GovTwin / Institution

Sonargaon (Narayanganj)

Local Gov

A historic upazila in eastern Narayanganj, the medieval capital site, now ringed by textile and washing industry along the Meghna.

Wealth rank 447/452 (1 = poorest upazila)

Indicators: Meta RWI (HDX); ERA5-Land; MODIS; Sentinel-5P; VIIRS night-lights; GHSL; Hansen v1.11; CHIRPS v2.0. Exposure: GloFAS v2.1, FABDEM, MODIS LST, ACAG PM2.5, WorldPop 2020.

Problems and issues

environment Industrial dyeing and washing effluent discharged into the Meghna and local channels degrades surface water supporting drinking, irrigation and fisheries. So what: Polluted rivers undermine water-dependent livelihoods and the heritage landscape. Source: Department of Environment (DoE)
air quality Factory density, brick kilns and Dhaka-Chittagong corridor traffic add to the country's highest district NO2 burden. So what: Heavy emissions degrade local air around a major heritage and tourism site. Source: Department of Environment (DoE)
urbanization Built-up expansion as the area fuses into the greater Dhaka conurbation often outpaces drainage, sewerage and zoning. So what: Unmanaged growth encroaches on heritage land and overloads drainage. Source: Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) / LGED

Probable solutions

Mandate and monitor functioning Effluent Treatment Plants at dyeing and washing units with real-time effluent monitoring Responsible: Department of Environment (DoE) · policy proposal
Coordinated land-use and drainage planning with enforced zoning to protect heritage and floodplain land Responsible: Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) / LGED · policy proposal