Sugar mill garbage fire turns Karnaphuli into red river, leading to mass fish deaths

A severe environmental crisis has emerged as burnt sugar waste from the S Alam Super Refined Sugar Industries Limited factory in Chittagong has contaminated the Karnaphuli River, resulting in mass deaths of various aquatic species, including fish and crabs.

The adverse effects were first observed on Tuesday, with local residents witnessing dead and unconscious fish floating in the river, reports Dhaka Tribune.

The burnt sugar waste from the S Alam factory flows directly into the Karnaphuli River through a drain, causing the water’s color to turn reddish along several kilometers of the river.

Fish and other organisms are dying, specifically in the polluted areas.

The situation has raised concerns among environmental authorities, activists, and local communities.

Ferdous Anwar, director of the environment department’s Chittagong office, said: “Samples were collected from different locations. The matter can be confirmed after receiving the lab report. Fish and other biodiversity are dying or weakened due to the decrease in oxygen content in the water.”

Environmentalists have expressed alarm over the lack of proper waste disposal facilities at the factory.

Dr Idris Ali said that environmental damage could be irreversible, and law enforcement agencies need to be vigilant in addressing the situation.

Dr Manjurul, a researcher focusing on the Halda River, highlighted the potential consequences of the pollutants, said: “These extra compounds, whether sugar or something else, will degrade the quality of the water. This will result in a vacuum of oxygen in the water, significantly losing aquatic biodiversity.”

S Alam Group General Manager (Admin) Akhtar Hasan countered claims, stating that burnt sugar is not directly falling into the Karnaphuli and that the waste is dumped on their facilities, posing no harm to the river or aquatic biodiversity.

Fire Service Assistant Director MD Abdul Malek provided insight into the challenges faced in controlling the fire at the sugar mill, explaining that the stored unrefined sugar was highly flammable.

The fire, which broke out in warehouse number 1 on Monday, has caused extensive damage, with over 100,000 tons of raw sugar burnt, amounting to a market value of more than Tk1,000 crores.