Street scenes around Buriganga, Dhaka, Bangladesh. With poor and meagre living conditions life is a daily struggle for survival. Yet everyone I met had a smile on their face. Inspite and beyond the poverty and pathetic living conditions.

Children in various states of dress and undress (near nakedness) playing in the water. Some having bath, others just having fun. But what is amazing is their immunity system and ability to handle the conditions. Since this is the river banks of Buriganga - one of the most polluted rivers. Within inches and feets of them are leaking oil drums, welding sharpels, garbage, waste plasitc, and God knows what else! Yet in this very same water of the river children can be seen swiming, playing, drinking water without aparent problems or infection. The same water has the ship breaking activities with oil leaking, tar burning, and more making the river thick black. Dhaka, Bangaladesh

Buriganga River (Bangla: বুড়িগঙ্গা Buŗigônga "Old Ganges"). Buriganga is the life line and much happens in and around this river. It is the main river flowing beside Dhaka, capital cityof Bangladesh. With an average depth of 39 feet (12 m) its quite amazing to see the activities along the river. Unfortunately, the river is Dhaka's main outlet of sewage waste and is threatened by pollution and waste.

Children in various states of dress and undress (near nakedness) playing in the water and swinging & monkeying around. Some having bath, others just having fun. But what is amazing is their immunity system and ability to handle the conditions. Since this is the river banks of Buriganga - one of the most polluted rivers. Within inches and feets of them are leaking oil drums, welding sharpels, garbage, waste plasitc, and God knows what else! Yet in this very same water of the river children can be seen swiming, playing, drinking water without aparent problems or infection. The same water has the ship breaking activities with oil leaking, tar burning, and more making the river thick black. Dhaka, Bangaladesh

Buriganga River (Bangla: বুড়িগঙ্গা Buŗigônga "Old Ganges"). Buriganga is the life line and much happens in and around this river. It is the main river flowing beside Dhaka, capital cityof Bangladesh. With an average depth of 39 feet (12 m) its quite amazing to see the activities along the river. Unfortunately, the river is Dhaka's main outlet of sewage waste and is threatened by pollution and waste.

Lady doing her laundry while the father giving a bath to children in various states of dress and undress (near nakedness) while they playing in the water. Some having bath, others just having fun. But what is amazing is their immunity system and ability to handle the conditions. Since this is the river banks of Buriganga - one of the most polluted rivers. Within inches and feets of them are leaking oil drums, welding sharpels, garbage, waste plasitc, and God knows what else! Yet in this very same water of the river children can be seen swiming, playing, drinking water without aparent problems or infection. The same water has the ship breaking activities with oil leaking, tar burning, and more making the river thick black. Dhaka, Bangaladesh

Buriganga River (Bangla: বুড়িগঙ্গা Buŗigônga "Old Ganges"). Buriganga is the life line and much happens in and around this river. It is the main river flowing beside Dhaka, capital cityof Bangladesh. With an average depth of 39 feet (12 m) its quite amazing to see the activities along the river. Unfortunately, the river is Dhaka's main outlet of sewage waste and is threatened by pollution and waste.

Same water in which the children catch crabs the man on the left is urinating. All around the smoke was intense!

Mixture of oil and tar being burnt and heated making it really hard to even breath! Yet it was mind numbing to see large number of people were using this concotion of waterand leaking oil to swim, play, even drink, gargle, brush their teeth and take bath all within feets of each other! Same water has the ship breaking with oil leaking making the river thick black as well as crab & fishing all side by side. Young, old, everyone seems to have the world's best immunity system! Dhaka, Bangaladesh

Buriganga River (Bangla: বুড়িগঙ্গা Buŗigônga "Old Ganges"). Buriganga is the life line and much happens in and around this river. It is the main river flowing beside Dhaka, capital cityof Bangladesh. With an average depth of 39 feet (12 m) its quite amazing to see the activities along the river. Unfortunately, the river is Dhaka's main outlet of sewage waste and is threatened by pollution and waste.

Fumes from the burning oil and tar.
Mind boggling to see large number of people were using this mucky water of the river to swim, play, drink, gargle, brush their teeth and take bath all within feets of each other! Same water has the ship breaking with oil leaking making the river thick black as well as crab & fishing all side by side. Young, old, everyone seems to have the world's best immunity system! Dhaka, Bangaladesh

Buriganga River (Bangla: বুড়িগঙ্গা Buŗigônga "Old Ganges"). Buriganga is the life line and much happens in and around this river. It is the main river flowing beside Dhaka, capital cityof Bangladesh. With an average depth of 39 feet (12 m) its quite amazing to see the activities along the river. Unfortunately, the river is Dhaka's main outlet of sewage waste and is threatened by pollution and waste.

Pollution along the river banks.
Mind boggling to see large number of people were using this mucky water of the river to swim, play, drink, gargle, brush their teeth and take bath all within feets of each other! Same water has the ship breaking with oil leaking making the river thick black as well as crab & fishing all side by side. Young, old, everyone seems to have the world's best immunity system! Dhaka, Bangaladesh

Buriganga River (Bangla: বুড়িগঙ্গা Buŗigônga "Old Ganges"). Buriganga is the life line and much happens in and around this river. It is the main river flowing beside Dhaka, capital cityof Bangladesh. With an average depth of 39 feet (12 m) its quite amazing to see the activities along the river. Unfortunately, the river is Dhaka's main outlet of sewage waste and is threatened by pollution and waste.

Children in various states of dress and undress (near nakedness) playing in the water and on the banks. Old lady taking a rest while a little child sits on top of a majorly rusted boat. Dhaka, Bangaladesh

Buriganga River (Bangla: বুড়িগঙ্গা Buŗigônga "Old Ganges"). Buriganga is the life line and much happens in and around this river. It is the main river flowing beside Dhaka, capital cityof Bangladesh. With an average depth of 39 feet (12 m) its quite amazing to see the activities along the river. Unfortunately, the river is Dhaka's main outlet of sewage waste and is threatened by pollution and waste.

Bangladeshi mother with her child. With some coaxing the boy had a smile on his face. Dhaka, Bangaladesh

Lady waiting for a family member at the river crossing point with the river boats in the back. Dhaka, Bangaladesh

Buriganga River (Bangla: বুড়িগঙ্গা Buŗigônga "Old Ganges"). Buriganga is the life line and much happens in and around this river. It is the main river flowing beside Dhaka, capital cityof Bangladesh. With an average depth of 39 feet (12 m) its quite amazing to see the activities along the river. Unfortunately, the river is Dhaka's main outlet of sewage waste and is threatened by pollution and waste.