Juile Kushtia Correspondent: The Gorai River, often called a reservoir of freshwater, plays a crucial role in preserving the biodiversity of the Sundarbans and the overall ecological balance of the southwestern region of Bangladesh, according to local stakeholders. Once considered a blessing of nature, the Gorai has been the focus of several government-funded dredging projects worth billions of taka aimed at restoring its navigability. However, despite these initiatives, little progress has been made in saving the river.
On one hand, powerful quarters continue to encroach upon the riverbanks, and illegal sand extraction has become rampant. On the other hand, waste from Kushtia and Kumarkhali municipalities, along with untreated industrial discharge, is being dumped directly into the river, causing severe pollution.
Although the river swells during the monsoon season, in the dry months, due to irregular and poorly executed dredging, the once-mighty Gorai turns into a near-dry channel.
The Gorai River originates from the mighty Padma River in Haripur Union of Kushtia District and is one of the key sources of freshwater in Bangladesh’s southwestern region. But due to encroachment and pollution, the once vibrant river is slowly vanishing. The river has long held cultural and economic importance for the people of this region.
Journalist and social activist Hasan Ali, who grew up near the Gorai River in Haripur, Kushtia, said:
“The river once had significant depth and was used for trade. But over time, silt and sand deposits have reduced its depth, obstructing its flow. Due to negligence by responsible authorities, people began constructing illegal structures along the banks. That’s when the encroachment began. Faulty dredging only worsened the river’s condition. Many people depended on this river for their livelihood, which is now being lost — just like the river itself. But no one seems to care.”
In areas along the river — parts of Kushtia Sadar, Kumarkhali, and Khoksa upazilas — over 50 dyeing factories have been established. These factories have no waste treatment facilities, and their chemical-laden wastewater is being directly discharged into the Gorai. Additionally, due to poor drainage systems in Kumarkhali and Khoksa, municipal waste contributes heavily to the river’s pollution. Locals, lacking awareness, also throw significant amounts of waste into the river every day.
To address waterlogging in Kushtia town, the municipality, under the “STEEP-2” project, built five sewage drains a few years ago. These drains empty directly into the Gorai River. With a population of over 400,000 in the town, waste from residential toilets, factories, hospitals, clinics, and marketplaces all flow into the river. This unchecked discharge is undermining government efforts to save the Gorai, as the river loses its natural navigability and emits a foul odor. Aquatic life, including various fish species, is now under serious threat.
Encroachment is narrowing the river, and illegal sand mining is ongoing. Industrial waste is also being dumped unchecked. All of this is killing the river. Sand extraction weakens the riverbed, which accelerates bank erosion.”
Khalilur Rahman Mozu, president of the river-focused organization Nodi Poribrajok Dol (River Explorers Group), added:
“Our river is being polluted for multiple reasons. We’ve raised concerns and submitted memorandums to various authorities, but no effective action has been taken.”
Rashidur Rahman, Executive Engineer at the Water Development Board in Kushtia, said:
“The government initiated several dredging projects to restore the river’s depth, but those projects have now ended. As for encroachment — much of the occupied land falls under Khatian No. 1 (government-listed), and evictions are not within our jurisdiction. However, we cooperate with the district administration when they take action.”
