The Daily Star Wed. July 14, 1999 Arsenic now invades Gr Comilla COMILLA, July 13: After invading most parts of the country's northern region, arsenic started contaminating the underground waters of greater Comilla, reports UNB. According to an UNDP-funded survey, arsenic beyond permissible level was detected in tubewell waters of 18 thanas in Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Feni, Laxmipur, Chandpur and Noakhali districts. Sources at Public Health Engineering Department said the tubewells water of which was found in intolerable limit of arsenic have already been sealed. "We have also asked the people not to take the waters of those tubewells," said an official. The survey, conducted by an NGO, found 0.5 mg to 1.0 mg arsenic per litre tubewell water of Daudkandi, Barura and Chandina thana in Comilla. Like Comilla, 0.5 mg to 1.0 mg arsenic was found in tubewell waters of Sadar, Kosba, Sorail and Nasirnagar thanas in Brahmanbaria district. It also detected 0.01 mg to 0.05 mg arsenic in tubewell waters of Dagonbhuiya and Sonagazi thana in Feni, Ramgati, Ramganj, Sadar and Roypur thana of Laxmipur, Haimchar and Hajiganj thanas in Chandpur and Begumganj, Sadar and Chatkhil thanas in Noakhali. Of the districts, Laxmipur was said to be the worst affected area as 80 per cent people of the district have been hit by arsenic. The report showed that 80 per cent tubewells in Sadar thana of the district, 95 per cent tubewells in Ramgati thana have been contaminated with arsenic. [Top][Home][Onirban Online] --------------------------------------------------------- Bill in US Senate to recognise Muslim contribution US Senators Spencer Abraham and Larry Craig are sponsoring a legislation that would recognise the contributions of American Muslims and strongly condemn anti-Muslim intolerance and discrimination, reports UNB. The bill, Senate Resolution 133, was introduced by Abraham, a republican from Michigan, July 2. It has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration. A similar bill is expected to be proposed in the House of Representatives. It begins by noting that there are approximately six million Muslims and more than 1,500 mosques, Islamic schools and Islamic centres in the United States. "Islam is one of the great Abrahamic faiths, whose significant contributions throughout history have advanced the fields of math, science, medicine, law, philosophy, art, and literature," the legislation notes. While acknowledging that Muslims have, on occasion, has subjected to acts of discrimination and intolerance and been portrayed in a negative light, the proposed legislation condemns such actions "as wholly inconsistent with the American values of religious tolerance and pluralism." "This resolution sends an important message to America's growing Muslim community that we in Congress oppose religious discrimination in any form," Senator Craig, a Republic from Idaho said in a statement he released July 8. "We also recognise the contributions of over 6 million American Muslims in countless communities across the nation, religious tolerance is one of the principles by which our nation is guided and this resolution is in keeping with this important American Ideal." The purpose behind the legislation is essentially to raise people's consciousness and sensitize them to issues of concern to the American Muslim community, Randa Fahmy Hudome, an aide to Senator Abraham, said in a July 8 telephone interview. One of the most active Muslim groups in the US, the American Muslim Council, is urging its members throughout the country to contact their senators and ask that they co-sponsor the resolution. [Top][Home][Onirban Online] --------------------------------------------------------- The Daily Star Internet Edition, is jointly published by the Daily Star with the technical assistance provided by Onirban. If you have questions or comments about the Daily Star: Internet Edition or the Daily Star site please contact the Webmaster at Onirban. Page generated on : Wed. July 14, 1999