The extent of plastic pollution in rivers can be measured by the number of micro-plastic (MP) particles per kilogram of water. For instance, China's Yangtze River contains 802 micro-plastic particles per cubic meter, while Portugal's Antuã River has 58–197 particles. In stark contrast, Bangladesh's Tongi Canal has been found to contain over 60,000 micro-plastic particles per cubic meter.
The extent of plastic pollution in rivers can be measured by the number of micro-plastic (MP) particles per kilogram of water. For instance, China's Yangtze River contains 802 micro-plastic particles per cubic meter, while Portugal's Antuã River has 58–197 particles. In stark contrast, Bangladesh's Tongi Canal has been found to contain over 60,000 micro-plastic particles per cubic meter.
A study published in the renowned journal Elsevier provides insights into the levels of plastic pollution in Dhaka’s rivers and water bodies. Titled "Risk Assessment of Micro-plastic Pollution in Lakes and Rivers Around Dhaka, Bangladesh," the study reveals alarming findings.
Researchers collected water and sediment samples from 19 locations, including the Turag, Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Balu, and Tongi rivers, as well as water bodies like Hatirjheel, Dhanmondi Lake, and Gulshan Lake.
The study shows that the highest concentration of plastic particles is in Tongi Canal, followed by the Balu River, Buriganga River, and Dhanmondi Lake. On average, Dhaka’s water bodies contain 36,000 micro-plastic particles per cubic meter—significantly higher than many rivers worldwide. Countries with the most plastic-polluted rivers include India, Serbia, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
Compared to urban rivers, rural rivers in Bangladesh have relatively lower plastic pollution. For instance, the Atrai and Karatoa rivers in Dinajpur show 100–150 micro-plastic particles per cubic meter in rural areas.
However, when these rivers pass through urban areas, the count rises to 300–400 particles. Meanwhile, Dhaka's rivers and lakes average 36,000 particles per cubic meter.
The micro-plastic particles in these waters come from various types of plastic and polythene, including polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), nylon (NY), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), IUCN, and the World Bank show that per capita annual plastic use in urban areas rose from 3 kg in 2005 to 9 kg in 2020. Currently, an average Dhaka resident uses 24 kg of plastic annually, and the city consumes 15 million polythene bags daily.
Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, secretary of the Environment Preservation Movement (POBA), emphasized reducing reliance on mobile courts to curb polythene use. He also called for amendments to environmental laws to grant administrative penalty powers to department officials and for the formulation and enforcement of effective regulations to control plastic pollution. The lack of alternatives to plastic and polythene is a major barrier to reducing their usage.
The Department of Environment and an integrated monitoring team are conducting raids against factories producing banned polythene shopping bags, as announced by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the interim government’s adviser on environment, forests, and climate change. Additionally, the government has instructed all ministries, divisions, and offices under them to stop using single-use plastic.
Tapan Kumar Biswas, chairman of the monitoring committee on this issue and additional secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, reiterated the government's commitment to enforcing the ban on polythene shopping bags. He urged compliance with government directives, warning of consequences for non-compliance.
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