The New Nation - Internet Edition

Improper dumping of clinical waste causing health hazards in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Clinical waste management in Barisal is going on without any scientific management, proper license and training and often piled on city roadsides posing risks of environmental and health hazards. More than 800 Kg. clinical wastages per day created from two public hospitals and more than 50 private hospital, clinics, laboratories, health care and diagnostic centers of Barisal city.

These clinical wastages included used bandages, syringe and needles, amputated parts of human body, stool, urine, blood, coughs and other items examined in laboratories, used saline, plastic and glass bottles of medicine and ingredients used for medical services and several other disposable and non-disposable items.

All of these items usually contaminated with germs or health hazarding components and needs to be destroyed and burnt in insinuators after collected in proper way in a dumping ground, Kaiser Ahmed, Deputy Director in-charge of the divisional office of the Directorate of Environment, said.

Those who are involved in the work including the clinical waste collectors should have proper training by the concerned authorities, he added. It also needs proper carrying systems and licenses from the proper authority with dresses, transports, establishments and equipments for this kind of risky job, and violation of these procedures may cause long-term serious health and environmental crisis in the locality, said DD of environmental directorate.

Sources said 'Prodipon', a NGO working in clinical wastage management sector of the city since 2000 under a project of Bangladesh environment management scheme collecting and removing clinical wastages from different types of health service establishments of Barisal city

They collect clinical wastages of the city with the help of other 40 organizations, dumping the wastages at the Natun Moylakhola of Kawnia area in the city, and burning those in an insinuator after making disinfections, claimed Ranajit Dutta, president of Prodipon. However, DD of Environmental Directorate alleged that clinical wastage collectors of the city have no license, proper training, dresses, transports, establishments and equipments for these kinds of risky jobs.

The system followed and equipment used by Prodipon for disinfection and insinuations are not standard and up to the mark and notice given in this connection to Prodipon yet not replied, he acknowledged. Ranajit Dutta, President of Prodipon, however, expressed his ignorance about any notice from the environment directorate, and compulsion for taking license from environmental directorate and training about this work. President of Prodipon said they collect clinical wastes with the help of 40 organizations, which disinfect and burn the waste and then dump it at Natun Moylakhola of Kawnia area in the city.

To ensure disposal of hazardous waste in a hygienic way, the Directorate of Health Services will ask private clinics and labs to ensure safe waste management, said director of health of Barisal division.

The directorate is also formulating a law and a set of guidelines for clinics, hospitals, diagnostic centers and private practitioners making them responsible for their waste. In the law, there will have a provision for tough punishment for those who will be failed to dispose off their hazardous medical waste in a hygienic way, the health director further said. Dr M Mosaddek Hossain, director of Barisal Shere Bangla Medical College Hospital and Dr. Mizanur Rahman, resident medical officer of Barisal Sadar Hospital, said that due to lack of fund and manpower they failed to operate waste management and disposal systems in other institutions and taking helps from 'Prodipon' for this job.

We informed higher authority for allocation of funds to operate scientific waste management systems and plants, but yet not get any result, they added.

The Barisal City Corporation will ask all clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centers to dispose off their hazardous waste in a hygienic way and refrain from selling off plastic waste illegally, Jahangir Molla, health and sanitation officer of Barisal City Corporation, said.

Awlad Hossain Dilu, ward commissioner in charge of Mayor,said citizen as well as BCC authorities always emphasized on strong monitoring and compulsion of creating proper scientific waste management systems by the health related organizations before giving them license and permission to run their business.

Punishment of Bangabandhu’s killers, war criminals demanded

RU Correspondent

The students of Rajshahi University on Thursday demanded immediate steps to bring the war criminals to book and staged symbolic hanging of Bangabandhu’s killers and war killers, terming them mass enemy of the nation.

Some five hundred students gathered in front of RU central library premises under the banner of ' Muktijoddhar Santan' (sons and daughters of freedom fighters) and staged the symbolic hanging amid slogans against war criminals who committed war crimes during the Liberation War in 1971. The students also staged 'Hanging Platform' and standing two students one Bangabandhu killer and another is war criminal.

Former RU vice chancellor Prof Saidur Rahman Khan, freedom fighter Prof Moloy Kumar Bhowmik and RU freedom fighter commander Abul Kalam Azad jointly hanged the two students wearing black musk and rope. On the time, RU cultural organization 'Aroni' and Gono Shilpi Sangstha jointly recited poem and presented songs demanded punishment of war criminals and Bangabandhu killers. The programme followed by a protest meeting in front of central library premises. Former RU VC Prof Saidur Rahman Khan expressed his dissatisfaction for not punish war criminals and Bnagabandgu killers after long time.

'If the killers was not punished the killers will made fresh conspiracy against the Bangladesh and destroy our liberation sprite', he also said. Speakers also demanded execution of the verdict of Bangabandhu Murder Case without further delay to stop politics of murder in the country once for all. Speakers also blamed former BNP-Jamaat government for protecting the killers of Bangabandhu and called upon the government for execution of the verdict.

They said the former BNP-Jamaat axis is creating obstacle against the verdict.

Muktijoddhar Santan also threatened to launch a tougher agitation against the government if the verdict is not executed without further delay.

Freedom fighter Moloy Kumar, Abdul Kalam Azad, Muktijoddhar Santan convener Zinnah Al-Mamun, Mizanur Rahman, Aktaruzzman Kabir, Masud Rana Mintu, Redwan Ahmed Shubro and martyred family members Salina Parvin and Lutfar Rahman also addressed the rally.

Later, Muktijoddhar Santan launched a month long mass signature campaign in front of central library premises demanding trial and punishment of war criminals. Several hundred students on Thursday signature a while clothe demanding punishment of war criminals.

Journalists can play key role for nation’s dev

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a meeting here on Tuesday described journalists as influential individuals for nation building and urged the authorities concerned to create an atmosphere congenial to journalism.

In this context, they also said the media and journalists could play a vital role in continuing democratic practice side by side with establishing good governance and human rights in the country. They were addressing the closing ceremony of a two-day orientation for the media personnel jointly arranged by the Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) and the Asia Foundation in the conference hall of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).

USAID extended financial support for organising the orientation under its 'Leaders of Influence (LOI) programme'. Some 54 journalists of both the print and electronic media and news agencies from Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore, Naogaon, Pabna and Joypurhat districts attended the orientation.

Main objective of the programme was to build competent civil society to assist the nation-building process along with ensuring good governance and human rights in every spheres of life. Chief of Party of LOI Programme of the Asia Foundation Russell Pepe and his deputy chief Nazrul Islam, joint director of BCDJC Nurul Hassan, executive director of Centre for Communication and Development (CCD) Golam Mourtoza, programme officer of Social Marketing Company Shihab Uddin Chowdhury addressed the closing ceremony, among others.

Speakers said active participation of newsmen and their positive media coverage is indispensable for successful implementation of all development activities.

Processed coffee from CHT to be marketed soon

BSS, Rangamati

Processed coffee produced in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) will be available in the local markets within a very short time.

"We are expecting to start marketing of 50 gram bottle coffee within a month if official formalities with the BSTI and other government organizations are okayed," Naim Mahmood, Managing Director (MD) of Mac Foundation told BSS recently.

Mac Foundation is responsible to collect raw coffee from the farmers at Chittagong Hill Tracts and distribute in the market after proper processing.

Coffee is being cultivated in the CHT under Orange and Mixed Fruit Project.

The CHTDB has been implementing the Orange and Mixed Fruit Project since 1999 with a view to alleviate poverty of people living in the hilly region.

Mac Foundation has come forward for processing coffee seeds and marketing those following a report published in different newspapers on coffee cultivation in the CHT, Md. Shafiqul Islam, Project Director of Orange and Mixed Fruit project said.

A total of 400 coffee orchards have been raised in three hill districts since the project was launched. Nearly 100 farmers are now producing coffee and farmers are very happy about their achievement, the project director said.

43 held on various charges in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Police, in different anticrime drives, arrested 43 persons on various charges from different areas in city and nine upazilas of the district in last 24 hours till on Sunday evening.

Of them, 17 were arrested from different areas in the metropolis while 26 others from nine upazilas. Traffic police lodged 21 cases under the motor vehicles ordinance and seized two motorbikes and a tempo without registration during drives against the non- registered motor vehicles and other document related malpractices in different parts of the city during the time.

One sentenced to death for killing wife in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A Bhola court Wednesday sentenced a person to death for killing his wife two years back.

District and sessions judge Md Idris Alam handed down the verdict against Munir Hossain alias Moinnaya, 30, of village Kalia under Bhabanipur union of Daulatkhan upazila of the district. According to the prosecution, the accused Munir chopped his wife Shahnewaz to death on December 19, 2006 noon following protest against extramarital affairs of Munir. After killing murderer Munir concealed the dead body of wife Shahnewaz inside the safety tank of the latrine and said that Shahnewaz became missing.

Mezbahuddin, brother of the victim lodged a murder case against Munir with Daulatkhan police station on December 20, 2006 and police arrested him. In interrogation Munir confessed the killing and according to his confession recovered the dead body and filed charge sheet against the killer husband.

GPA-5 students accorded reception in Rangpur

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

The students who obtained GPA-5 in the secondary school certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations of Mithapukur upazila this year were accorded a reception on Thursday.

Mithapuker Upazila Authority organised the reception at its Mithapukur Begum Rokeya to award 183 winners of grade point average 5 or GPA-5.

UNO Mithapukur AKM Shamsuzzaman presided over the function while Deputy Commissioner Khandakar Atiar Rahman more the chief guest. District Education Officer Siddika Morshed and AC Land Rafiqul Islam were the special guests. OC Mithapukur Ohidul Islam, Madrasha Super Mizanur Rahman, Acting Principal Khaganur Rahman, among others, were present.

Two arrested in Chapainawabganj

BSS, Chapainawabganj

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-5) arrested two persons with one shooter gun at early hours on Tuesday from Fatepur under Nachole uapzila of Chapainawabganj district.

The arrested persons were identified as Robiul Islam, 35 of village Koyladiar under Shibganj thana and Abu Sufian, 50 of village Ushir Beldanga under Nachole upazila. Police said, acting on a secret information, RAB raided one Ameer Hossain Master's house at Ushir Beldanga of the same upazila and recovered the gun.

News Briefs

4 killed in Faridpur road mishap

FARIDPUR, Aug 19: At least four people were killed and 32 others injured in a fatal road accident at Atadia in Bhanga poura area here Wednesday morning. Two of the deceased were identified as Jesmin, 22, of Bagerhat district and Abdul Gafur, 34, of Patia upazila of Chittagong district while the identity of the two others could not be known immediately. Police said a Bagerhat-bound bus of Ekota Paribahan from Chittagong skidded off the road and plunged into a nearby water-filled ditch at about 7:15am, killing two passengers on the spot and injuring 34 others. Local people rescued the passengers of the bus, which went under 10-ft water in the ditch, reports UNB.

Housewife electrocuted in B'baria

BRAHMANBARIA, Aug 19: A young housewife was electrocuted and a neighbour injured while trying to save her at village Bhelanagar in Banchharampur upazila on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Ruby Akhter, 28. Family sources said Ruby came in contract with a live electric wire and died on the spot while spreading wet cloth on a rope nearby the wire at about 3pm. Ruby's neighbour Abudl Latif got electric shock when he tried to save her. He was admitted to a local hospital, reports UNB.

Four clinics sealed off in Thakurgaon

THAKURGAON, Aug 19: Four clinics in the district town were sealed off on Tuesday for lack of necessary physicians and staff nurses. The clinics are Day-Night Clinic, Seven Clinic, Sabuj Clinic and Yusuf Clinic and Hospital. A medical team comprising joint forces led by a magistrate raided the clinics and found various mismanagements, reports UNB.

Youth arrested with 7 cocktails in Bogra

BOGRA, Aug 19: Police arrested a young man along with seven cocktails from his house at Chhatakumira village in Sadar upazila on Monday night. The arrested was identified as Azizul alias Kailya, 25, son of Badsha Mia of the village. Acting on a tip-off, police raided Azizul's house, arrested him and recovered the cocktail while his 5-7 accomplices managed to flee the scene, reports UNB.