Tannery relocation solved one pollution crisis, triggered another: IMED

Highlights:

• Tanneries moved from Hazaribagh reduced Dhaka pollution, increased Savar environmental stress
• Dhaleshwari River became polluted, blackened, with declining aquatic life
• CETP exists but operates below expected waste treatment effectiveness
• Waste overload, chemicals, power shortages disrupted pollution treatment systems
• Tests showed pollution indicators far exceeding legal environmental limits
• Report prioritised CETP upgrades, monitoring, compliance, and sustainable waste management

The relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar has reduced pollution pressure in Dhaka but created new environmental stress around the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate, according to an evaluation report.

The findings came in the impact evaluation survey report on the completed "Chamra Shilpanagari, Dhaka (4th revised)" project, published on Tuesday by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) under the Planning Ministry.

The report said the water of the Dhaleshwari River near the tannery estate has become polluted and blackened, odour has increased, aquatic life has declined, and air pollution has also risen.

Infographics: TBS

Although a central effluent treatment plant (CETP) was installed at the estate, its effectiveness remains limited, the report said.

It cited excess waste flow, higher use of chemicals and water, solid waste entering the CETP line, power shortages, weak operation and maintenance, and a lack of skilled manpower as reasons behind the disruption in waste treatment.

Taken up to relocate Hazaribagh tanneries to Hemayetpur in Savar, the project was approved in January 2003 for completion by December 2005 at Tk175.75 crore.

It was completed in June 2021 after around 18 years and six months. Following several revisions, the project cost rose to Tk1,015.56 crore, while actual spending stood at around Tk937 crore.

Lab tests show pollution risks

Laboratory tests of water samples collected from the discharge point of the central effluent treatment plant, known as the CETP outlet, as well as upstream and downstream points of the Dhaleshwari, found several pollution indicators above permissible limits, the report said.

An icddr,b test showed the CETP outlet carried much higher pollution loads than the upstream and downstream points.

Chemical oxygen demand, or COD, was 737mg/L at the outlet, against the permitted limit of 200mg/L, while biochemical oxygen demand, or BOD, was 299mg/L, against the limit of 30mg/L.

Total suspended solids (TSS) stood at 224mg/L at the outlet, against the limit of 100mg/L, while ammonia was 53.91mg/L, slightly above the permitted limit of 50mg/L.

Dissolved oxygen remained below the standard at all three points. It was only 0.17mg/L at the outlet, against the required standard of 4.5mg/L to 8mg/L.

A separate Department of Environment test conducted in March 2026 also found pollution levels above the standard at the CETP outlet. BOD was 86mg/L, chloride 3,196mg/L and total chromium 5.151mg/L.

The bypass drain near the CETP outlet showed a more worrying picture, the report said. BOD was 750mg/L, total suspended solids 364mg/L and total chromium 11.05mg/L there.

Survey shows mixed pollution views

The report also cited survey findings based on responses from 428 tannery workers and 51 leather businesses.

Among 428 worker respondents, 205, or 47.9%, described pollution as moderate, while 159, or 37.15%, said it was low. Another 17, or 3.97%, described it as very low.

Of the worker respondents, 14, or 3.27%, described pollution as high, while 23, or 5.37%, said it was very high. Another 10, or 2.34%, made no comment.

Waste control below expected level

The report said the CETP and overall waste management facilities at the Savar tannery estate are yet to function at the expected level.

Among 51 leather business respondents, 28, or 54.9%, said some waste had been brought under control but major problems remained, indicating partial effectiveness.

Another 11 respondents, or 21.57%, described waste control as inadequate, while nine, or 17.65%, said waste remained largely uncontrolled.

Only two respondents, or 3.92%, said most waste was being controlled properly, while one, or 1.96%, said waste was being disposed of or treated safely.

The report said the CETP had not yet reached a satisfactory level of effectiveness and stressed regular maintenance, stronger technical capacity and stricter monitoring.

Compliance gaps remain

The report said most tanneries still failed to obtain Leather Working Group (LWG) certification.

It identified gaps in environmental compliance, limited chrome recovery systems, weak worker safety and occupational health standards, inadequate waste separation, partial CETP effectiveness, and lack of proper monitoring and documentation as key reasons.

The report also cited unauthorised hide depots, middlemen dependence, opacity in the rawhide market, administrative complications and absence of one-stop service as major challenges.

Long-term safe management of sludge and chrome waste has also not been ensured, which could increase environmental risks in future, the report said.

CETP improvement tops priority list

The survey identified CETP improvement as the top priority for sustainable development of the Savar tannery estate.

As respondents could give multiple recommendations, the figures do not add up to 100%.

According to the report, 96.08% of respondents prioritised CETP improvement, while 80.39% stressed active government steps to attract international buyers again.

Around 74.51% recommended setting up a hospital or clinic at the estate, while 45.1% recommended launching one-stop service.

The report recommended increasing CETP capacity, making chrome recovery units mandatory, ensuring solid waste separation, developing safe landfill and integrated sludge management, and introducing real-time digital monitoring.

It also called for effective pre-treatment plants at every tannery, stricter enforcement of environmental standards, regular environmental audits and administrative action against violators.

To improve access to global markets, the report called for a time-bound action plan for LWG certification and better buyer-factory links.

Overall, the report said the project was an important milestone in bringing Bangladesh's leather industry into a planned and modern structure, but major gaps remain in environmental management, CETP efficiency, international compliance and sustainable industrial operation.