The Buriganga River gave life to Dhaka and Dhaka destroyed it. Chemical
agents such as hexavalent chromium, mercury, sulphuric acid, formaldehyde,
toluene, cadmium, chromium acetate are responsible for the death of the
Buriganga River and for thousands of cases of severe intoxication, often with
fatal consequences for the people who work or live in the surrounding areas.
South Dhaka, Bangladesh
Springing from
the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is a
burgeoning megacity. Already one of the biggest and most densely populated
cities in the world, Dhaka is also among the fastest growing. The teeming
metropolis — like so many ancient cities — initially flourished in large part
because of its proximity to a great river; the Buriganga’s countless boats
and launches provided easy access to other parts of India, making Dhaka a prime
location for trade. The Buriganga was also, at one time, the city’s
primary source of drinking water.
Today, the river
is terribly toxic; the Bangladesh government estimates that about 21,000 cubic
meters of untreated industrial sewage is released into its waters every
day. According to Human Rights Watch, residents in neighboring slums
regularly suffer from fevers, skin diseases, respiratory problems, and
diarrhea. The dire contrast between what the river once was — a literally
life-giving force — and what it has become caught the attention of Italian-born
photojournalist Ugo Borga.
Borga came across Human Rights Watch’s October 2012
report, Toxic Tanneries, which details the health and
safety crisis among tannery workers in Bangladesh. The report also notes that
tannery wastewater contaminates the Buriganga with animal flesh, sulfuric
acid, chromium, and lead. The photographer then spent two months
researching the region before embarking on a 20-day trip to Bangladesh. As part
of a still-ongoing project started in September 2013, Living on the
Death River, Borga photographed and interviewed workers and people living near the
Buriganga, chronicling the human and environmental catastrophe unfolding there.
In his statement about Living on the
Death River, Borga quotes Jamil Sharif, activist and founder of Buriganga River
Keeper: “Buriganga gave life to Dhaka,” Sharif says, “and Dhaka killed it.”
Ugo Borga is a
photographer represented by Echo photo agency.
Sara Distin is a
writer and editor based in Boulder, CO, and Brooklyn, NY. Follow her on Twitter lightbox
Ugo Lucio Borga (b.
1972, Italy) is an award winning photojournalist and writer focusing on war
reporting, humanitarian and social features throughout Africa, Asia, South
America, Middle East, Europe.
His articles and
reportage have appeared on many newspapers, magazines, tv and radio including
The Guardian, The Observer, The Independent (England), Die Zeit, Die Welt,
Frankfurter Rundschau, Brigitte (Germany), La Vanguardia Magazine (Spain),La
Croix, Courrier international (France), Die Presse (Austria),Tyzden (Slovakia),
Haaretz, Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland), Alpha Magazine,(UAE), Africa Magazine,
Diario, l’Espresso, il Giornale, Il Sole24Ore, GQ, Nigrizia,Vps,
Panorama, PeaceReporter, Rolling Stone, il Riformista, Sportweek, la Stampa,
Topolino, Vanity Fair, il Venerdi di Repubblica, il Corriere della sera, Lotta
continua, Mondadori (strade blu), Rai3,Rainews24,sky tg24 jetlag,Channel4,
Radio24, RadioRSI
He has reported
extensively from countries such as Syria, Lybia, Somalia, RDC, RCA, Rwanda,
Kosovo, Mali, Guinea, Sry Lanka, Indonesia,covering, among others, the
Arab Spring, the civil war in RDC, RCA, Somalia, Lybia, Syria, and the
religious clashes emergency in Northern Lebanon . In 2009, his exclusive
feature documentary on the Somali war appeared on Channel 4. He received
the first prize at the 2011 Novinarska Cena journalism award for a series of
stories on rebels during the Libyan war.
Ugo Lucio Borga join
Echo Photo Agency (www.echophotoagency.com) in 2012
He is available for
assignments anywhere in the world.
All images © UGO LUCIO BORGA/ECHO
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