Dhaka: The government is poised to establish a cutting-edge framework for monitoring river water quality, focusing initially on the major rivers surrounding Dhaka. The initiative, which promises to revolutionize how water quality is monitored, will receive technical support from the South Korea-based Green Transition Initiative (GTI).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a meeting on the project titled “Strengthening Water Quality Monitoring Systems in Bangladesh” was convened at the Bangladesh Secretariat. A team of Korean experts is actively working to identify major pollution sources affecting the rivers around Dhaka using GIS-based pollutant mapping techniques. This initiative aims to standardize assessment procedures by developing an evidence-based sampling protocol, which will include specifics like sample depth, monitoring locations, and sampling frequency.
The consultants involved in the project are expected to prepare a detailed proposal to be submitted under the GTI 2026 Cooperation Project’s Feasibility Window. This proposal will facilitate the launch of a fully automated water quality monitoring system for Dhaka’s river network, with an implementation phase anticipated between 2027 and 2030. Furthermore, capacity-building activities and technical training sessions are scheduled for December, which will culminate in a comprehensive report summarizing the project activities completed in the current phase.
Participants in the meeting also discussed long-term prospects beyond 2026, including the development of a national-level automated water monitoring system. Other potential initiatives include the introduction of a River Health Assessment protocol and the pilot testing of a River Health Card. The meeting also considered identifying a specific river corridor as a pilot monitoring zone, favorably one manageable for close supervision and enforcement by the environment ministry or the Department of Environment (DoE).
The meeting was attended by several key figures, including Additional Secretary Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Joint Secretary Lubna Yasmine, Deputy Secretaries Fahmida Hoque Khan and Sidhartha Sankar Kundu, and AKM Rafiqul Islam, Director, Department of Environment. Also present were representatives from South Korea, including Cho Ju Hyun, Director General, KEITI, and other officials from EMC Co. Ltd. and collaborating agencies.
Presiding over the meeting, Additional Secretary Mohammad Navid Shafiullah emphasized the importance of strengthening water quality governance as a vital measure for protecting vulnerable communities living along polluted riverbanks. He highlighted the significance of real-time monitoring systems, digital water-quality platforms, and inter-agency data-sharing in achieving this goal. Shafiullah further noted that this cooperation would enhance the strong partnership between Bangladesh and South Korea and open new avenues for collaboration in environmental technology.