Buriganga

Sand dredging on every stretch of the Buriganga

Dredgers operate in the Buriganga River in the Munshikhola area of Shyampur, Dhaka. Local residents say sand is being illegally brought from bulkhead vessels and deposited near or inside the river’s designated boundary.

Four bodies found in Buriganga still unidentified

Investigators suspect all four were murdered

The small ferries of the Buriganga

For ages, boatmen have ferried people from one side of the Buriganga River to the other. Their stock in trade is regular river crossings, but the ferries can now be reserved or hired at hourly rates. The boatmen spend most of their time – day and night – on the boats. They eat, sleep, bathe, and rest on their trusty vessels.

Waste recycling on the banks of the Buriganga

Piles of plastic and electronic waste can be seen along the banks of the Buriganga River when travelling from Old Dhaka’s Sowari Ghat. Locals sort out similar products from the waste every day for sale elsewhere. The waste is then melted down into new products, including children’s toys.

Buriganga's fish revival

For most of the year, the Buriganga River is tainted with pollution. It is only during the rainy season that the river's appearance changes significantly, revealing clear water instead of the usual murky black. This transformation attracts many fishermen, as fish become more abundant in the revitalised waters of the Buriganga.

Dipping in a fresh Buriganga

Monsoon rain has given the pitch dark and smelly water of the Buriganga River in Dhaka a muddy texture. A group of children dipped in the fresh water in Kamrangirchar, showing acrobatic skills.

Watermelons at Wiseghat

Sucker fish in Buriganga