Arsenic Filterents vChittagong Chemist In

Pollution of the water of the river Shitalakhya is increasing seriously. The untreated waters, industrial wastes and effuents dumped into the river Shitalakhya from hundreds of mills and factories have left its water to a perilous proportion. Even washing and cleansing with the water of this river is highly detrimental to health, let alone taking bath.

Over 100 salt producing factories and a large number of textile, dyeing and paper mills, jute godowns and workshops have sprung up on the lands on both sides of the river. These mills and factories are now dumping industrial wastes and untreated water into the river with impunity posing a threat to public health.

The industrial wastes include chemical dyes, detergents, anunonia, lime, sulphate, sulphuric acid, soda, bleaching powder and many other harmful materials.

Many of the people living beside the Shitalakhya in Dhaka and Narayanganj are likely to fall victims to cancer, waterborne and skin diseases for bathing in the river and using its highly polluted water for washing and other purposes, according to some health experts.

The Independent, 21 May 2009

NEW DANGER SIGNAL SYSTEM

Awareness Campaign in
Coastal Belts Soon

The Government plans to launch a massive awareness campaign soon among the people in the coastal belts before introduction the new storm danger signal system to be initiated before November, usually a month of depression in the Bay of Bengal.

The new danger signaling system, which already got approval of the

cabinet division with a view to making it easily understandable for the people.

“Massive campaign will be launched soon among the people in the coastal belt before formally introducing the new signaling system,” a senior official at the Ministry of Disaster Management told.

He said the government would take initiative to widely publicise the new weather signaling system, “All modes of media will be used to disseminate the message”.

He said, “As storm usually occurs in April-May-June and October-November periods in our country, full compaign (on the new system) will be launched keeping the time frame in mind.”

The new signaling system will be applicable in case of both maritime ports and river ports, said sources at the Meteorology Department.

The Daily Star, 12 May 2009

NGO Forum Launched a
New Project for Coastal People

Bangladesh has several difficult and hard-to-reach geo-physical locations. Among those the Char area is one of the most distinct and difficult areas in terms of communication and moderate civil amenities. With a view to reaching the hard-to-reach people, NGO Forum with the support of Terre Des Hommes-Netherlands has taken an initiative to implement a new project titled “Integrated Water and Sanitation Programme for Disadvantaged Off-shore Island People in the Coastal Belt.” This Project is a special commitment to ensure safe water supply, environmental sanitation and hygiene habits combating the challenges of climate change in 3 off-shore islands including 5 unions named Char Kajol, Char Biswas, Rangabali, Chotto Baishdia and Boro Baishdia of Galachipa Upazila in Patuakhali district.