Factory waste pollutes canal in Habiganj

Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) yesterday urged Habiganj district administration to take punitive action against Maar Limited (Maize Advanced Agro Refinery) as chemical waste from its factory is polluting nearby Ekhtiar canal, which links to the Meghna River.

A team led by Sharif Jamil, joint secretary of Bapa, visited the spot in Shahpur area of Madhabpur upazila and saw the chemical waste of the factory seeping into the land and flowing into the nearby canal.

The team members talked with locals, who have been agitating for long, demanding closure of the factory as it is dumping chemical waste illegally.

They later met Deputy Commissioner Sabina Alam and urged her take steps to stop dumping of chemical waste by the factory.

On December 12, factory workers clashed with locals, who were staging a demonstration near the factory, protesting dumping of chemical waste. Eight people were injured and five vehicles and 10 motorbikes were damaged in the clash.  

Contacted, Syed Akhtar Hossain, managing director of Maar Limited, said the factory is installing an effluent treatment plant.

On December 12, some criminals, equipped with sharp weapons and sticks attacked the factory, causing a loss of around Tk 25 lakh, he added.