The Daily Star Sun. June 04, 2000 Arsenic menace in Kushtia From Our Correspondent KUSHTIA, June 3: A large number of people in six upazilas of the district have been passing their days amid arsenic threat. Arsenic invaded the areas back in 1997 when 26 people of two families at village Islampur under Mokarimpur union of Bheramara upazila were attacked with arsenic related diseases. A 60-year-old-man succumbed to the diseases. He was identified as Montaz Ali. Rezaul Karim, son of the victim, said he took his father to many doctors in the country and in India but his death could not be prevented. Another seven persons of his family were also attacked with the diseases. Ten persons of the family of his uncle were also attacked with the diseases. The victims were taken to local physicians who advised them to examine the water of the tubewell they were consuming. After the examination, arsenic beyond permissible level was found in water. When contacted executive engineer of local Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) told this correspondent that he visited the place and collected the water for test. However, the PHED recently sealed six tubewells in Khemerdiar, Ramkrishnapur and Fakirabad of Bheraamara upazila where about 45 people have been attacked with arsenic related diseases. Besides, one tubewell in Khoksa upazila, four in Kushtia town, one in Jogoti union of Sadar upazila and one in Daulatpur upazila were sealed. Residents in Kushtia, Meherpur, Chaudanga, Jhenidah, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Khulna and Rajshahi have been badly affected by arsenic contamination, according to Health Department source. Benagari, a hamlet in neighbouring Chuadanga district, has been identified as arsenic affected village. Mohiuddin, 26, son of Akbar Ali and Abdul Quddus, 28, son of Surujuddin of the village were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) after they had developed arsenic related complications. According to survey reports of different NGOs, 75 per cent of the population of the village have developed arsenic related diseases. The condition of 40 per cent people is stated to be critical. Mohammad Ali, son of Huzur Ali and Shahidul Islam, son of Komed Sardar of the village, died of arsenic related complications last year. Meanwhile, people in affected areas are compelled to drink arsenic contaminated water risking their lives in absence of alternative measures. A team of local journalists recently visited some rural areas of Kushtia Sadar, Bhermara and Mirpur upazilas and talked to locals. Local people said many tubewells in the area have been sealed by the PHED following detection of arsenic contamination in waters. But alternative arrangement has not been made. They said alternative measures should be made immediately. A survey revealed Ramkrishnapur, Gopanathpur, Golanagar, Farirabad, Bahadur Juniadaha, Jagaswar of Bheramara and Ogolbaria and Ramkrishnapur of Daulatpur upazilas are badly affected areas. --------------------------------------------------------- Workshop in Pabna 7,000 arsenic victims Indentified so far From Our Correspondent SIRAJGANJ, June 2: A two-day media workshop on 'Arsenic mitigation programme' was held on May 25 and 27 at Pabna Zilla Parishad auditorium. Fifty journalists of the northern region participated in the workshop. Pabna Press Club and UNICEF, Bangladesh jointly organised the workshop. June Kungi, chief of information and advocacy, UNICEF, Bangladesh inaugurated the workshop. Among others, communication officer of UNICEF Chinmoy Mushudi, arsenic team leader Shafiqul Islam, DC of Pabna Mahbubor Rahman, DPHE engineer M Safiqul, communication officer Onish Borua spoke on the occasion. Speakers said Bangladesh is poor country and river erosion is a common phenomenon in this country. People of the riverside areas are mostly arsenic affected. But they do not know the reason of arsenic contamination. Now its protection is essential. Journalist Anowarul Haque of Pabna, Abdus Satter Basu, president, Pabna Press Club, Abdul Matin Khan, Mahbubul Alam, editor the Daily Uttar Barta, Jugantor northern region correspondent Hasibur Rahman Bilu, The Daily Star correspondent Akhteruzzaman Bablu, Shankor Kumar, A B M Fazlur Rahman, Abdul Mazid, Naresh Modhu of the Daily Uttar Bangla and editor Matiur Rahman, among others, spoke on the occasion. Arsenic is soluble in water. It is still not clear why some members of a family or community are affected, while others are not affected. Dhaka Community Hospital (DCH) has done same extra-ordinary work in identification of arsenic patients, providing treatment for them and doing large scale advocacy focusing this issue. About 7,000 arsenic affected patients have been identified so far in Bangladesh. Of them 120 in Bera thana under Pabna district. On the 2nd day of the workshop journalists accompanied with UNICEF representatives visited the Bera thana arsenic affected areas. They shifted many arsenic affected people to Dhaka DCH for treatment. Of them, Momota Khatun, wife of Siddique Ali, and her daughter Surma Khatun, 15, Shilpi, 13, Sabiha, 12, Sumi, 7, came from Monakasha village under Bera thana of Pabna district. UNICEF leaders said with the assistance of UNICEF tubewell in rural areas are tested. The workshop was presided over by the Pabna Press Club president.