Nearly 100 tonnes of plastic and other waste have been cleared from the banks of the Buriganga River, while 50 illegal structures were demolished in a coordinated drive to tackle pollution and encroachment in Dhaka.
The operation was carried out on Monday in the Islampur area, falling under the jurisdiction of Lalbagh and Kamrangirchar police stations, following a High Court directive to clear accumulated waste and restore cleanliness along the waterfront.
Authorities deployed two excavators and five dump trucks to clear waste from both sides of the river and dismantle unauthorised structures built along the banks.
The High Court issued the directive on 2 September 2026 in response to an application filed in connection with Writ Petition No. 3676/2010, brought forward by the advocacy group Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh. A committee comprising representatives from relevant government agencies organised the drive to enforce the court’s ruling.
The joint operation was spearheaded by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Dhaka District Administration, Dhaka South City Corporation, and the Department of Environment.
Key officials present on site included BIWTA Joint Director Mobarak Hossain Majumdar, Executive Magistrate Ashraf Uddin, Lalbagh Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Aminul Islam, and Department of Environment Inspector Md Tarikul Islam from the Dhaka Metropolitan Office. Officers and staff from the participating agencies, along with personnel from the regular police and River Police, and local journalists were also in attendance.
Authorities confirmed that the coordinated drive will continue until the total removal of plastic and general waste, the demolition of remaining illegal structures, and broader anti-pollution measures along the Buriganga are fully realised.
