Narayanganj, Jan. 29 -- With the Brahmaputra River flowing just a few yards from her home, one would think Fatema Begum, a resident of Bashirgaon, a village in Sonargaon, enjoys living in a picturesque setting.

Instead, she is forced to complain and literally hold her nose at the unbearable stench emanating from the river, caused by the disposal of chemicals and garbage into the river from different industries along its banks.

"Actually I no longer hold my nose. The stench is normalised now," she says.

Fatema is among many villagers in Narayanganj district, known for its industrial base, who have seen rivers in this area turn toxic due to the discharge of untreated industrial waste.

Although conditions slightly improve during the rain...