The Daily Star April 21, 1999

                      40000 suffering from arsenic poisoning

                              From Our Correspondent

            GAIBANDHA, Apr 20: Over 40 thousand people of northern
            districts have been suffering from arsenic
            contamination, according to a survey conducted by an
            NGO.

            The survey reveals that only in Charghat area under
            Rajshahi district, 68 people have already been attacked
            with arsenic poison.

            Conducted by NGO forum, the preliminary test shows that
            the water of 13 tube-wells, out of 15 in Charghat area,
            has arsenic contents. And the contamination level is
            well above danger level of.05 per cent.

            In Gaibandha district, the NGO workers found presence of
            arsenic content in tube-well water in between.01 to.02
            per cent. A tube-well at Badiakhali under Gaibandha
            sadar Thana has been sealed up as .08 per cent of
            arsenic was found in its water.

            At a symposium held here recently, the speakers stressed
            the need for setting up an arsenic test laboratory in
            the northern region. The NGO workers conducted the
            preliminary tests for arsenic through manual process.
            The arsenic test kit they used is not enough to get the
            correct result. So it has become difficult to get
            accurate percentage of arsenic presence in tube-well
            water.

            The speakers also suggested using water from pond and
            river for drinking purpose. Besides, they also gave
            importance on storing rain water for drinking, as it is
            free from arsenic.