The Daily Star  March 23, 2004  



                        Arsenic contamination takes serious turn in Chandpur, 
                        Comilla

                        Staff Correspondent

                        Arsenic contamination in drinking water has taken a 
                        serious turn in Chandpur and Comilla districts. 
                        In some villages of these two districts, water in almost 
                        98 percent tubewells has been contaminated. 
                        NGOs Arsenic Information and Support Unit (Naisu) 
                        organised a trip for the media persons on March 20 and 
                        21 to show the real picture of the arsenic contamination 
                        in the country. 
                        They found a terrible situation at Baburhat and 
                        Shilandia of Chandpur, Barkail of Comilla, and Putia and 
                        Adampur of Daudkandi where people are suffering from 
                        serious arsenic contamination. 
                        NGO Forum with the help of Disha, a local NGO, has set 
                        up a plant at Barkail of Chandina to remove arsenic from 
                        contaminated water. 
                        The forum has also been trying to face the problem 
                        through Community Managed Piped Water Supply System by 
                        preserving rain water in a tank.
                        Officially, 13,000 people are suffering from arsenicosis 
                        while more than three core people are living in the risk 
                        of arsenicosis.