Dhaka, Aug. 31 -- Bangladesh widely known as 'The Land of Rivers' is home to over 700 tributaries, including major waterways such as the Padma, Jamuna, Meghna, and Karnaphuli. These rivers are the lifeblood of the nation, providing essential water for farming, fishing, transport, and daily life. Despite this enormous importance, Bangladesh's rivers are in a perilous state ranking among the most degraded river systems in the world.
The country's rivers face mounting pressures from pollution, encroachment, upstream water diversion and climate change. Industrial effluents, untreated sewage and agricultural runoff are poisoning rivers with toxic chemicals and heavy metals, endangering both aquatic life and human health. Urban waterways such as...