Our rivers are in a bad state, have been for a long time. That is not surprising, seeing that we have been concerned about the situation for years. What now appears to give it a new twist is the result of a survey carried out on some of the rivers, 25 in total. Predictably, the quality of the water in the rivers has dwindled to a precarious state. Worse is the knowledge that some of these rivers may actually have reached a point where they are no longer capable of nurturing or supporting aquatic life forms in them. The pollution in the Buriganga, Turag and Norai -- and these flow by the nation's capital -- has grown to an extent where no life forms can survive in their waters. That is the stark finding by a group of researchers after a three-year survey of the 25 rivers in question. Obviously, the oxygen levels in the Buriganga and in parts of the Turag and Norai have declined to a dangerous level. Where 4 to 6 levels of oxygen are required for local fish species to survive, the oxygen level in these rivers has now declined precipitously to less than one per microgram. The water resources department of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology has surely done a commendable job of acquainting us with the issues involved. The 25 rivers surveyed all are at risk of losing their life forms. Of course, the Buriganga, Balu, Turag and Sitalakhya are the worst affected rivers, but the problems afflicting them could also, and soon, come to characterise other rivers. And that is where the question of dealing with the problem comes in. A major reason behind the pollution of the rivers has been the dumping of effluents and myriad industrial waste by factories situated on the banks or nearby. That has been a worry for years together, with periodic calls for action on the part of those responsible for such conditions going unheeded. Add to that the careless dumping of waste matter by the municipal authorities. These lead to faecal contamination and other difficulties for the rivers. A bleak picture is thus before us: if meaningful and firm action is not taken now to roll back the damage already done, it may be too late to save these rivers. Moreover, with large numbers of people still using the waters of these rivers for drinking and washing purposes, there is a clear and present danger to public health. An immediate and well thought-out action plan involving the government, industrial units and environment experts is today called for. Surveys and studies must now lead to concrete action. Rivers are a lifeline to a society. Inaction on our polluted rivers will thus be seen as a clear invitation to suicide. Briefly, creating awareness of the danger at the mass level must now be the priority.