Tanguar Haor, nestled beside the hills of Meghalaya in India, is a stunning expanse of water known for its unique natural beauty. Nature lovers flock to Sunamganj’s Tahirpur Upazilla, drawn by the vivid contrast of blue water and green hills. Beyond its appeal as a tourist destination, the haor is also a major source of freshwater fish.
Alarmingly, recent findings show high levels of heavy metals in its waters. Experts say unregulated tourism, agricultural runoff, household waste, and industrial discharge are the main sources of this pollution.
Tanguar Haor comprises 51 wetlands. Tourists can explore the haor and spend the night on houseboats. In addition to the haor, other popular spots in the area include Shaheed Siraj Lake (Niladri), Barek Tila, Jadukata River, and Shimul Bagan. A team of researchers from Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) conducted a study on the haor’s water quality last April. Their findings revealed dangerously high concentrations of heavy metals, based on samples collected from 12 different locations.
The surface water of the haor was found to contain six types of heavy metals—nickel, chromium, lead, zinc, copper, and manganese. Among the 12 sites, Barek Tila had the highest levels of contamination. According to the researchers, these metals pose serious health risks. Consuming fish that grow in such contaminated water can even cause cancer.
Among the 12 samples, chromium and nickel were found in the highest concentrations. On average, the water contained 0.364 milligrams of chromium and 0.373 milligrams of nickel per liter—both far above the permissible limits. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Rules, the maximum allowable level of chromium per liter is 0.05 milligrams. For nickel, WHO sets the limit at 0.07 milligrams per liter, while Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Rules cap it at 0.02 milligrams.
Other metals detected in the 12 samples include 0.210 milligrams of zinc, 0.217 milligrams of copper, 0.153 milligrams of manganese, and 0.108 milligrams of lead per liter—all exceeding acceptable levels.
Dr. Fatah Noor Rubel, a member of the research team and a professor at the Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), told Bonik Barta, “The main reasons for the presence of heavy metals in the haor water are unregulated tourism and waste dumped by tourists. Everything from plastic bottles and polythene to cooking waste is thrown into the water from houseboats. In addition, pesticides are used in the fields to boost agricultural production. Pesticides also contribute to heavy metal contamination. But industrial waste is the most responsible.”
Locals are also worried about the environmental condition of Tanguar Haor. They say that during the tourist season, hundreds of tourist boats operate daily and dump waste directly into the water. Many tourists bring loud music systems on their boats. The movement of fish is disrupted due to engine-powered boats, and the number of birds has declined. Once the haor dries up, thousands of pieces of plastic waste get trapped in agricultural fields, affecting crop production.
Professor ASM Saifullah of the Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU) told Bonik Barta, “When pollution spreads in the water, it affects aquatic life including fish. Heavy metals accumulate in the fish, and consuming such fish can harm humans. There’s even a risk of cancer. Also, in the haor region, people use this same water for cooking. That’s even more dangerous.”
When asked about the overall situation, Nazmul Ahsan, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, told Bonik Barta, “We’re working on a master plan for managing Tanguar and other haors in the country. Opinions from local experts and residents have already been collected. We’ve listened to what they had to say about saving the haor. While there’s potential to develop tourism in the haor, there are also possibilities for agriculture and fisheries. But all of this is only possible if the haor is protected. Preserving the haor’s environment and ecosystem is crucial. These issues will be addressed in the master plan. Later, feedback from national-level stakeholders and experts will be taken before finalizing the master plan.”