No visible cleanup activity has begun in Islampur along the Buriganga River, nine days after the High Court ordered the removal of plastic and other waste from the riverbank within 15 days.
A visit to Islampur, under Lalbagh and Kamrangirchar police stations, on Thursday found large piles of polythene, plastic bottles, packets and other solid waste scattered along different stretches of the riverbank. In some places, plastic waste was also seen floating in the river.
On September 2, the High Court ordered the removal within 15 days of plastic and all other waste accumulated along the Buriganga riverbank in Islampur, Lalbagh and Kamrangirchar areas.
The HC bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice SM Iftekhar Uddin Mahamud also directed the authorities concerned to submit a progress report on the implementation of the order within four weeks.
The director general of the Department of Environment, chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Dhaka deputy commissioner, and officers-in-charge of Lalbagh and Kamrangirchar police stations were directed to ensure the removal of the waste.
Yet, Thursday’s spot visit found no visible initiative to remove the waste, with large piles of plastic and other garbage still lying along the riverbank.
Local residents alleged that the pollution is continuing as waste and wastewater from several plastic factories are being discharged onto the riverbank.
An Islampur resident, wishing to remain anonymous, said, “There has been no significant change here despite the court order. Plastic waste is still lying around as before, and waste is being dumped on the riverbank from different places.”
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