The Daily Star             May 20, 1998

               Arsenic contamination takes serious turn in B'baria

                              From Our Correspondent

            BRAHMANBARIA, May 19: Arsenic contamination in tubewell
            water has taken a serious turn in the district creating
            panic among local people.

            Water of 620 tubewells in Bancharampur thana, Nabinogor
            thana, Kosba thana, Sarail thana and Brahmanbaria sadar
            thana were tested. Water of 270 was found contaminated
            with arsenic.

            Water of 34 tubewells was found contaminated with
            arsenic in Sarail thana, water of 25 tubewells in Kasba
            thana, 52 tubewells in Nabinogor thana 25 tubewells in
            Bancharampur thana and water of 124 tubewells in
            Brahmanbaria pourasava was found contaminated with
            arsenic.

            According to reliable sources, at least 18 persons were
            attacked with arsenic contamination in five thana.

            While contacted, Dr Sukhendu Bikash Talukder, Medical
            Officer of the Civil Surgeon office, Brahmanbaria
            admitted the fact. He said, arsenic contaminated water
            might cause skin disease, dark lusion on skin and liver
            sirosis.

            In the meantime some arsenic attacked patients were
            found. They used arsenic contaminated water from the
            affected areas. But the real number of arsenic affected
            patients could not be ascertained. Conserving rain water
            for drinking we can solve the problem of arsenic
            pollution partially, experts suggested.

            The district Public Health Engineering Department (PHED)
            has so far sealed all the affected tubewells. The
            department has alerted people for not to drink arsenic
            contaminated water.

            The local PHED contaminated sources have suggested to
            drink water from deep tubewells or use boiled water.