Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Urban River Pollution in Bangladesh: A Case of Buriganga
Abstract:
This study examines the socio-economic and environmental impacts of pollution in the Buriganga River, focusing on community living conditions, water quality, and adaptive behaviors, while identifying strategies for sustainable pollution reduction. An exploratory mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining structured surveys (n = 250), expert interviews, and field observations across five pollution-affected urban areas in Dhaka. Quantitative data were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression, while qualitative insights provided contextual depth and triangulation. Results indicate that Buriganga’s pollution continues to reshape livelihoods, health, and environmental perceptions. Occupational shifts were significantly associated with gender and pollution awareness, while water use patterns varied by age and residential location. Despite reported improvements in water color and odor following tannery relocation, ecological recovery remains very insignificant, with tremendous biodiversity loss and health risks—including diarrhea, skin disease, and asthma—persisting. Expert opinions confirmed that industrial effluents, sewage mismanagement, waste dumping, and weak regulatory enforcement are the primary drivers of river health degradation in the Buriganga. By integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence, this study advances understanding of urban river pollution in developing contexts and offers policy-relevant insights for ecological restoration and sustainable urban river governance.
Keywords: Buriganga River, water pollution, socio-economic impacts, ecological degradation, quantitative analysis, SDG, Bangladesh.
This study examines the socio-economic and environmental impacts of pollution in the Buriganga River, focusing on community living conditions, water quality, and adaptive behaviors, while identifying strategies for sustainable pollution reduction. An exploratory mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining structured surveys (n = 250), expert interviews, and field observations across five pollution-affected urban areas in Dhaka. Quantitative data were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression, while qualitative insights provided contextual depth and triangulation. Results indicate that Buriganga’s pollution continues to reshape livelihoods, health, and environmental perceptions. Occupational shifts were significantly associated with gender and pollution awareness, while water use patterns varied by age and residential location. Despite reported improvements in water color and odor following tannery relocation, ecological recovery remains very insignificant, with tremendous biodiversity loss and health risks—including diarrhea, skin disease, and asthma—persisting. Expert opinions confirmed that industrial effluents, sewage mismanagement, waste dumping, and weak regulatory enforcement are the primary drivers of river health degradation in the Buriganga. By integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence, this study advances understanding of urban river pollution in developing contexts and offers policy-relevant insights for ecological restoration and sustainable urban river governance.
Keywords: Buriganga River, water pollution, socio-economic impacts, ecological degradation, quantitative analysis, SDG, Bangladesh.