Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Urban River Pollution in Bangladesh: A Case of Buriganga
- By Mustakkima Afrin; Michael Christie; Al Mamun
- Urban river pollution; socio-economic impacts; environmental degradation; health risks; adaptive behaviors; sustainable governance
Project Description:
This project examines the socio-economic and environmental impacts of pollution in the Buriganga River and how these impacts affect the lives of nearby communities. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines household surveys, expert interviews, and field observations to assess changes in living conditions, water quality, public health, and community responses to pollution. It explores how factors such as gender, age, occupation, and residential location influence pollution awareness, water use, and livelihood changes. The research also investigates the major sources of river pollution, including industrial waste, untreated sewage, and poor waste management, while evaluating the effects of recent pollution control measures. The findings provide evidence that, although some improvements in water quality have been observed after the relocation of tanneries, serious environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and pollution-related health risks continue to threaten the Buriganga River and surrounding communities. The project offers practical policy recommendations to support ecological restoration, strengthen environmental governance, and promote sustainable management of urban rivers in Bangladesh.
Engagement:
Working Paper:
https://cperbd.org/working-paper/4
http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5670370