land on the western fringe of the study area
(Figure 3) that is cut by the canal connecting waste lagoon and Bangshi River.
On the way through the connecting canal to reach Bangshi River, the effluent pools in the
depressed area next to the EPZ boundary forming an unexpected waste beel (Figure 1)
whose perimeter grow larger by excess precipitation plus runoff during Rainy Season. At
that time contaminated water spills and inundate the elevated lands too, thus pollute them
as well.
The Dhaka Export Processing Zone started its journey in 1993. Since then, more and more
industries are being popped up. As on today there are 224 industries along with two major
export processing zone (EPZ), exclusively meant for export oriented industrial product
(Upzila statistic 2012). Among these industries, some are chemical, ceramics, medicines
and drugs, leather, dyeing, garments and other heavy and light industries. Moreover, there
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Literature Review
are 195 brick fields at Savar. The total area covered by DEPZ is approximately 361 acres
with 422 industrial plots (BEPZA, 2012).

Figure 4: Location map of Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ)

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Literature Review

Figure 5: Detailed Map of DEPZ Ashulia Cluster Area

2.1.3 Geology and Hydrogeology

Physiogaphically the study area belongs to Madhupur Tracts, which is a Pleistocene
elevated landscape distinct from the surrounding Fluvio-deltaic plains by Ganges,
Brahmaputra and Meghna River. Madhupur Tract extends in Dhaka Mymensing and Tangail
Districts. The appearance of Madhupur Tract in its present form is attributed to neotectonic activities since Quaternary period.

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Literature Review
The study area actually is located on the southwestern fringe of the Madhupur Tract.
Geomorphology of the study area does not however, represent a continuous block of
either uplifted or residuum Madhupur Tract .This area rather represents the junction
between overlapping older Madhupur Tract and Recent Flood-plain deposits. Locally the
elevated village mounds represents Tract deposits and the low-lying area is may be the
infilling of depressed areas by the flood plain deposits of recent time.
This physiographic feature has many special characteristics although many of which are not
apparent in the study area (exposed). This is because in the study area Madhupur Tract has
been affected by recent flood-plain deposits and soil formation at depositional break.
There is indication of relict paleosols within the stratigraphic sequence in the Madhupur
Area which is characteristic to Madhupur Formation. The modern soil is also in fact, a relict
soil of the pre-existing paleosol materials.
The reddish brown colour of Madhupur / Barind formation is clearly related to the iron
compounds. A detail study of clay minerals of Madhupur Formation has been performed
by Hassan (1986) and he found the iron rich clay minerals, such as Illite, Chlorite and
Vermiculite. Among the iron oxides the authigenic hematite (Fe2O3), goethite (FeOOH),
Lepidochrocite (FeOOH) and hydrated-ferric-oxides gel (Fe(OH)3.H2O) are important.
Hydrology of the study area is governed by rainfall intensity and distribution, permanent
or ephemeral water bodies and rivers or canals. Figure 6 shows the average rainfall
distribution in various months for 7 years (2001-2007). The pattern shows distinct
conformation with the climatic pattern prevailing, with strong Monsoon influence.

Figure 6: Rainfall distribution of the study area between 2001 and 2007

Special feature of this area is many isolated water bodies that occupy the low lying/
depressed areas connected or not with the river system. On regional scale, BangshiDaleshwari and Turag comprises the drainage network of the study area - Bangshi on the
west and Turag is away on the east. Both are flowing parallel with a due NS trend having
the flow direction towards south.
Regionally the top soil is underlain by Madhupur Clay Formation having limited and varying
thickness that particularly represents Pleistocene to Holocene sediments. This Madhupur
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Clay Formation and underlying thick column of Miocene-Pliocene sediments comprise the
Aquifer System of the study area.
Based on different hydrogeological characteristics, Mio-Pleistocene and Holocene
sediments have been categorized into Upper and Lower Aquifer Sequences. While Upper
Aquifer Sequence represents variant admixture of Sand, Silt and Clay, Lower Aquifer
Sequence comprises five Aquifer layers separated by impervious Aquitards.

2.2 Bangshi River

Bengal land is comprised of both the recent floodplain and the Pleistocene terraces, the
two major geological units of the deltaic Bengal basin (Morgan and McIntire, 1957) where
the highest elevation is about 20m above mean sea level and which decreases from north
to south.
The Bangshi River is one of the important tributaries of the Barhamaputra-Jamuna river
system in Bangladesh and main common property resource for local people. The 238 km
long Bangshi River is originated from course of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna River system and
flows past the Madhupur Tract at Jamalpur district. By crossing Mymensingh, Tangil and at
Kaliakur point of Gazipur district, Bangshi enter in to Dhaka district. Later it flows in
between Dhamrai and Savar upazilla of Dhaka district which eventually enters into
Dhaleshwari River down at Savar upazila. It is not navigable for most of the year except
when swelled by the rains of the Monsoon. The river's average depth is 30 feet (9.1 m) and
maximum depth is 80 feet (24 m).

2.2.1 River Morphology

The terms river morphology and its synonym fluvial geomorphology are used to describe
the shapes of river channels and how they change over time. The morphology of a river
channel is a function of a number of processes and environmental conditions, including the
composition and erodibility of the bed and banks (e.g., sand, clay, bedrock); vegetation and
the rate of plant growth; the availability of sediment; the size and composition of the
sediment moving through the channel; the rate of sediment transport through the channel
and the rate of deposition on the floodplain, banks, bars, and bed; and regional
aggradations or degradation due to subsidence or uplift. The study of river morphology is
accomplished in the field of fluvial geomorphology.
Elements of River Morphology:
a. Drainage Basin
b. Tributary and Distributary
c. River Flow and Seasonal Variation
d. Composition of the bed and banks
e. Erodibility of the bed and banks
f. Sediment Deposition.
g. Interconnected Drainage System
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2.2.1.1 Drainage Basin
The surface water system of the area under study is comprised of several depression
storage (e.g. roads, lakes and submerged low-lying lands) and khals (canals) which are
linked to the Bangshi River. The land of the Upazila is composed of alluvium soil of the
Pleistocene period. The height of the land gradually increases from the east to the west.
The southern part of the Upazila is composed of the alluvium soil of the Bangshi and
Dhalashwari rivers.
This is a deeply flooded area in the low-red soil plateau of Madhupur tract. The floodplain
is inundated when water flows over the banks of the Turag-Bangshi river making all the low
areas become a connected sheet of water in the monsoon. By late November, most of the
water recedes and boro rice is planted in almost all of the low-lying areas. About 2,68,900
people live in this area with 84% of households being involved in fishing, and 15 % of
households are full time fishers. A bazar named Nayarhat is situated at the bank of the
river. The famous pottery village Pal Para is also situated on south side of Bangshi.

Figure 7: Drainage Basin of the Bangshi River

During the rainy season the water area is about 43 km while in the dry season the water
area becomes less than 7 km.

2.2.1.2 Tributary and Distributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem (or parent) river or a
lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem
river serve to drain the surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater
by leading the water out into an ocean or sea. A confluence where two or more bodies of
water meet together, usually refers to the joining of tributaries. The Bangshi River is one of
the important tributaries of the Barhamaputra-Jamuna river system in Bangladesh. It is the
branch of Turag River and Pungli River whose upper stream is Jamuna River.
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The opposite of a tributary is a distributary. A distributary or a distributary channel is a
stream that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel. They are a common
feature of river deltas. The phenomenon is known as river bifurcation.

Figure 8: Tributary of Bangshi River at Ramarbagh

Distributaries usually occur as a stream nears a lake or the ocean, but they can occur inland
as well as in situations when a tributary stream bifurcates as it nears its confluence with a
larger stream.

Figure 9: Distributary of Bangshi River near Dhaka EPZ

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In some cases, a minor distributary can "steal" so much water from the main channel that
it can become the main route. Bangshi River also has distributary characteristics. It is the
branch of Turag River. And its flow is to lower stream Turag River that is connected with
Buriganga River. Pangli River is the source of its flow of water that is connected upper
stream of Jamuna River.

2.2.1.3 Structural Change of Bangshi River

The Turag-Bangshi site is located just north of Dhaka and is typical of most low-lying
floodplains of Bangladesh. The project site covers seven unions of Kaliakor Upazila under
Gazipur District and one union of Mirzapur Upazila of Tangail District. The Turag-Bangshi
River runs.
At the beginning of the rainy season, water spills over the riverbanks through khals (canals)
that connect the river to the adjacent beels. Fish move through these canals from the river
to the beel/floodplain areas for spawning or nursing, and then later as water recedes after
the monsoon the fish move into the deeper perennial portions of the beels or back into the
river. Dry season water levels in the local rivers and beels are much reduced from their
former levels due to the vast expansion of ground and surface water extraction for boro
(dry season) rice irrigation. Fish remain only in the deepest portions of the beels and the
river. The 26 beels have a water surface of approximately 10,000 ha at full flood, which
diminishes to less than 700 ha at the end of the dry season.
The Turag River runs for approximately 30 km through the site and there are another 28
km of canals. Approximately 225,000 people live in 226 villages that make use of the river
and floodplains. The structure of Bangshi River changed rapidly because for the
industrialization and urbanization through the river bank. Unplanned construction of canal
and embankment is another cause of its structural change. Besides high amount of
sediment deposition from the industry and urban area is also a cause its structural changes.
A lot of waste material band its water flow that change its structure. Its structural change
is mainly dependent the distribution of water flow from the Jamuna River.

2.2.1.4 River Flow and Seasonal Variation

The Turag-Bangshi River making all the areas becomes a connected sheet of water in the
monsoon. By the late November, most of the water reeds and boro rice is planted in almost
all of the low-lying areas. During the rainy season the water area is about 43 km2 while in
the dry season the water area becomes less than 7 km2.
The morphology of Bangshi River has variation season to season. In the dry season its flow
is slow for the lack of water. Besides sediment deposition is another cause for its slow
flowing of water. Water flow at high speed at rainy season. It becomes rich in water for the
heavy rain fall. The water of Buriganga is another cause for its high flow of water. By the
late November, most of the water reeds and boro rice is planted in almost all of the lowlying areas.

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2.2.1.5 Composition of the river bed and banks
The land of the Upazila is composed of alluvium soil of the Pleistocene period. The height
of the land gradually increases from the east to the west. The southern part of the Upazila
is composed of the alluvium soil of the Bangshi and Dhalashwari rivers.
This is a deeply flooded area in the low-red soil plateau of Madhupur tract. The floodplain
is inundated when water flows over the banks of the Turag-Bangshi river making all the low
areas become a connected sheet of water in the monsoon. By late November, most of the
water recedes and boro rice is planted in almost all of the low-lying areas.

2.2.1.6 Erodibility of the river bed and banks

Running water carries out two processes. One is erosion and the other is corrosion. Erosion
is a hydraulic action and is derived from the energy of running water. Sediment being
brought by running water scours the channel and removes sediment from the river bed.
Erosion makes a channel broader and deeper. These processes are also called lateral
erosion and deepening erosion respectively. If deepening erosion predominates, a canyon
is formed. Lateral erosion forms a channel with a broader river bed.
Stream water reacts chemically with rocks and dissolves them. This process is called
corrosion. Karst landforms composed of calcareous limestone provide a well-known
example created mainly by corrosion. The erosion of Bangshi River is not so high. It causes
erosion at rainy season for the high flow of water. But in the dry season high amount of
sediment deposition is occurred and water flow is not so high so erosion is occurred hardly.
As a result Bangshi River has a less chance to increase its depth and width. A chance of
erosion is occurred for its transport system. Another is for its tributary characteristics with
large river.

2.2.1.7 Sediment Deposition

Sediment deposition or Sediment load are classified into two parts
Bed load
Suspended load
In contact with a river bed, bed load consisting a material of large diameter, than fine sand,
is brought to the lower reaches. Fine material such as clay and silt are held in suspension
in stream water and are carried without contact with the river bed. The composition of
Bangshi river banks is also the type of sand, silt and clay. The bed composition is mostly
depended on the bank composition of sediments.
Slopes have been weathered for a long period of time, and become rock fragments or rock
wastes including other fine materials. Gravity, in combination with heavy rain falling on the
slopes, causes the weathered materials to fall down into the valley bottom. These process
result in downstream extension of the valley and retreat of the upper slopes. The
weathered materials deposited in a valley bottom are scoured by running water and carried
to the lower reaches of Bangshi River.
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2.2.1.8 Interconnected Drainage System
The drainage of the Savar Upazilla mostly depends on the water levels of the peripheral
rivers. The major drainage channels (locally known as khal) in the area, which receives
catchment runoff as well as waste water and drain to the peripheral rivers, mainly to the
Bangshi river.

Figure 10: Interconnected Drainage System of the Bangshi River (After Khan, 2012)

All associated beels are connected to the Bangshi River through a series of khal and other
channels. About 2,68,900 people live in this area with 48% of households in fishing, and 15
% of household are full time fishers. A bazaar Nayarhat at bank. The famous pottery village
Palpara also situated on the south side of Bangshi River.

2.2.2 Fish and fisheries

In the past, there were a significant amount of local people were dependent on fishing but
now a days they are forced to search for a new profession as the river no longer provides
any support as a habitat for these fish species. The dark black color, lack of dissolved oxygen
and presence of harmful chemicals, there is hardly any aquatic species found in the river.
Moreover, some recent studies revealed that the fish species found here accumulates
various carcinogenic chemicals in their body tissue that may result in cancer to those who
consume these fishes.
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Literature Review

2.3 Riverine Environmental Pollution

Generally speaking, lack of proper management of the river bodies and indifference to the
needs of riverine ecology are the two main reasons for the ever deteriorating state of the
rivers of Bangladesh. Newspaper reports, research findings, field visits and government
publications identify the following s as major causes of degradation of riverine environment
in Bangladesh (Rahman et al., 2009).

Figure 11: Pitch Black Water in the flooded river (Left) and objectionable odor (Right)

2.3.1 Discharge of pollutants from industries

The highest number of industrial establishments is located in the North Central (NC) region
of Bangladesh. About 33 percent of the industries in the NC region are textiles, apparels
and tanneries which produces huge volume of wastewater.
Table 1.1: The number of industrial units in DEPZ
Industry

Number

Cap/accessories/ garments

42

Textile/ knitting

22

Plastic goods

Footwear/leather goods

Metal products

Electronic goods

Paper products

Chemical and fertilizer

Miscellaneous

11

(Source: Khan et al. 2011)

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Besides hazardous chemicals, metals and anions, these wastewaters are characterized by
their excessively high BOD value. The following Table summarizes the BOD loadings of the
9 industrial Clusters of Dhaka City.
Table: BOD loadings from nine industrial clusters within Dhaka City
Cluster

Total
Generated
Load
(kg/d)

Total flow
from
outflow
(m3/d)

Industrial
Effluent
load
(kg/d)

Domestic
Effluent
(m3/d)

Domestic
Effluent
Load
(kg/d)

Domestic
Retained
in
situ
(kg/d)

Tongi

12,555

35,158

7,159

21,708

3,797

13,450

3,362

5,396

Hazaribagh

66,664

87,184

55,773

49,489

46,349

37,695

9,424

10,891

Tejgaon

70,975

229,133

59,611

157,853

41,791

71,280

17,820

11,364

Tarabo

44,816

84,672

26,962

84,672

26,962

17,854

Narayanganj

74,957

494,946

43,025

456,225

33,344

38,721

9,681

31,932

8,291

9,114

1757

7,738

1,413

1,376

344

6,534

Gazipur

19,965

192,945

18,922

192,845

18,922

1,043

DEPZ

48,113

314,755

31,042

314,755

31,042

17,071

Ghorashal

15,850

44,928

5,422

44,928

5,422

10,428

362,186

1,492,735

249,673

1,330,213

209,042

162,522

40,631

112,513

Savar

Total

Total
Effluent
load
(kg/d)

Industrial
Effluent
(m3/d)

Source: Rahman et al., (2009)

2.3.2 Dumping of sewage and domestic wastes

Bangladesh has the highest rural population in the word, with most of the rural areas
having densities around 1,000 people per km2 and over one-third of the Thanas exceeding
this (UNEP, 2001). Overpopulation coupled with the lack of sanitation conveniences in the
rural areas and insufficient sewage and wastewater treatment facilitates in the urban areas
also result in pollution of the water body (Rahman et al., 2009).

Figure 12: Sewage dumping into river channel (Left) and domestic waste dumping (Right)

2.3.3 Agricultural runoff

Pollution from the agricultural runoff results from the use of fertilizers and agrochemicals
like pesticides and herbicides. The total amount of fertilizers used in Bangladesh annually
is about 2 million tons (UNEP, 2001).
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Urea, Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), Muriate of Potash (MP) and Gypsum are the major
chemical fertilizers used in Bangladesh. The water-soluble nitrates and Phosphates cause
changes in the taste and smell of the river water. Runoff from the irrigated lands pollutes
the surface water and cause bioaccumulation and bio-magnification of toxic substances in
the food chain (Rahman et al., 2009).

Figure 13: Agricultural Runoff from crop fields

2.3.4 Oil Spillage

The two seaports of the country Chittagong and Mongla deals with an average of 1500 to
1600 vessels and 12,000 to 13,000 cargos annually (BBS, 1998).

Figure 14: Oil Spillage and riverine water pollution

These ports do not have facilities to receive and treat bilage and ballast water. There are
also innumerable mechanized trawlers and boats engaged in fishing in the Bay of Bengal as
well as in almost all the rivers and channels. All these vessels and trawlers dump their
wastes, including burnt oil into the water (Rahman et al., 2009).

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2.3.5 Encroachment
Shockingly many rivers of the country are under encroachment by the land grabbers.
Around seventy rivers including Buriganga, Karnaphuli, Kirtonkhola, Rupsa and others
flowing through urban areas are threatened by illegal occupations (Rahman et al., 2009).

Figure 15: River Encroachment in Buriganga River by Bashundhara Group of Companies

These rivers which were the lifelines of the cities for hundreds of years stand alarmingly
shrunk and are barely flowing the limited navigability and deteriorated water quality.

2.3.6 River Bank Erosion

Riverbank erosion is a perennial problem in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Water
Development Board (BWDB) has estimated that every year, about 1200km of riverbank is
actively eroding while more than 500km is threatened by erosion. It has further been
reported that around 41 percent of the rivers are exposed to erosion, 86 percent rivers are
faced with increased siltation with 28 percent rivers rendered flow less due to prolonged
siltation.
It is reported that all the rivers of Bangladesh carry 3.8 billion tons of silt every year and 4045 million tons are deposited only in the rivers Bangalee, Brahmaputra, Dharala, Jamuna,
Padma and Teesta.

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Figure 16: River bank Erosion (Left) and Sedimentation (Right)

2.3.7 Introduction of alien invasive species

Introduction of alien invasive species for commercial purposes and extinction of indigenous
species have been of major concern. Rahman (2005) stated that a total of 15 exotic fish
species have been introduced in Bangladesh for aquaculture and 93 fish species for
ornamental purpose.

Figure 17: Some of the alien and invasive fish species of Bangladesh

All the aliens that are carnivorous in feeding habitats, spread into the rivers of Bangladesh
during high floods creating definite threat to the native species (Rahman et al., 2009).

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CHAPTER 3

FIELD OBSERVATION

Field Observation

Chapter 3

Field Observation

3.1 Geomorphology
The study area is a part of the lower Madhupur Tract and the lower Brahmaputra
floodplain. For this reason, the area under study represents a plain physiographic display.
Altogether three broad types of landforms can be identified on the basis of drainage,
elevation and pedological characteristics (Mallick, 2012). These are locally known as
Chala, Byde, and Naama.
The Chala type of lands are characteristically highland or medium highland in nature. The
Byde type of lands are distinguished as medium high to medium low land. Finally Naama
type of lands are characterized as low land and very low land. The Chala lands are normally
flood free, relatively less productive for rice but extensively used for vegetable cultivation
throughout the year and famous for Jackfruit plantations and Shaal forests. The Chala land
is the first choice for permanent infrastructural developments.

Figure 18: A Typical Agricultural field (paddy Field) in the study area

However, the Bydes usually remain shallow to deeply flooded three to four months
between July and November in the year. The Bydes are fertile, rich in clayey soil and
mainly used for a single crop, predominantly HYV boro rice. The Naama covers the major
agricultural lands where prolonged flood waters from Bangshi, Dhaleshwari, and Turag
rivers. The regular and seasonal flooding in the monsoon depressed area and flooded for
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Field Observation
more than five months (June-December) HYV boro rice is cultivated here. The back slopes
of the floodplain are used for robi and deep water rice. However, robi crops are being
replaced by guava and commercial grass cultivation in the riverine area.
The socioeconomic condition is not so high in most of the inhabitants of the area under
study. For this reason, most of the houses and buildings were found as tin-shed and
earthen walled. Though some brick-built houses were found as under construction.

Figure 19: A typical house of the study area

3.2 The Bangshi River:

We started our journey near the Nayarhat Bazar using an engine-boat. So the first visual
observation was the Bangshi River. The color of water of the river was dark black.

Figure 20: Dark Black water of the Bangshi River

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Field Observation
The smell of the river water was also very offensive. By seeing this characteristic color and
having such offensive smell, one can easily conclude that the river may have been seriously
polluted. We took several water samples from the river water in different locations to study
in depth and determine actual water quality of the river. The first water sample was
collected from a wastewater discharge canal adjacent to the DEPZ complex.

Figure 21: Map showing location of sampling

The morphologically the river is meandering in nature and it joins with a channel of the
River Jamuna and flows towards DEPZ. Besides water sample collection, we carried digital
pH meter and digital EC meter. With these instruments, we measured pH and EC on the
spot.

Figure 22: On-spot measurement of water quality of Bangshi River

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Field Observation
The nearby people uses this river as a mode of transportation. They not just use it for their
daily movement but also they use this way to transport their goods.

Figure 23: The Bangshi River as a mode of transportation

During our visit on the engine-boat, we experienced that the local people uses these
highly polluted water in different ways. They use this water for irrigation, bathing as well
as washing their domestic animals.

Figure 24: Utilization of the River water for irrigation

3.3 The Dhaka Export Processing Zone

Due to time constraints and administrative problems, our scope of studying the Dhaka
Export processing zone (DEPZ) were very limited. We used an engine-driven boat to reach
a suitable location from where we observed the DEPZ area. We observed the waste
carrying canals which carries away wastewater from the DEPZ area and disposes it to the
river Bangshi.
We saw the dark black colored water in the canal took a bottle of sample water which was
analyzed when we were back from the study area. Before leaving the area, we talked with
some local people about the waste dumping, availability of fish and related issues and
noted down their opinions about them.
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Field Observation

3.4 Impacts of industrialization

Industrial sector is gradually playing a more important role in Bangladesh economy and
EPZs have provided a good platform of industrial establishment. Dhaka EPZ since its
establishment has altered the fragile environment of the surrounding area. This produces
multi-dimensional impact on the natural environment. There are two major types of
impacts found during the field visit. They are:
1. Environmental Impact
2. Social impact

3.4.1 Environmental Impact

3.4.1.1 Environmental Pollution
Since inception, Dhaka EPZ has altered the fragile environment of the adjacent area. Huge
amount of effluents discharged from Dhaka EPZ has been polluting the surface and
groundwater. Surface water contamination by industrial effluents released from Dhaka
Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) and the ramification to groundwater have been estimated.
Water quality of the river is way deviated from the prescribed criteria from the Department
of Environment (DoE).

Figure 25: Sewage and domestic waste disposal in the river

Analysis reveals pH maximum 9.55, DO maximum 2.40 mg/L, TDS maximum 1280 mg/L, Bicarbonate maximum 891 mg/L, Sulfate maximum 452 mg/L, Chloride maximum 179 mg/L,
Nitrate maximum 44 mg/L and Fluoride not above detection limit. Higher concentration of
Cl-, SO4-2, NO3- in waste water samples compared to the standard by DOE (Department of
Environment) as well as background concentration from uncontaminated water can be
correlated with industrial effluent discharge. On the other hand low level of concentration

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Field Observation
found in groundwater samples indicates that groundwater is still safe. This phenomenon is
explained by the presence of impervious clay layer.
The high BOD and COD of the effluents, and resultant high BOD, COD and low DO of the
river appear to have impacted on the quantity and quality of fish stocks. Local people report
that fish stock in the areas have become zero. The ecosystem of river has already destroyed
completely. No live can survive in this toxic water except some mosquito and microbes.
3.4.1.2 Ecology and Biodiversity
Once the surrounding area was rich in different fruit, timber and medicinal plants.
Inconsiderate deforestation, waste disposal or toxicity of the wastewater, most of these
species are unavailable these days. They have failed to sustain in the changed
environmental condition and thus left extinct. Similarly, the untreated wastewater disposal
of the industrialists to the natural rivers, channels and streams results in the extinction of
most of the fish and aquatic species. Species which succeeded to survive in the changed
environment are also not completely safe. Recent investigation revealed that these
resistant fish species accumulates toxic and hazardous chemicals which may lead to cancer
development.

3.4.2 Social Impacts

3.4.2.1 Economy
The socioeconomic condition of the people is hard to express in one words. Most of the
inhabitants of the riverine villages are labors, fishermen, farmers or potters.

Figure 26: Busy potters in making products

Traditionally this area is famous for the weaving of Moslin a special type of soft and silky
cloth. Moreover, our investigation covers the famous pal para which is the locality of
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Field Observation
potters who make materials from the earthen clay. For the last hundreds of years, a
significant amount of local people are farmers. Rice is the main crop that is produced by
the local farmers. But since the DEPZ started polluting the river water which is widely used
as irrigation water, the yield has been reduced to a significant amount.

Figure 27: Some of the products made by the potters

With the popularity of ceramics, it however became hard for these potters to sustain their
life on their traditional works. For this reason, the number of potter family is gradually
decreasing. Other traditional occupations are also in a changing trend. The river Bangshi
no longer provides fish for these fishermen. So, they have no other choice but to find out
a new profession.

Figure 28: A brick built house representing an improved economic status of the area

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Field Observation
Industrialization however welcomed some of the local people with shiny luck and
prosperity. They developed their economic conditions in really quick ways. After industrial
setup in the area, overall the income increased and the living of standard became
improved. The price of the land is becoming higher and higher with time. This indicates
the overall economic development among the local people.
3.4.2.2 Education
The rate of literacy is yet not satisfactory in the area under study. It was found from some
persons opinion that most of the boys and girls leave school after finishing primary school
and try to get jobs in the nearby EPZ. But this trend is changing and the situations are
getting better. With economic solvency, people started realizing the importance of
education. This in turns, a great influential impact of industrial activity in the surrounding
area.
3.4.2.3 Religion
Due to industrialization, the chance of mixing between different religions increases
greatly. People from long distance are coming closer because of these industries which
influences them in learning beliefs and views of the others. This gradually increases the
mixing and interchange among two or more religious beliefs. Most of the people of the
study area (except Pal para) are Muslims in religion. There are also people with Hindu and
other religion.
3.4.2.4 Health
Health sector is very much neglected in the area. There is no public hospital in the
surrounding area. Due to the contact of chemically active pollutant mixed river water,
almost all the local inhabitants suffers from acute skin disease which eventually may lead
up to cancer development. There is no well qualified doctor in the nearby area and people
have no other choice but to move a patient to distant Enam Medical, Gono Shastho or
other hospital. Among the local people, respiratory disease, skin disease, gastro-intestinal
diseases are very common.

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CHAPTER 4

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

Results and Discussion

Chapter 4

Results and Discussion

Water sampling was started from the point 235639N 901455E continued downward
at an average interval of 0.45km for 10 km. Total number of samples collected during first
day was 13. Location was confirmed by GPS (Mobile) reading which is given in Table. Water
samples were collected at each point with water sampler in the midstream at a depth of 2
feet to avoid the interference of the floating substances.
The collected water sample is analyzed in the laboratory to determine the water quality.
Three important parameter of water quality namely pH, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) and
Electrical Conductivity (EC) has been performed in the laboratory.
Table: Latitude, longitude, distance & surrounding location of the sampling points
Sampling points

Latitude

Longitude

Distance (Km)

Location

Sample 01

235639N

901455E

Kamalshi

Sample 02

235616N

901352E

.96

Norekandi

Sample 03

235614N

901353E

1.03

Nolam

Sample 04

235559N

901393E

1.74

Nolam

Sample 05

235543N

901333E

2.36

Nolam

Sample 06

235540N

901328E

2.57

Pathalia

Sample 07

235523N

901334E

3.14

Pathalia

Sample 08

235441N

901346E

4.48

Noyerhat

Sample 09

235420N

901350E

5.14

Noyerhat

Sample 10

235410N

901342E

5.76

Ghughudia

Sample 11

235349N

901347E

6.2

Ghughudia

Sample 12

235252N

901356E

6.47

Sinduria

Sample 13

235154N

901412E

10.01

Sinduria

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Results and Discussion

Figure 29: The Google Earth map of different sampling location.

The collected sample water represents a distinctive physical appearance. The water
collected near the pollution source looks darker (as seen in figure 30) than that of a distant
place.
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Results and Discussion

Figure 30: Sample from the pollution source (left) to distant river parts (right).

The samples are collected in the first day of our field and the parameters are examined after five
days of sample collection. The parameters which does not change too much with time is
measured. We avoided the DO measurement as the value obtained will be totally different then
the river water environment. The result obtained in the experiment is given bellow:

Table 3.5: The experimental values obtained from the samples.

Sample No

pH

TDS (mg/L)

Ec (s)

Sample 01

8.16

1599

2.4104

Sample 02

7.97

1406

2.15104

Sample 03

7.77

1450

2.2104

Sample 04

7.82

1441

2.12104

Sample 05

8.02

1448

2.13104

Sample 06

7.95

1440

2.19104

Sample 07

7.92

1454

2.22104

Sample 08

7.9

1438

2.15104

Sample 09

7.79

1367

2.06104

Sample 10

7.72

1271

1.87104

Sample 11

7.68

1204

1.83104

Sample 12

7.52

1106

1.73104

Sample 13

7.04

980

1.47104

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Results and Discussion

4.1 pH
pH is a parameter that explains the chemical nature of an aqueous solution where it is
acidic or alkaline. If the value of determined sample is higher than 7, then the sample will
be basic or alkaline. On the other hands, if the value of pH is less than 7, the sample will
be acidic in nature.
The pH value for sample-1 is 8.16 which is also the highest pH value among these 13
samples. Then the pH value slowly decreases for sample-2 and sample-3. Sample-4 and
sample-5 represents slight increase while the rest samples decreases again. So, among
these water samples, pH value shows a trend to decrease with distance as these waters
are mixed with high volume river water. Maximum pH value is 8.16 while minimum pH
value is 7.04.

pH
8.4

8.16

8.2

8.02

7.97

7.77 7.82

7.95 7.92

7.9
7.79

pH

7.8

7.72 7.68
7.52

7.6
7.4
7.2

7.04

7
6.8
0

10

12

14

Sample

Figure 31: pH distribution of the collected sample water

4.2 Total Dissolved Solid (TDS)

Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) is another significant parameter that should be studied to
understand the water quality of a pollutant-receiving stream or channel. This parameter
tells us how much solid materials are present as dissolved in the water. TDS distribution
also follows a definite pattern for these water samples. The Sample-1 bears the highest
TDS value while the rest shows a decreasing trend. The highest TDS value among these 13
samples were 1599 mg/L for sample-1 while the lowest TDS value is 980 mg/L for Sample13. The following bar diagram represents the distribution of TDS value for these 13
samples.

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Results and Discussion

Total Dissolved Solid (in mg/L)

1800

1599
1406 1450 1441 1448 1440 1454 1438 1367

1600

TDS (in mg/L)

1400

1271

1204

1200

1106
980

1000
800
600
400

200
0
0

10

12

14

Sample

Figure 32: Distribution of Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) for the collected water samples

4.3 Electrical Conductivity (EC)

Electrical Conductivity (EC) is also an important parameter to be studied. EC explains the
nature of the wastewater in terms of electrical conduction.

Electrical Conductivity (in S)

30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
0

10

12

14

Figure 33: Electrical Conductivity of the collected Sample

The more the EC value is, the more electrically conductive the water is. Because we know
that pure water do not show conductivity for heat and electricity. The highest EC value is
also for sample-1 (24,200) while the lowest one is for sample-13 (14,700).

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Results and Discussion

8.4
8.2
8

pH

7.8
7.6
7.4
7.2
7

6.8
0

10

12

DISTANCE (KILOMETERS)
pH

Linear (pH)

1800
1600
1400

TDS

1200
1000
TDS

800

Linear (TDS)

600
400
200
0
0

10

12

DISTANCE (KILOMETERS)
30000

25000

Ec (s)

20000
15000

Ec
Linear (Ec)

10000
5000

0
0

10

12

DISTANCE (KILOMETERS)
Figure 34: Change of different parameters with distance (pH, TDS, Ec).

36 | P a g e

Results and Discussion

4.4 Flow Rate estimation of polluted Khal

Figure 35: The Nolam Kunda khal (left) and its cross section (right).

The Width of the channel is 14 ft. and depth is 2.5 ft.

Let us consider the average width is 11.5 ft.
Then, the cross sectional area (A+B+C) = 1/22.511.5 = 28.75 ft2 = A
In order to cross 40 feet the water spends 29sec then,
Mean velocity =40/29 = 1.379 ft/sec
Then flow rate Q = A = 39.646 ft3/sec.
So the flow rate of waste water to river is approximately 40 ft3/sec.

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CHAPTER 5

RECOMMENDATION

Recommendation

Chapter 5

Recommendation

EPZ at Savar are the main reason for the pollution of water of the river. All polluted effluent
discharges in the river. Now the water is the reason of pollution of soil and as well as ground
water. Even crops production also being damaged due to the highly polluted river water.
Immediate steps including regular monitoring of toxic metals in the agricultural soil is
needed to check the environmental quality. Wastewater discharged from DEPZ could be
recycled for the remediation of pollution in a sustainable and eco-specific way. Different
remediation measures should be taken promptly to remove excising metal from discharge.

5.1 Common Mitigation Measures

Wastewater treatment is probably the most obvious mitigation measure that can check
the adverse environmental and social consequences. The purpose of the wastewater
treatment project is to reduce the current amounts of untreated sewage that enters into
natural ecosystem of river, thereby allowing for recovery of the inherent natural
productivity of the water bodies and restoration of the economic benefits to be derived
from a healthy ecosystem. In addition, clearing and construction activity should be
restricted to within the footprint of the development. There should be no side-tipping of
excavated material or cleared vegetation unto areas outside the footprint.
Odor is best controlled by proper design and the nuisance risk is reduced by proper
alignment of the treatment plant. Proper sizing and alignment of the plant should be
ensured. Scum needs to be appropriately disposed of or properly stabilized. It is also
important that the effect of wave action be carefully considered in the design. A good
cleaner production audit:
Defines sources, quantities and types of waste generated;
Collates information on unit operations, raw materials, products, water and energy
usage and wastes generated;
Highlights process inefficiencies and areas of poor management;
Helps set targets for cleaner production and prioritize cleaner production
measures;
Permits the development of cost-effective waste management strategies;
Raises awareness in the work-force regarding the benefits of cleaner production;

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Recommendation
The various ways of achieving cleaner production which was disseminated to the industries
are as follows:
1. Good housekeeping practices
2. Equipment modification
3. Process modification/retrofitting
4. Raw material substitution
5. Product modification
6. Innovative manufacturing technology
Additionally:
1. By-product recovery from the waste
2. Recycling the waste (with or without treatment) in the production process itself
3. Reuse of waste (with or without treatment) in some other process.

5.2 Restoration of River

Ecological restoration aims to recreate, initiate, or accelerate the recovery of an ecosystem
that has been disturbed. Disturbances are environmental changes that alter ecosystem
structure and function. Common disturbances include logging, damming rivers, intense
grazing, hurricanes, floods, and fires. Restoration activities may be designed to replicate a
pre-disturbance ecosystem or to create a new ecosystem where it had not previously
occurred (Palmer et al., 2005). Restoration ecology is the scientific study of repairing
disturbed ecosystems through human intervention. Some general guidelines for the
restoration of river are:
Define quantifiable goals and outcomes for restoration projects before they begin
as this will assist in monitoring and evaluating progress as well as determining yield
on investment from restoration.
Begin restoration projects with a strong scientific foundation and a solid conceptual
framework.
Adaptively manage so that mistakes from one project (and lessons learned) become
an asset to future projects; refine approaches to restoration so that restoration
becomes increasingly effective.
Restoration of process is preferable to restoration of form (i.e., restoration towards
a fixed endpoint); incorporating flooding and flow of the river. Restoration ecology
of river valleys related processes into restoration is desirable (within societal
constrains) and understanding that river ecosystems are dynamic is paramount.
View river restoration within the context of the entire watershed; restoration at the
reach scale is more likely to succeed if consideration of processes occurring
39 | P a g e

Recommendation
upstream, downstream, and laterally are taken into account and the reach is
viewed as a segment in a much larger network of stream channels.
River restoration is one of the most visible aspects of the river related sciences
(Malakoff, 2004). Thus, it is important that successful restoration of ecological
services and biological functions is conveyed to the public and policy makers so that
society will continue to invest in the restoration of rivers and river valleys (Wohl et
al., 2005).
River restoration projects aim to maintain or increase ecosystem goods and services while
protecting downstream and coastal ecosystems. There is growing interest in applying river
restoration techniques to solve environmental problems, yet little agreement exists on
what constitutes a successful river restoration effort.
Five criteria are proposed for measuring success, with emphasis on an ecological
perspective.
First, the design of an ecological river restoration project should be based on a
specified guiding image of a more dynamic, healthy river that could exist at the site.
Secondly, the rivers ecological condition must be measurably improved.
Thirdly, the river system must be more self-sustaining and resilient to external
perturbations so that only minimal follow-up maintenance is needed.
Fourthly, during the construction phase, no lasting harm should be inflicted on the
ecosystem.
Fifthly, both pre- and post-assessment must be completed and data made publicly
available.
Determining if these five criteria have been met for a particular project requires
development of an assessment protocol. Standards of evaluation for each of the five
criteria are suggested and examples of suitable indicators are provided. It is proposed that
five criteria that must be met for a river restoration project to be considered ecologically
successful. It is critical that the broad restoration community, including funding agencies,
practitioners and citizen restoration groups, adopt criteria for defining and assessing
ecological success in restoration.
Standards are needed because progress in the science and practice of river restoration has
been hampered by the lack of agreed upon criteria for judging ecological success. Without
well-accepted criteria that are ultimately supported by funding and implementing
agencies, there is little incentive for practitioners to assess and report restoration
outcomes. Improving methods and weighing the ecological benefits of various restoration
approaches require organized national-level reporting systems. The success of a
restoration project could be evaluated in many different ways. Restore a river or stream
must also be judged on whether the restoration is an ecological success.

40 | P a g e

Reference

Ahmed et al., (2012). Pollution Status of Trace Metals in Groundwater Due to Industrial activities
in and Around Dhaka Export Processing Zone, Bangladesh. Int. j. econ. env. geol. Vol:3(1)
pp. 43-52,
Ahmed et al., (2012a). Influence of multi-industrial activities on trace metal contamination: an
approach towards surface water body in the vicinity of Dhaka Export Processing Zone
(DEPZ). Environ Monit Assess vol. 184 pp. 41814190
Ahmed, A. U., (2009). River Pollution: Concepts and Expectations. ISBN-978-984-8173-22-0.
BBS (2009). Statistical Yearbook of Bangladesh by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. available at
www.bbs.gov.bd

Bhuiyan et al., (2011). Investigation of the possible sources of heavy metal

contamination in lagoon and canal water in the tannery industrial area in Dhaka,
Bangladesh. Environ. Monit. Assess. vol. 175, pp. 633649.
Chowdhury et al., (2013). Organochlorine Insecticide Residues are found in Surface,
Irrigated Water Samples from Several Districts in Bangladesh. Bull Environ
Contam Toxicol, vol. 90, pp. 149154
DoE, Department of Environment (1991, 1997), Environ. Qual. Stand. Bangladesh. July.
DWASA (2011). Master Plan Report of November 2011. Available at www.grontmij.dk
Faisal I., Shammin R. and Junaid J. (2004). Industrial Pollution in Bangladesh. World Bank Report.
Hossain, M.A. et al. (2011). Gas chromatographmass spectrometry determination of
carcinogenic naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene and fluorene in the Bangsai river
water of Bangladesh. Arabian Journal of Chemistry. doi:10.1016/j.arabjc.2011.02.012
Hossain et al., (2010). Naphthalene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, in the fish samples from
the Bangsai river of Bangladesh by gas chromatographmass spectrometry. Arabian
Journal of Chemistry (2011), doi:10.1016/j.arabjc.2010.12.014

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Hossain et al., (2011). Determination of Phenol in the Bangsai River Water of Bangladesh
by Gas ChromatographyMass Spectrometry. Journal of Water Chemistry and
Technology, 2011, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 9196.
Islam (2011). EPZ history in Bangladesh and its administration and legislation for
economic enclave. Business and Management Review Vol. 1(7) pp. 86 102
Khan et al, (2011). Environmental Pollution around Dhaka EPZ and its Impact on Surface and
Groundwater. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. Vol. 46(2), pp. 153-162
Mallick, S., (2012). River, Culture and Livelihoods: Water Pollution and Social Change around the
River Bangshi, Bangladesh. Masters Thesis. ISBN 978-3-656-36586-0
Momtaz et al., (2010). Impact of Textile Effluents on Pistia stratiotes L. and Ludwigia adscendens
L. Using Hydroponic Culture. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. Vol. 45(1), pp. 9-16

Rahman et al., (2012b). Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Agricultural Soil

around Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ), Bangladesh: Implication of
Seasonal Variation and Indices. Appl. Sci., vol. 2, pp. 584-601;
doi:10.3390/app2030584
Rahman et al., (2012). Study of the seasonal variations in Turag river water quality parameters.
African Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry Vol. 6(10), pp. 144-148
Rahman et al., (2012a). Study on heavy metals levels and its risk assessment in some edible
fishes from Bangshi River, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Food Chemistry, vol. 134, pp.
18471854
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (RIO+20) (2012) Policy brief:
Transboundary Waters, Climate change and good governance
Zahid A. (2003). Investigation on Soil, Sediments and Groundwater Environment of Hazaribagh
Leather Processing Zone of Dhaka City, Bangladesh with the Special Emphasis on Heavy
Metals. M. Sc. Thesis, Institute of Geology and Paleontology, University of Tuebingen,
Germany.

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Appendix - 1

Appendix 1: Questionnaire Survey

Name: Nur Mohammad

Village: Nolam
Sex: Male
Age: 30 years
Occupation: Businessman
Q. What is the major occupation in the village?
Ans. Business
Q. What is the irrigation system in the agricultural land in the village?
Ans. The river water of Bangshi
Q. What is the impact using river water of Bangshi in the agricultural land?
Ans. Loss of paddy production. Yield is not high of paddy.
Q. What is the depth of drinking water?
Ans. 120-200 m
Q. How many educational institute in the village?
Ans. One primary school, one Madrasha
Q. what is the transportation system of the village?
Ans: By road
Q. What is the communication system in the past?
Ans. By river, 10 years ago.

Name: Mohammad Faizul Hossain

Village: Nolam
Age: 35 years
Occupation: Rajmistri
Q. How much crop production in the agricultural land of the village?
Ans: In the past per bigha 25 mons, Now 18 mons.
i|Page

Appendix - 1
Q. What is the fish conditon of the Bangshi River?
Ans. During the rainy season there is available of the fish, but dry season there is no fish in
the river. The fish die due to the pollution of industry.
Q. What is the cost of the land?
Ans. It vareys place to place. Average 2-3 lakh
Q. What is the condition of plant due to industrial pollution of surface water?
Ans. Some plants cannot survive for the pollution of Industry. Example: Pepe

Name: Rahamat Miah

Village: Nolam
Sex: Male
Age: 45 years
Occupation: day laborer
Q. How many children do you have?
Ans: 2 Sons and one daughter
Q. What is the major occupation of the villagers?
Ans: Farmer, day labourer
Q. What are the main diseases of the villagers?
Ans. Heart stock, skin diseease, diarrhoea
Q. What is the surface water condition of the village?
Ans. Unable to use
Q.What is the drinking watre source of the villagers?
Ans. Ground water
Q. What is the household water source of the villagers?
Ans. Ground water
Q. Is there any problem to use ground water?
Ans. No
Q. Is there any odor of ground water?
Ans. Yes

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Appendix - 1

Name: Siam Uddin Bepari

Village: Nolam
Sex: Male
Age: 70 Years
Occupation: Farmer
Q. What is the main crops of the village?
Ans: Paddy
Q. How much productivity of paddy crops?
Ans: Poor productivity due to the industrial pollution.
Q. Is there any fish in the river?
Ans. No fish in the dry season
Q. Is there any problem of domestic animal due to the pollutant of water?
Ans. No
Q. What is the physical condition of river water?
Ans. Bad odor and slippery
Q. How many years for the poor condition of the water?
Ans. 8-10 years
Q. What is the condition of the plant due to the waste water?
Ans. Root of the palnt is rotten due to the waste water

Name: Najim Uddin

Village: Palpara
Sex: male
Age: 60 years
Occupation: Farmer
Q. how many family member do you have?
Ans. 10. 3 sons 5 daughter.
Q. How many educational institute in the village?
Ans. 1 School and 1 Madrasha
Q. How many houses in the village?
Ans: About 30.
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Appendix - 1
Q. What is the major occupation of the villagers?
Ans. Pot making
Q. What is the surface water condition season to season?
Ans: In the monsoon suraface water is usable for washing, bathing but dry season surface
water is not usable.
Q. What is the sorce for drinking water?
Ans. Ground water.

Name: Hasina Begum

Village: Palpara
Sex: Female
Age: 45 years
Occupation: House wife
Q. What are the major crops of the village?
Ans: Paddy, Sharisha
Q. What is the source of water for the washing of livestock animal?
Ans. River water
Q. Is there any diseases of livestock animal due to waste water?
Ans. No
Q. What is the sources of waste in the water?
Ans. EPZ, Industry
Q. Is there any benefits for the villegers for industrialization?
Ans. Yes. For their occupation.
Q. What are the common diseases in the village?
Ans. Diarrhoea, vomiting
Q. Is there any canceer diseases in the village?
Ans: Yes
Q. What is the condition of tube well water?
Ans: It is the source of drinking water. No Odorous. Some tube well water is odorous.
Q. what is tube well problem?
Ans. Some tube well water is contaminated by leaking
Q. Is there any problem for the coconut?
Ans. They are also contaminated due to waste water
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Appendix - 1

Name: Belayet Hossain

Village: Palpara
Sex: Male.
Age: 27 years
Occupation: Engine boatman
Q. What is the major transport system of the village?
Ans. By boat
Q. Is there any cultivation of the vegetables?
Ans. Very few
Q. Is there any contamination in the vegetables?
Ans. No
Q. Do they eat their productive vegetables?
Ans: Yes
Q. Do they sell them in the market?
Ans. Yes
Q. What is the cost of the land?
Ans. Average 60-70 thousand per 100 point of land.
Q. What is main religion of the villagers?
Ans. Islam
Q. What is the percentage of the farmer?
Ans. 60 percent.
Q. What are the main occupation of the villagers?
Ans. Farmer, Pot maker with river clay.

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Appendix - 1

Appendix 2: Questionnaire layout

GENERAL INFORMATIN THAT NEED TO BE COLLECTED

Name of the area under study:
Area covered during survey: .km2
Weather condition:

Temperature High/ Moderate.

Humidity High/Low/ Moderate
Wind flow- Normal/ High
River flow:

Permanent flow/ Seasonal flow.

Shallow depth/ Deep
River adjacent soil condition:

Moist/ Dry
Soil texture( sand/silt/ clay/ other)
Biotic component:

Plants: local/ exotic

Animals: domestic/wild
Bangsai River:

Pollution condition- high/moderate/low

Color of water.
Odor..
Possible pollutants:
1. Organic
2. Inorganic
3. Slowly degradable
4. Non-degradable
Possible pollution sources:

Household garbage dumping

Agricultural misuse of fertilizers/ pesticides & its runoff
Industrial effluent
Sewage discharge

Land pollution: Domestic/ Solid waste/ Metals/ Plastic/ Fertilizer /Pesticide

Pollution source: agricultural land/solid waste dumping.
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Appendix - 1
Industry:

Pollution source characterizationIndustry type ( Green/Orange-A/Orange-B/Red)

Raw material usedAmount of discharge per dayDischarge type-continuous/interval
Waste water treatment plant & efficiency.

Natural Resource:

Renewable
Non-renewable
Renewable- water/land/forest/agricultural product/ energy/mineral;
Non-renewable-coal/oil/gas/fuel;
Resources from the river- fish/crab/sand/water;
Resources from the land-food/forest product/ agricultural product;
QUESTIONNIER TO THE RESPONDENT
Personal information:

Name of the respondent:

Age: .
Occupation: ..
Address: ..

Information regarding Bangsai River:

Information

Before

Present

Area
River flow
Water using pattern
Fish found in river
River navigation
Environmental change:
Information

Before

Present

Land use pattern

Natural habitat

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Appendix - 1
Biodiversity (both land & water)
Agricultural system:
Information
Agricultural method used

Before

Present

Fertilizer & pesticide use

trend
Irrigation water source
Impact on adjacent
ecosystem
Impact on biotic component:
Information
Number of plant sp.

Before

Present

Is there any sp. Extinct?

How about the productivity of
food, fish, biomass?
Socio-economic change:
Information

Before

Present

Demographic change (population Size,

density)
Economic change (occupation, income,
new pattern of employment)
Institutional change (school, college,
madrasa)
Public eagerness towards education
Cultural change (religious, marriage,
custom, language, entertainment)
Health impact:
Information

Before

Present

Major disease (communicable/non-communicable)

Does cancer occur in this area?
If occur, how many people died?

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Appendix - 1
How about the sanitation condition?
Numbers of improved sanitation

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