"River Bleeds Black" (by Shehzad Noorani)

Noorun Nehar (15 years old) looks through a curtain hole of a battery-recycling workshop. Like thousands of other women and children, she too survives by recycling waste on the bank of Buriganga. She is only 15 years and has been breaking batteries since last three year. She earns Taka 300/week (about $4) Godhara Ghat on the bank of Buriganga River. Dhaka. Bangladesh.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Noorun Nehar (15 years old) looks through a curtain hole of a battery-recycling workshop. Like thousands of other women and children, she too survives by recycling waste on the bank of Buriganga. She is only 15 years and has been breaking batteries since last three year. She earns Taka 300/week (about $4) Godhara Ghat on the bank of Buriganga River. Dhaka. Bangladesh.
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Boats struggle to navigate through congested waterways of Buriganga river in Dhaka. During winter months river water is so polluted that it turns pitch black and has glue like consistency. Bangladesh has some of the largest garment and leather industries. These industries freely dump their waste in rivers, polluting them beyond believe.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Boats struggle to navigate through congested waterways of Buriganga river in Dhaka. During winter months river water is so polluted that it turns pitch black and has glue like consistency. Bangladesh has some of the largest garment and leather industries. These industries freely dump their waste in rivers, polluting them beyond believe.
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A passenger ferry pumps exhaust into the air while departing from the Sadarghat, Dhaka's main ferry terminal. Bangladesh is country largely connected by rivers and canals where millions of people travel across the country using waterways. As a result, Sadarghat Ferry Terminal, what used to be full of small dingy boats until few years ago, is now congested with poorly made diesel powered ferries. Enormous pressure to accommodate such intensive travels with little or no help from authorities, Buriganga is paying the price with it's life. Buriganga River. Dhaka. Bangladesh.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

A passenger ferry pumps exhaust into the air while departing from the Sadarghat, Dhaka's main ferry terminal. Bangladesh is country largely connected by rivers and canals where millions of people travel across the country using waterways. As a result, Sadarghat Ferry Terminal, what used to be full of small dingy boats until few years ago, is now congested with poorly made diesel powered ferries. Enormous pressure to accommodate such intensive travels with little or no help from authorities, Buriganga is paying the price with it's life. Buriganga River. Dhaka. Bangladesh.
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Untreated sewage water being released into Buriganga river. Dhaka's 12.6 million people produce about 3,200 tons solid waste daily. According to the Environment Department, along with sewage from Dhaka, up to 40,000 tons of untreated tannery waste is released directly into the river daily.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Untreated sewage water being released into Buriganga river. Dhaka's 12.6 million people produce about 3,200 tons solid waste daily. According to the Environment Department, along with sewage from Dhaka, up to 40,000 tons of untreated tannery waste is released directly into the river daily.
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Standing on the concrete embankment of the river at night, a woman burns plastic (polythene) bags in a metal drum to melt them in solid chunks of plastic molds, while another sort plastic bags and other materials that can be recycled. They collect used plastic shopping bags and other recyclable materials from streets of Dhaka. Once melted, the plastic chunks are sold to informal plastic factories for Taka 10 per kilogram. Garbage that cannot be recycled any longer, simply gets dumped in already severely polluted river Buriganga.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Standing on the concrete embankment of the river at night, a woman burns plastic (polythene) bags in a metal drum to melt them in solid chunks of plastic molds, while another sort plastic bags and other materials that can be recycled. They collect used plastic shopping bags and other recyclable materials from streets of Dhaka. Once melted, the plastic chunks are sold to informal plastic factories for Taka 10 per kilogram. Garbage that cannot be recycled any longer, simply gets dumped in already severely polluted river Buriganga.
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Battery recycling workshop at the Godhara Ghat on the bank of Buriganga river. Waste from recycled batteries that cannot be recycled is simply flunked into the river. Bit by bit it piles up and create more useable land space, a common method used for grabbing land from the rivers in Bangladesh.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Battery recycling workshop at the Godhara Ghat on the bank of Buriganga river. Waste from recycled batteries that cannot be recycled is simply flunked into the river. Bit by bit it piles up and create more useable land space, a common method used for grabbing land from the rivers in Bangladesh.
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Women recycle AA size batteries in Korar Ghat Battery workshop.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Women recycle AA size batteries in Korar Ghat Battery workshop.
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Standing on a pile of garbage on the embankment of the river, children burn garbage so metal in it gets exposed and later collect metal objects with a piece of magnet. Garbage that cannot be recycled any longer, simply gets dumped in already severely polluted river Buriganga. It is not uncommon to see children as young as 7 years old combing garbage dumps.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Standing on a pile of garbage on the embankment of the river, children burn garbage so metal in it gets exposed and later collect metal objects with a piece of magnet. Garbage that cannot be recycled any longer, simply gets dumped in already severely polluted river Buriganga. It is not uncommon to see children as young as 7 years old combing garbage dumps.
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Munni (9 years old), searches for metal in pile of garbage on the bank of river. Like hundreds of children thousands of women and children, she too survives on resources from Buriganga, She has three sisters and one brother. Her father died recently in a boat accident. Her mother works six days a week and earns Taka 400 /week ($7). Munniâ€™s mother Sofia Begum said, â€œOnly I know how I manage to feed my children. Often just to feed them plain rice with salt and onion, I have to borrow money from my neighbours. School? Education is not for poor people like us.â€* Buriganga River. Dhaka. Bangladesh.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Munni (9 years old), searches for metal in pile of garbage on the bank of river. Like hundreds of children thousands of women and children, she too survives on resources from Buriganga, She has three sisters and one brother. Her father died recently in a boat accident. Her mother works six days a week and earns Taka 400 /week ($7). Munniâ€™s mother Sofia Begum said, â€œOnly I know how I manage to feed my children. Often just to feed them plain rice with salt and onion, I have to borrow money from my neighbours. School? Education is not for poor people like us.â€* Buriganga River. Dhaka. Bangladesh.
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Sitting near a communal hand pump in her slum in Dhaka, Munni (9 years old) washes dirty dishes. Munni's mother Sofia Begum said, "Only I know how I manage to feed my children. Often just to feed them plain rice with salt and onion, I have to borrow money from my neighbours. School? Education is not for poor people like us."

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Sitting near a communal hand pump in her slum in Dhaka, Munni (9 years old) washes dirty dishes. Munni's mother Sofia Begum said, "Only I know how I manage to feed my children. Often just to feed them plain rice with salt and onion, I have to borrow money from my neighbours. School? Education is not for poor people like us."
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Men and women boil waste leather to make glue in Hazaribagh area near Buriganga river in Dhaka. Most industries based in urban area in Bangladesh pollute environment but leather tanneries probably do the worst damage. Hazaribagh, Dhaka's leather processing zone, is right in the middle of one of the most densely populated residential area. About194 leather processing industries operate here and freely dump untreated toxic wastes directly to the low-lying areas, river and natural canals. The pollution is seriously affecting the livelihood thousands of people, bringing it to brink of an environmental disaster.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Men and women boil waste leather to make glue in Hazaribagh area near Buriganga river in Dhaka. Most industries based in urban area in Bangladesh pollute environment but leather tanneries probably do the worst damage. Hazaribagh, Dhaka's leather processing zone, is right in the middle of one of the most densely populated residential area. About194 leather processing industries operate here and freely dump untreated toxic wastes directly to the low-lying areas, river and natural canals. The pollution is seriously affecting the livelihood thousands of people, bringing it to brink of an environmental disaster.
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A young girl sit on broken wall inside an informal glue factory whether workers process waste leather to make glue in Hazaribagh area near Buriganga river in Dhaka. Most industries based in urban area in Bangladesh pollute environment but leather tanneries probably do the worst damage. Hazaribagh, Dhakaâ€™s biggest leather processing industrial zone, is right in the middle of one of the most densely populated residential area.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

A young girl sit on broken wall inside an informal glue factory whether workers process waste leather to make glue in Hazaribagh area near Buriganga river in Dhaka. Most industries based in urban area in Bangladesh pollute environment but leather tanneries probably do the worst damage. Hazaribagh, Dhakaâ€™s biggest leather processing industrial zone, is right in the middle of one of the most densely populated residential area.
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Shamim (leftâ 10 years old) and Al Amin, both street children, sit dazed after sniffing glue. Most street children do one or other kind of drugs and it is not uncommon amongst them to engage in sexual activities to pay for their food and addiction. According to a report done by Incidin-Bangladesh on street children in Kamlapur Railwat Station, a similar transit point, over 90 percent of street children aged between 7 to 12 years were sexually exploited.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Shamim (leftâ 10 years old) and Al Amin, both street children, sit dazed after sniffing glue. Most street children do one or other kind of drugs and it is not uncommon amongst them to engage in sexual activities to pay for their food and addiction. According to a report done by Incidin-Bangladesh on street children in Kamlapur Railwat Station, a similar transit point, over 90 percent of street children aged between 7 to 12 years were sexually exploited.
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Nawab Ali (12 years old) carries buckets full of glue manufactured from waste leather and hides, while Jabar (14 years old) fills other buckets standing inside a glue tank in the background. Nawab Ali came to Dhaka about one year ago from a village in Rangpur district in the north of Bangladesh. He first worked in a dry fish-processing factory, but quit because of poor pay and bad smell. This job where he help make glue from waste leather product, is not much better, but he gets about Taka 60/day (about 85 US cents) for his 13 hour long day. His parents work as day labourer for similar amount, but only when there is work. Hazaribagh, a major industrial area for processing hides in the middle a crowded residential neighbour of Dhaka. Bangladesh.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Nawab Ali (12 years old) carries buckets full of glue manufactured from waste leather and hides, while Jabar (14 years old) fills other buckets standing inside a glue tank in the background. Nawab Ali came to Dhaka about one year ago from a village in Rangpur district in the north of Bangladesh. He first worked in a dry fish-processing factory, but quit because of poor pay and bad smell. This job where he help make glue from waste leather product, is not much better, but he gets about Taka 60/day (about 85 US cents) for his 13 hour long day. His parents work as day labourer for similar amount, but only when there is work. Hazaribagh, a major industrial area for processing hides in the middle a crowded residential neighbour of Dhaka. Bangladesh.
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A woman jumps over a puddle of chemical and leather waste. Along with other women and children, she makes glue from hide by boiling waste leather pieces. Most industries based in urban area in Bangladesh pollute environment but leather tanneries probably do the worst damage. Hazaribagh, Dhaka's leather processing zone, is right in the middle of one of the most densely populated residential area. About194 leather processing industries operate here and freely dump untreated toxic wastes directly to the low-lying areas, river and natural canals. The pollution is seriously affecting the livelihood thousands of people, bringing it to brink of an environmental disaster.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

A woman jumps over a puddle of chemical and leather waste. Along with other women and children, she makes glue from hide by boiling waste leather pieces. Most industries based in urban area in Bangladesh pollute environment but leather tanneries probably do the worst damage. Hazaribagh, Dhaka's leather processing zone, is right in the middle of one of the most densely populated residential area. About194 leather processing industries operate here and freely dump untreated toxic wastes directly to the low-lying areas, river and natural canals. The pollution is seriously affecting the livelihood thousands of people, bringing it to brink of an environmental disaster.
view full-size image

Surrounded by extremely polluted, dirty and toxic water, a child sits on a boat with his father, a boatman, in Buriganga river near Hazaribagh Leather Tannery in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Surrounded by extremely polluted, dirty and toxic water, a child sits on a boat with his father, a boatman, in Buriganga river near Hazaribagh Leather Tannery in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
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A woman takes a bath in river Buriganga in Dhaka. Due to intense human activities, including enormous industrial waste, the river has become so polluted that water has turned pitch black and has a glue-like consistency.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

A woman takes a bath in river Buriganga in Dhaka. Due to intense human activities, including enormous industrial waste, the river has become so polluted that water has turned pitch black and has a glue-like consistency.
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After bathing, a woman and a girl child collect murky water from the river. Being the most densely populated city in the world, Dhaka dumps thousands of gallons of raw sewage into rivers and other water bodies around the city, making them extremely polluted for human consumption and use. However, many poor migrants living on the outskirts of the city have little choice but to use them anyway. Ayena Ghat on Buriganga river on the outskirts of Dhaka, the captial of Bangladesh.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

After bathing, a woman and a girl child collect murky water from the river. Being the most densely populated city in the world, Dhaka dumps thousands of gallons of raw sewage into rivers and other water bodies around the city, making them extremely polluted for human consumption and use. However, many poor migrants living on the outskirts of the city have little choice but to use them anyway. Ayena Ghat on Buriganga river on the outskirts of Dhaka, the captial of Bangladesh.
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Sikendar, a fisherman, catches Taki Mach, a tough fish that thrives in polluted water. He said, "it's not difficult to sell these fish. Water is polluted, but not fish. They are fresh fish from the river. When you eat, you can see fresh and white meat."

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:59:11 +0000

Sikendar, a fisherman, catches Taki Mach, a tough fish that thrives in polluted water. He said, "it's not difficult to sell these fish. Water is polluted, but not fish. They are fresh fish from the river. When you eat, you can see fresh and white meat."
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