For years, the Bashia River served communities in four upazilas of Sylhet and Sunamganj, providing water for irrigation, allowing locals to fish for a living, and the easy transportation of goods. However, pollution has now pushed it to the brink of extinction, reports bdnews24.com.
Sadiq Ali, 47, a resident of Bishghar village in Bishwanath Upazila, recalls a time when large boats navigated the river, and markets thrived along its banks.
However, rampant construction and market waste have choked the river's flow. Now it emits a constant foul odour.
Despite this degradation, there seems to be no concerted effort to save the dying river.
"The river is dying, but no one is paying attention!" said Sadiq.
Over time, the Bashia River banks have accumulated garbage, causing sections of the river to shrink into narrow canals.
While locals endure the foul odour, many fall ill from using the polluted water. Shopkeepers at the riverside market even suffer from skin diseases.
Doctors warn of potential deadly diseases like cancer if pollution persists.
Despite an ongoing movement to save the river, progress has been minimal.
Bishwanath Bazar Merchants Association President Md Shamim Ahmed blames municipal authorities for neglect, alleging workers dump market garbage into the river.
He emphasised that it is the municipality's duty to monitor proper waste disposal.
"However, municipal workers were seen dumping market waste into the river. Despite collecting taxes, they aren't serving the people properly."
The traders' association has urged members not to dump waste in the river, he said.
When reached for comment, Mayor Mohibur Rahman of Biswanath Municipality abruptly ended the call, directing bdnews24.com to discuss the issue directly at the office.
According to the Sylhet Water Development Board, the Bashia River starts from Masukganj Bazar in the Sadar Upazila and merges with the Kushiyara River in the Khaika area of Jagannathpur Upazila in Sunamganj. It is about 42 kilometres long and 60 metres wide.
Locals recall that the river once served as a vital transportation route for people from Sylhet Sadar-South Surma-Bishwanath-Osman-inagar-Jagannathpur, with launches, steamers, and sailboats navigating its water.
However, over the past two to three decades, both its source in Masukganj Bazar and the endpoint in Swadhin Bazar have been obstructed.
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