Industrial pollution problems in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is mainly an ogricultural'country but In recent years the process of industrialization is rather rapid under the industrial policy of the government. The environmental pollution problem in Bangladesh is being magnified and complicated due to rapid industrialization without due attention to the environment. In this study, the polluting industries in Bangladesh have been listed. The industries like tannery, fertilizer, pulp and paper, textile, sugar etc. are identified as major polluting industries because of their heavy pollutional effect on the environment. The rests are grouped into the moderate and 'minor polluting industries considering the pollution potential of the effluent discharged by these industries. The major polluting industries have been localed on the map to Identify the zone of pollution of these industries. The pollution potentials of some major polluting Industries which ore of great concern, have been assessed. The stud'y reveals that the concentrations of most of the polluting parameters in, the effluents are too high when compared with t'he respective allowable discharge limits. This Is because most of these industries do not have any treatment facility or they are less concerned about it. These industries discharge their untreated wastes into the nearby natural streams and thus pollute them. The degree of pollution of water of these rivers which receives large amount of 'industrial wastes has also been assessed. It is found that in most cases, the concentrations of some pollution indicating parameters are much higher than the tolerance limits needed for the survival of aquatic lives. It has also been observed '-hal.U", r'iver wat.er pollution due to the discharge of indust.rial and municipal wastes into it, Is increasing with time.