Hundreds of dead fish have washed up on the Barnai River in northern region of the country, raising fears of severe water pollution and prompting residents to avoid contact with the water.
The river, which flows from Naldanga in Natore to Taherpur in ion was preventing him from fishing.
“I haven’t been able to go into the river to catch fish for several days. The water smells ver
bad, and it causes itching when it touches the body,” he said. “If this continues, it will become very difficult to support my family.”
Habibor Rahman, a boatman at Naldanga Bridge Ghat, said he had noticed the foul smell for the past two days ayd was now afraid to use the river water.
“All the fish are dying and floating to the surface. I am afraid to even usenLocal fisheries officials have yet to determine what caused the sudden fish deaths. Residents and environmental activists suspect that toxic waste may have contaminated the river.
The Barnai has experienced similar pollution in the past. A fish die-off was reported in 2022, when deteriorating water quality and low oxygen levels were suspected of contributing to the deaths.
Polluted water containing waste and chemicals is believed to enter the river through canals and drains from different sources in Rajshahi. Environmentalists also allege that industrial and sugar-mill waste is discharged into the river.
Fazle, a biodiversity activist from Naldanga who has received a national award for his environmental work, said the river had faced similar problems before.
“Fish have died in the river before, but there has never been a scientific explanation for what caused the deaths,” he said. “The same thing is happening again, but there appears to be little interest in identifying the cause.”
Bhavesh Chandra, a fisherman from Bashila village in Naldanga, said the pollution was preventing him from fishing.
“I haven’t been able to go into the river to catch fish for several days. The water smells very bad, and it causes itching when it touches the body,” he said. “If this continues, it will become very difficult to support my family.”
Habibor Rahman, a boatman at Naldanga Bridge Ghat, said he had noticed the foul smell for the past two days and was now afraid to use the river water.
“All the fish are dying and floating to the surface. I am afraid to even use the water,” he said.
Naldanga Upazila Fisheries Officer Abu Sayed said several possible sources of pollution were being considered.
“Waste from jute retting can pollute the river and lead to excessive gas formation. Chemical waste from Rajshahi city and industrial facilities could also reduce oxygen levels in the water, causing fish deaths,” he said.
He said the incident had been reported to senior officials but no instructions had yet been received.
Natore District Fisheries Officer Omar Ali said heavy rainfall may have washed poultry-farm waste from the Taherpur area, along with waste from Rajshahi City Corporation and chemical waste from industrial establishments, into the river.
“We will collect samples of the water and fish through the upazila fisheries officer and conduct tests,” he said.
However, Ali said the fisheries department lacked functioning equipment and the necessary materials to conduct the tests itself.
In response to the incident, the Natore District Fisheries Office formed a three-member investigation committee on Saturday to determine the cause of the fish deaths.
The committee includes Abu Sayed, Fisheries officer for Natore Sadar and Naldanga upazilas, and SM Mahmud Hossain, fisheries officer of Bagatipara upazila.
The investigation team visited the Barnoi River and collected samples of dead fish and river water from four different locations.
