Bangladesh garment sector pollutes rivers, threatening health and export markets

A report citing World Bank data says more than 7,000 garment factories in the greater Dhaka area discharge about 2.4 billion litres of untreated effluent each day, contaminating local rivers. The garment industry, which generates roughly 80 % of Bangladesh’s export earnings, is linked to severe environmental damage that the Lancet Commission estimates accounts for 26.6 % of all deaths in the country.

Weak enforcement by the Department of Environment, low penalties and limited staffing allow factories to favour cheap production over waste treatment. Although 273 factories hold LEED‑green certifications, the report notes that certification does not guarantee proper dyeing, washing or wastewater management across the supply chain.

The publication urges the Bangladeshi government to raise fines, publicly name violators and release monitoring data, warning that compliance is becoming a prerequisite for maintaining access to international markets.