The mineralogical, geochemical, and statistical characteristics of recent fluvial deposits from the Brahmaputra–Jamuna River, Bangladesh, were examined to determine their provenance, transport dynamics, and depositional environment. Sediments were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Grain size analysis revealed a predominance of medium-to-fine sand (mean grain size 1.77–3.43 ϕ), with moderately well-sorted textures (sorting: 0.33–0.77 ϕ), mesokurtic to leptokurtic distributions, and skewness values ranging from −0.21 to +0.30. Mineralogical results show a high quartz content with minor feldspar, mica, zircon, rutile, and iron-bearing minerals. Geochemical data indicates high SiO₂ (63.39%–70.94%) and Al₂O₃ (12.25%–14.20%) concentrations and calculated chemical index of alteration (CIA) values ranging from 60.90 to 66.82. The microstructural study revealed angular to sub-angular grains with conchoidal fractures and stepped microcracks, indicating brittle deformation under high-energy conditions, which is consistent with short transport distances, limited sedimentary recycling, and a derivation from mechanically weathered source rocks. Multivariate analyses (PCA and K-means clustering) of grain size parameters reveal two distinct sedimentary regimes, namely Cluster 1 as finer-grained (2.36 ϕ), poorly sorted sediments, and Cluster 2 as coarser (2.98 ϕ), well-sorted deposits. Discriminant function values (Y₂: 78.82–119.12; Y₃: −6.01 to −2.56; V₁: 1.457–2.442; V₂: 1.409–2.323) highlight shallow water, fluvial/deltaic aspects, and turbidite depositional environments. These findings advance the understanding of sedimentary dynamics within large, braided river basins and support future investigations into the sustainable management of fluvial depositional environments.

Rapid industrial growth in Export Processing Zones (EPZs) has intensified concerns regarding trace element accumulation in soils and its environmental consequences. This study quantified twelve trace elements in soils from the Mirsarai Export Processing Zone using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to evaluate contamination status, spatial distribution, potential sources, and associated ecological and human health risks. The results revealed significant enrichment of all trace elements except Fe, with pollution indices and spatial analysis indicating considerable contamination and heterogeneous distribution across the study area. Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that elevated trace element concentrations were primarily associated with industrial waste inputs. Ecological risk assessment identified Se as the dominant contributor (ER = 601.40), followed by As (149.85) and Hg (106.45). An innovative Source-Pathway-Receptor (SPR) model linked industrial activities with contaminant transport and environmental risks, identifying textile dyeing, leather processing, electroplating, battery manufacturing, metal finishing, and electronics industries as the principal sources of As, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Co. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment showed that Co posed the highest risk to children (HI = 8.54), followed by Mn (2.62), Cr (2.05), and As (1.45), whereas only Co exceeded the acceptable threshold for adults (HI = 2.25). Children experienced approximately 3.1-fold higher carcinogenic risk than adults, with Ni, Cr, and As exceeding the USEPA acceptable limit (1.0E−04). Monte Carlo simulation further confirmed a mean total carcinogenic risk of 1.58E−04 for children, highlighting the urgent need for pollution control and sustainable environmental management in rapidly industrializing EPZs.