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WorldPosted at: May 17 2025 7:09PM


Hundreds of dead fish found floating in Bangladesh’s Meghna River

Dhaka, May 17 (UNI) Bangladesh’s Meghna River – a major source of the local fisherfolk’s bread and butter – has turned into a toxic graveyard for aquatic life, with hundreds of dead fish found floating along the banks of the river from Shatnol to Dashani in Matlab Uttar upazila.
The mass fish deaths, observed from early Friday morning, have alarmed local communities and fishermen.
An on-spot visit revealed that the stench of decaying fish now hangs heavy in the air, while the once-pristine river, a lifeline for thousands, bears the scars of pollution and neglect, with locals blaming the discharge of industrial waste and chemical contamination as the reason, reports Business Standard BD.
According to the Department of Environment (DoE) in Chandpur, similar mass fish mortality was investigated earlier this year in January due to water pollution.
During the field visit, the devastation was all too evident. Shoals of dead fish, including jatka, chewa, bele, tengra, puti and chapila, were seen drifting lifeless near the banks.
“This is no ordinary fish kill—it’s an ecological disaster,” said Bijoy Kumar Das, Senior Fisheries Officer of Matlab Uttar, reports UNB.
“Polluted water from the Shitalakkhya River in Narayanganj has long affected us. Similar events occurred in March 2023 and August 2024. This time, the scale is worse.”
Fishermen like Palash Barman voiced despair. “This river used to give us life. Now it’s killing everything in it,” he said. “We’ve been raising our voices for years, but nothing changes. If this continues, there won’t be any hilsa left.”
The crisis has severe implications for hilsa, Bangladesh’s national fish. The death of jatka, young hilsa, threatens future catches and food security.
Residents such as Selina Begum expressed concerns about health risks. “Our children used to play and bathe here. Now, even touching the water could be harmful,” she said. “We can no longer drink it.”
Local traders, too, anticipate lasting impacts. “Fish will vanish from the markets, and prices will shoot up,” said Rafiqul Islam, a fish trader.
The pungent odour of decomposing fish has also exacerbated the crisis, as it has made even living in the area unbearable for nearby residents.
Mohammad Shamsuddin, a member of Kolakanda Union Parishad, voiced his dismay as well. He said, "I have visited the affected areas. This is not just an environmental catastrophe – it's a direct blow to human lives and livelihoods."
Emphasising the river's vital role in the lives of hundreds, the Union Parishad member said, "Repeated complaints have been made, but no effective action has been taken.
Civil society group, Matlober Mati O Manush, also condemned the situation. Its president, Shamim Khan, said, "Thousands of families depend on this river for fishing. Repeated pollution has turned the Meghna into a dying river. But, the authorities remain apathetic."
He mentioned that they urgently need an inter-district environmental commission and punitive action against factories polluting the waters.
Md Mizanur Rahman, deputy director of the DoE in Chandpur, acknowledged the situation, saying, "On January 30 this year, a high-level investigation team from the DoE and the Department of Fisheries visited the site.
“The findings indicated elevated ammonia levels, decreased pH and oxygen content, and toxic effluents flowing along the riverbed from industrial sources."
UNI ANV RN
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