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Tuesday | November 03, 2026 | Dhaka

Electricity disconnected at 10 factories polluting Buriganga

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:02 AM, 03 November 2026

The Department of Environment (DoE) has disconnected electricity connections to 10 factories in Keraniganj during a coordinated drive against illegal industrial establishments accused of polluting the Buriganga River.

The operation was conducted at several dyeing and washing factories on Monday morning as part of efforts to control pollution in the rivers surrounding Dhaka.

The drive involved the Dhaka District Administration, DoE, Bangladesh Navy, River Police, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), local government authorities and Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC).

Mahbub Jamil, director of the DoE’s Monitoring and Enforcement Wing, led the operation.
He said the drive targeted dyeing and washing factories along the Buriganga that allegedly discharged untreated liquid waste without environmental clearance or effluent treatment plants (ETPs).

Unplanned industrial establishments and the uncontrolled release of industrial waste were among the major causes of pollution in the Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Dhaleshwari rivers surrounding the capital, he said.

“These rivers are extremely important for improving the quality of life of the people living in Dhaka.

A central committee has been formed under the Prime Minister’s Office to explore ways to protect these rivers from pollution,” Mahbub said.

He added that the committee had three sub-committees and the first one was conducting the drive.

Mahbub said 10 dyeing factories in Keraniganj were targeted during the operation, although their electricity connections had been disconnected previously as well.

He said industrial establishments must obtain location clearance and environmental clearance before starting operations. Factories involved in dyeing or washing activities must also install ETPs to treat their wastewater.

The DoE official warned that factories using chemicals for dyeing without ETP facilities and the required clearances would be shut down.

He also warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to restore disconnected electricity connections illegally.

Mahbub said enforcement drives against illegal industrial establishments had been continuing for a month to restore environmental balance.

He added that no illegal factory operating in a residential area would be spared.