The New Nation - Internet Edition

It is gratifying to learn that the United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) has contributed US$ 2 million to assist over 100,000 primary school children in the Sidr affected areas of Bangladesh. The USDA's contributions will be utilised by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) through its 'Food For Education' project.

It is sincerely hoped that the United States will continue to extend her technical as well as financial assistances for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh.

Professor M Zahidul Haque

Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University

Dhaka

Acid rain means in common language the presence of excessive acids in rain water. It has been one of the effects of air pollution. Every sources of energy that we use-be it coal, fuel wood or petroleum products, has sulphur and nitrogen. These two elements when burnt in the presence of atmospheric oxygen are converted into their respective oxides-sulphur dioxides and nitrogen dioxides, which are highly soluble in water. During rain these oxides reacts with large quantities of water vapour of the atmospheric to form acids like sulphuric acids, sulphurous acids and nitric acids, nitrous acid which then return to the earth's surface, with rain water or may remain in the atmosphere in clouds and logs.

Acid rain causes a number of adverse implications. It tends to increase acidity in the soil, threatens human health, and aquatic life destroys, forests and crops reducing agricultural productivity. It contaminates not only the breathing air but also the drinking water and even food. Besides, it is able to corrode building, monuments, statues, bridges, fences and railings that cost the world 1450 million dollars a year.

The situation has been likely to worsen at present and in the near future with increase of thermal power plant and contribute of industrial gases discharge into the air. So every industries should be take to proper steps to reduce polluting gases.

Md. Rakibul Hassan

Santosh, Tangail.