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SANGSAD BHABAN, Aug 30, 2026 (BSS) - The government has undertaken a plan to restore navigability of the Buriganga and other rivers surrounding Dhaka by preventing pollution, freeing the rivers from encroachment and restoring their navigability.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo disclosed this in Parliament today in reply to a starred question from opposition lawmaker of Dhaka-4 constituency (Jamaat-e-Islami) Syed Zainul Abedin.The minister said the Prime Minister on August 6 directed the concerned agencies to formulate and implement a coordinated and time-bound action plan. “To this end, a decision has been taken to form an inter-agency coordination committee under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office,” he said.

The committee will coordinate activities of the concerned ministries and agencies, review progress and submit reports to the Prime Minister’s Office, he said.

Mintoo said the action plan will focus on preparing a source-wise list of industrial waste, ensuring installation and effective operation of effluent treatment plants (ETPs) at industrial establishments, identifying and closing unauthorized drains, and removing waste from canals and drains.

He said medium- and long-term plans will also be taken to set up sewage treatment plants (STPs), ETPs and waste-to-energy plants, where necessary, alongside canals and drainage systems.

The minister said an integrated action plan will be implemented to prevent pollution by closing the sources of all types of waste, including industrial waste; removing waste from canals and drains; ensuring normal water flow; and removing long-accumulated waste from riverbeds.

He added that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Department of Environment, Dhaka WASA, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Bangladesh Water Development Board, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and city corporations, among other concerned agencies, are working together to implement the Prime Minister’s directives.

Highlighting ongoing activities of the Department of Environment to prevent pollution of the Buriganga, Mintoo said industries along the riverbanks that generate liquid waste are being required to install ETPs and obtain environmental clearance.  “Enforcement drives are also being conducted regularly against polluting establishments,”

Of the 155 industries along the Buriganga riverbanks that are required to have ETPs, 101 have so far installed the facilities, he said.

The minister said nine establishments were shut down by disconnecting their utility services through enforcement operations conducted from January 2025 to July 2026 for operating without environmental clearance and ETPs.

During the same period, compensation amounting to Tk 2.92 crore was imposed, of which Tk 96.60 lakh has been realised, he added.

Mintoo said restoring the navigability of Dhaka’s rivers by freeing them from pollution and encroachment would not only help maintain environmental balance but also improve communication and civic amenities in the capital.