Jojnal River chokes under encroachment and waste in Habiganj

The Jojnal River is dying -- and the people of Mirpur Bazar are witnessing its decline.

Flowing through the commercial heart of Bahubal upazila in Habiganj, this tributary originates from the Khowai River and eventually merges with the Korangi River.

Once a thriving waterway navigable by large boats, the Jojnal has now shrunk into a foul-smelling canal, choked by illegal encroachment, unchecked waste dumping, and years of official neglect. What was once a lifeline for the area is today barely distinguishable from an open sewer.

The crisis is most visible beneath the bypass road bridge, where mountains of plastic, polythene and rotting market waste -- fish, meat and vegetable scraps -- have completely blocked the river's flow. With no designated waste disposal site in Mirpur Bazar, the river has become the default dump.

Local worshipper Riyad Hasan said offering prayers at a nearby mosque has become difficult because of the unbearable stench from the polluted riverbank. Resident Sajidur Rahman Pavel adds that people have to cover their noses while passing through the market.

The rot runs deeper than garbage. Trader Zahirul Islam Tipu alleged that influential people have illegally occupied both sides of the river and constructed multi-storey buildings, narrowing the waterway over the years.

"Large boats once used this river, but now it has turned into a drain," he said.

Image

The Jojnal River is dying -- and the people of Mirpur Bazar are witnessing its decline. Photo: Star

Siltation and filling of the riverbed have also caused water levels to drop drastically during dry seasons, pushing farmers across at least three unions to depend on costly irrigation equipment during the Boro cultivation season.

Previous dredging efforts have brought little relief. "Money was spent in the name of dredging, but no sustainable renovation was carried out. Partial cleaning cannot save the river," said trader Hussain Ahmed Shamim.

Environmentalists warn time is running out.

"The river is being destroyed by greedy encroachers and uncontrolled waste dumping. It is now on the brink of death. And if that happens, the surrounding environment and ecosystem will also suffer," said Tofazzal Sohel, vice-president of the Habiganj unit of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA).

A proposal for a proper waste facility was raised at an upazila parishad meeting nearly two years ago.

"Without a proper waste management system, people are being forced to dump garbage into the river," said Shamsul Haque Master of the Mirpur Businessmen's Association, adding that no action has followed.

Contacted, Bahubal Upazila Nirbahi Officer Liton Chandra Dey said there is no legal provision allowing encroachment on rivers or canals recorded under government khas land.

“If we receive specific written complaints, eviction drives and legal measures will be taken promptly,” he said, adding that the administration would also work with the Department of Environment to prevent further pollution.

Locals and activists, however, are demanding immediate action: evict the encroachers, build a permanent waste facility and dredge the river scientifically -- before the Jojnal is lost forever.