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Head lines Deluge to grip central
region by next week Staff Correspondent, The Daily Star Floods that have already swept through many districts of the country will turn even more serious by next week, as the water level of almost all major rivers scaled up to the danger mark, experts forecast. Rainwater coupled with onrush of floodwaters from across the Indian border has inundated new areas. Worse still, the high tides in the Bay of Bengal threaten to push the situation out of control.
Besides, river erosion in Pabna, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Madaripur, Gaurnadi and Monirampur is going unabated. Our Staff Correspondent from Khulna reports: Floods have taken an alarming turn in Jessore, Satkhira, Khulna and Bagerhat. There is no sign of let-up in flooding, as the Ichhamati continues to swell. Inundated have been 130 villages in Keshabpur Upazila where as many as 70 educational institutions went under water. Only 25 camps have been set up for the flood- affected villagers. Many moved on to highlands for safety. The swelling of the Kobadak River has left several villages in Kalaroa Upazila in waist-deep water. Thirteen unions of Tala and Asashuni upazilas in Satkhira have also been flooded. Four lakh people of 80,000 families in 78 unions and 18 pourashava wards in Satkhira have been marooned. Floods destroyed two WAPDA embankments of Asashuni. The deluge has left as many as 25,000 people of eight unions of Abhoynagar and Noapara in Jessore homeless and 5,000 kutcha houses in damage and washed away all shrimp farms in 25 villages in Abhoynagar. Affected are at least 50 villages in Monirampur Upazila. The deluge has affected as many as 60 villages of Dumuria Upazila in Khulna and washed away all fish farms, causing a loss of about Tk 10 crore. Thirty-five per cent of eight unions of Fakirhat Upazila in Bagerhat are now under floodwaters that have damaged most fish farms, betel leaf plots and kutcha houses. A large number of cattle died. Homeless people moved on to different educational institutions for safety. Our Rangpur correspondent reports: Over one lakh people are marooned in the flood-hit char areas of four northern districts -- Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari. Yet, no relief or medical supplies reached the flood-affected people even after over a week of flooding, sources said. Many families moved to safety on embankments along the Brahmaputra, the Dharla, the Teesta and the Ghaghot now in full spate. The deluge destroyed hundreds of acres of crop fields, seedbeds, vegetable grounds and thousands of houses. Dimla and Kishoreganj upazilas in Nilphamari, all five upazilas in Lalmonirhat, Rajibpur, Rowmari and Sadar upazilas in Kurigram and Fulsari, Sundarganj, Shaghatta and Sadar upazilas in Gaibandha are the worst affected. Our Pabna correspondent adds: Rising waters of the Padma deluged vast areas in Pabna close to the river in the last 24 hours. Twenty-one villages in Sujanagar Upazila faced heavy erosion, displacing over 700 families out of Satbaria and Nazirganj unions alone. The upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) in Sujanagar said erosion is now a serious problem that displaced thousands of people and forced many to take shelter in towns. UNB adds: Despite monsoon being less active over the country, almost all rivers in Brahmaputra and Ganges basins further swelled in the last 24 hours to 6.00am yesterday. According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), the prevailing rain-fed floods in some parts of the country are likely to improve in the next 24 hours to 9.00am today. Of the 46 water-level-monitoring stations across the country, 21 points marked a rise, 17 recorded a fall and four points remained steady, the FFWC said. In Brahmaputra basin, the Brahmaputra marked a further rise by nine centimetres at Noonkhawa and two centimetres at Chilmari, and the Jamuna by ten centimetres at Sirajganj and five centimetres at Aricha. The Dharla also rose by 40cm at Kurigram and the Buriganga by 12cm at Dhaka. In Ganges basin, the Padma marked a further rise by four centimetres at Rajshahi, eight centimetres at the Hardinge Bridge point and seven centimetres at Goalanda, and the Karotoa by 51cm at Panchagarh. The Mohananda in the same basin was in spate, rising six centimetres at Chapainawabganj, and the Gorai swelled 10cm at the Gorai Railway Bridge. Significant rainfall of 47.2mm was recorded at Jessore, 47mm at Khulna, 32.5mm at Faridpur, 32mm at Sheola and 30mm at Chandpur in the last 24 hours to 6.00am yesterday, the FFWC bulletin added. Staff Correspondent, The Daily Star It was something novel. Environmentalists brought out a boat procession on the Buriganga river yesterday to press their demand for immediate and effective steps to save the city's lifeline from the clutches of illegal encroachers. Bangladesh Environment Movement (BEM) organised the boat procession, urging the government to ensure normal flow of the Buriganga by removing all illegal establishments on the river and its banks.
Participants in the procession and the rally demanded recovery of public lands, rivers, lakes and canals in and around the city grabbed by encroachers, planting of trees on both banks of the Buriganga, dredging of the river to protect its navigability, an end to dumping of all kinds of wastes into the river, relocating the tanneries at Hajaribagh to some other place outside the city and snapping of water, power and gas lines to illegally built houses and factories. The participants included former finance minister AMA Muhit, renowned economist Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, litterateur and educationist Abdullah Abu Sayeed, J K Boral from Proshika, Shahjahan Mridha from Muktijoddha (Freedom Fighters) Sangsad, Dr Mahabub Hossen from Asia Pacific University, Golam Kibria from Biswa Sahitya Kendra, Dr Nuruddin from Students Humanity Effort Association of Bangladesh (SHEBA) - Dhaka University, Advocate M Shajahan from Bangladesh Human rights Bureau and Abdus Salam from. Addressing the rally, Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, convenor of the BEM called upon all lawmakers, mayor of the city and ward commissioners to come forward and take the leadership of the movement for saving the Buriganga to make it a success. They would get all cooperation from the environmentalists in this regard, he added. "We want all rivers around the city including Buruganga, Shitalakhya and Turag and lakes and canals linked with those to be pollution free," Muzaffar said. Abdullah Abu Sayeed, vice president of the BEM, noted that the Buriganga was very much there even when the city of Dhaka did not come into existence. Dhaka developed centering this river and cannot survive without it, he observed. He urged the government to resume the steps taken for removal of illegal encroachments on the river during the tenure of the immediate past caretaker government. Muhit, who was founder president of the BEM, said, " For two years, we have been trying to save the Buriganga. To achieve this, now we demand an end to pollution of the river due to dumping of wastes by Hajaribagh tanneries and the WASA". Our Correspondent, Mymensingh, The Daily Star World Vision Bangladesh Mymensingh ADP (Area Development Project) has distributed relief goods for the flood victims of seven unions of Dhubaura upazila in Mymensingh recently. According to World Vision Mymensingh ADP sources, 17,500 kg flattened rice, 3500 kg molasses, 3500 packets of biscuit, 3500 kg salt, 3500 packets of candle light, 6500 pieces of match, 3500 packets of Oral saline, 3500 pieces of lungi, 3500 pieces of sari, 3500 sets of children's dress, water purification tablets, containers and plastic sheets have been distributed among the flood victims of Dhubaura Sadar, Purakandulia, Goatala, Maigpara, Goshgoan, Gamaritala and Baghber unions. District Lawyers Association, Boy Scouts, Caritas and some other organisations also distributed relief goods among the flood victims. However, relief materials supplied by government are very insufficient. Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) cards allocated for the flood victims are yet to be distributed. Meanwhile, World Vision Mymensingh ADP has started development works at some educational installations in Mymensingh town. These are -- Kumar Upendra Biddapith, Mymensingh High School, Pathgodam Junior High School, Kristapur Municipality Primary school, Pathgodam Government Primary School. The organisation will also construct nine community bath-rooms for women in the town. Local coordinator of World Vision Mymensingh ADP Martin Singh told The Daily Star they have trained up 1161 persons in 11 unions of sadar upazila on disaster management last fiscal. Of the trainees, 766 were male while 395 females. "We have also taken a map of Wealth and Risk of three unions", the official informed. River grabbers on the prowl again by Binoy Barman, The Independent The grabbers of Buriganga river are active again after a few months of wait. The demolition drive against illegal constructions by the caretaker government created panic among them and they suspended their activity temporarily. But they are out again to erect new structures or extend the existing ones on both sides of the river. According to sources, there are more than 700 identified and many more unidentified illegal structures on the river Buriganga. The caretaker government led by Justice Latifur Rahman during its tenure from July to October, 2001 demolished about 100 structures completely or partially. But there are still many structures bearing testimony to defiance of law with impunity. And the number is increasing day by day as the new grabbers have emerged on the scene. According to a source in BIWTA, a stretch of about 17 kilometres on the banks of Buriganga has come under illegal occupation. The structures are mainly business establishments, large and small, of bricks and concrete. There are also some industries and factories which are aggravating water pollution throwing wastes in the river. Encroachers are filling the river along the bank turning a large part of the waterbody into "reclaimed" land. As a result the river is becoming narrower with decreasing navigability, and raising, the possibility of flood in the rainy season. Sources said, the demolition move of the caretaker government did not meet with a big success, because of the influence exercised by the river grabbers. Many also received patronage of the local political leaders. They allegedly greased the palm of the police, administration and those who matter to keep a safe distance from the long arm of the law. The new grabbing is most noticeable in Kamrangir Char area among other points. Almost a quarter of the river there has been illegally occupied and filled up. In some filled-up lands the so-called owners have built tin-shed houses, which are being used for trading purposes at present. On a visit to Kamrangir Char recently this correspondent found several acres of land filled up on one side of river. A prominent person has put up a signboard claming ownership by virtue of purchase. But it was not clear how he could buy part of river. The local people said that the land had been usurped and filled up illegally by force. But nobody could resist it because it is under the control of a group of musclemen. Some restaurants and eateris were also found protruding over the river. Sumon Hotel and Restaurant' and 'Ma Lakkhi Sweetmeat' are among those doing business on illegally occupied land. At a time when a section of greedy people is vying with each other to grab the river, different environment organisations have come forward to protest their illegal activities. Yesterday, Bangladesh Environment Movement organised a citizens’ rally and boat procession at Sadarghat Launch Terminal in the city demanding freeing of Buriganga from illegal occupation and pollution. Many socio-cultural organisations and NGOs with their members spontaneously attended the programme to express solidarity with the 'Save Buriganga Movement'. The organisations which expressed their all-out support to the movement include, Biswa Shahitya Kendra, Proshika, Bangladesh Manobadhikar Bureau, Bangladesh Muktijodya Sangsad, The Hunger Project, Adviser Welfare Organisation, Sheba, Nagarik Udyog and Amra Karbo Joy. The leaders in the movement vowed to save Buriganga at any cost. Comparing it to freedom fight, they said, "We will continue our struggle until we come out successful in our noble mission." Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed of Biswa Shahitya Kendra said that Buriganga existed even when there was no Dhaka and the city was established on the bank of Buriganga. So, Buriganga is like a mother to all who live in the city, he added. "Dhaka will be destroyed if Buriganga dies. Indiscriminate occupation and continuous pollution are taking away its life and beauty. We want Buriganga to survive for the very sake of our own survival," he observed. The gathering was also addressed by former Adviser of Caretaker Government SMA Shajahan, former Finance Minister AMA Muhith, General Secretary of Bangladesh Environment Movement Abu Naser Khan, Secretary General of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Bureau Advocate Mohammed Shahjahan and Professor of Dhaka University Salahuddin M Aminuzzaman. AMA Muhith in his speech said that the other name of water is life and we have to keep the flow of water pure and uninterrupted for our life. "It is three years of the movement and it will gain new momentum in the time to come," he hoped. While the boat procession with banners and festoons saying "Save Buriganga - the life of Dhaka", "We want pollution-free Buriganga" "Evict all illegal establishments from Buriganga", "Make the river more navigable by dredging" went round the river near Sadarghat, artistes of Sammilito Sangskritik Andolon presented a number of inspiring songs at the makeshift dais on the Terminal highlighting the importance of water and river in human life and civilisation. Arsenic level in US drinking water high The New Nation Not only Bangladeshis tens of millions of Americans have been drinking water with unsafe levels of arsenic, according to a report of the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) in Washington. The Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) announced it will sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to strengthen the outdated tap water standard put in place in 1942. NRDC also will sue the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for blocking EPA efforts to establish these new arsenic safeguards. According to NRDC's most conservative analysis of new EPA data from 25 states, more than 34 million Americans in at least 6,900 communities are drinking tap water supplied by systems containing arsenic, a known toxin and carcinogen, at average levels that pose unacceptable cancer risks. The group's best estimate, however based on what it believes to be the most reasonable analytical techniques-indicates that as many as 56 million Americans in more than 8,000 communities in those 25 states have been drinking water with arsenic at unsafe levels. The EPA data cover local water tests conducted between 1980 and 1998. Arsenic levels can fluctuate over time, but NRDC stresses that what is most significant from a cancer-risk standpoint is long-term exposure. "What will it take to convince EPA to do something about this enormous health risk?" asks NRDC Senior Attorney Erik Olson. "Congress told the agency to update the arsenic standard in the mid-1970s and again in the late 1980s, but it never happened. In 1996, Congress asked for the third time, making January 1, 2000, the deadline for a proposal. Earlier this year, EPA finally delivered a draft of a new standard to OMB for approval, but it disappeared into a black hole. This is why we see no option but to sue." A 1999 report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) determined that arsenic in drinking water causes bladder, lung and skin cancer, and may cause kidney and liver cancer. The study also found that arsenic harms the central and peripheral nervous systems, heart and blood vessels, and causes serious skin problems. In addition, the NAS report and peer-reviewed animal studies have found that arsenic also may cause birth defects and reproductive problems. The NAS report concluded that EPA's 1942 arsenic standard for drinking water of 50 parts per billion (ppb), set before the chemical was known to cause cancer, "does not achieve EPA's goal for public health protection and, therefore, requires downward revision as promptly as possible." NAS said that drinking water at the current EPA standard "could easily" result in a total cancer risk of one in 100-about a 10,000 times higher cancer risk than EPA would allow for carcinogens in food. NAS assumes people drink 2 litres of water a day over a lifetime. NRDC used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain more than 100,000 arsenic samples from over 24,000 public water systems in 25 states. Because the data were available for only half of the states, Olson says it is likely that many more people are exposed to arsenic in their tap water. The gap in the data stems from a failure by half the states to respond to EPA's request for data. NRDC recommends that EPA immediately adopt a strict, health-protective standard for arsenic in tap water allowing a maximum lifetime cancer risk no greater than what EPA traditionally has accepted (a level presenting a lifetime cancer risk from one in 1 million to at most one in 10,000 for vulnerable or highly exposed individuals). This would require EPA to reduce the current drinking water standard of 50 ppb to 0.5 ppb. However, since many testing laboratories do not have the ability to measure such a low level of arsenic in water, the EPA should adopt a standard of 3 ppb, the level most labs can reliably detect. The lifetime cancer risk at 3 ppb would be about one in 1,667, far in excess of the risk EPA traditionally accepts. "Scientists have known that arsenic causes cancer for decades, but bureaucratic foot-dragging has meant that tens of millions of Americans are at risk of getting cancer from this preventable problem," says Olson. "Let's get arsenic out of our water supplies now." Free from HIV, AIDS Staff Reporter, The New Nation Demands of Bangladeshi girls in the Indian brothels are gradually increasing, according to an investigative study by Bangladesh National Women's Lawyers Association (BNWLA), a non-governmental organisation working on the issue of trafficking. As it is widely Known in underworld that Bangladeshi girls are relatively free from HIV or AIDS infection, customers usually look for Bangladeshi girls at brothels of large cities like Delhi, Mumbai or Calcutta. Keeping the demand in India in view, the traffickers are adopting various techniques and mechanisms to collect girls from different parts of Bangladesh and traffick them to India and other countries as well. " On February 21, 1999 BNWLA repatriated ten girls from India. They were tested and one of them was found HIV positive. She hailed from a border village of Kolaroya thana under Satkhira district. On the basis of the incident, BNWLA thoroughly investigated the matter of increasing trend of trafficking of Bangladeshi girls to India over the next two years," said Investigation Officer of the organization Mominul Islam Suruz. Summing up the findings of the two-years' long investigation, BNWLA finally came to the conclusion that immunity from HIV or AIDS infection is a major cause of high demands of Bangladeshi girls in Indian brothels, he added. BNWLA has also published the findings styled " Inter-relation between Trafficking and AIDS in Bangladesh " in its Annual Report 2001 published on recent this year. It was known that a long open border with India acts as a vital facilitating factor in favor of trafficking. Several reports over the years have revealed that the traffickers use 20 main points in 16 western districts of Bangladesh near the Indian border to run their trade. They are the border belt districts particularly some thanas of Jessore, Satkhira, Benapole, Khulana, Bagerhat Chapainawabganj, Dinajpur and Lalmonirhat districts. A total of 69 children and 107 women were trafficked from Sarsha thana, Jessore alone in the years between 1997 to 2001. Open borders, disregard towards girls, poverty natural disaster, broken families, ignorance, little legal support, greed and eroding values are some of the major factors facilitating trafficking. As revealed from investigations, sometimes women once trafficked to another country also play important role in recruiting women and children for trafficking. After expending four or five years in the country of destination, they come back and introduce themselves as migrant workers. Enticed by expensive cloths and Jewdllery of the so-called "migrant workers", girls of poverty-stricken families voluntarily rush to the neighboring countries for a lucrative job. Some of these newly recruited girls would then return a few years later and do the same thing to other girls. Thus the cycle go on and on, according to BNWLA investigations. " Since the whole idea behind this mode of trafficking is for the flesh trade, most of the innocent girls later get infected with STD and contaminate other people with deadly diseases like HIV or AIDS. Owing to lack of proper investigation, the actual figure of the victims of HIV/ AIDS in Bangladesh is still blurred. But BNWLA feels that the real number is dismal," said Executive Director of the organization Advocate Salma Ali. Women are trafficked not only for being abused in the foreign market but also in the domestic markets. As a result a large number of girls are becoming victims of internal trafficking along with cross border trafficking. Girls and young women are regularly trafficked to be supplied to the brothels and cage brothels in residential areas. A large number of garment workers also fall prey to pimps in the lure of supplementary incomes against their insignificant regular incomes. Thus many uninfected people become infected with HIV/ AIDS and STD diseases. Extensive field investigations found that in different border districts the occurrence of trafficking and contamination of HIV/ AIDS is not rare. HIV/ AIDS infection is also caused by use of common razors by the local people of border belt region at barbershops where the virus carriers are abundant.
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