The Hazaribagh tannery area in Dhaka has been found to be one of the five most polluted places on earth by two international research organisations. This should be a wake-up call to government to act on the long overdue relocation of the tanneries to a safer and less environmentally damaging site.
According to the report, at least 160,000 people have become victims of pollution in the Hazaribag locality due to exposure to toxic chemicals, mainly chromium, a well-known carcinogen. Workers of the tanneries and local residents of this densely populated area also face a number of less severe but common health problems, such as skin and respiratory diseases, aches, dizziness and nausea.
Previous reports by news media and human rights bodies showed that the owners of tanneries have been enjoying a high level of impunity from authorities despite flouting rules on pollution, workplace safety and public health.
Although a decision was made in 1993 to move the tanneries to better-equipped facilities in Savar, disagreements between the government and the owners over the cost of relocation and the development of the facilities have halted this process thus far.
This October the agreement for relocation of the factories was finalised. However, the construction of the treatment plant is expected to take at least another 18 months. Given the history of this relocation, it is difficult to be optimistic about this deadline being kept. Meanwhile, in the power wrangling between the government and the tannery owners, it is the workers and the local residents who are left to suffer the consequences.
Leather exports are in important source of revenue for Bangladesh. However, it is time for us to make sure that this income isn’t generated at the cost of the workers, local residents and the environment.
