“Fatal” mistake
The term should not be "fatal bacteria" as reported by your Bogra Staff Correspondent (Ref: The Daily Star, June 21, 2008; page 2); it should be "fecal bacteria". The word 'fecal' is the US version of the English word 'faecal', which means 'from feces', i.e. from human or animal excreta. Hundreds of types of bacteria are normal residents in the intestines of man and other animals.
These are called coliform bacteria, among which, the Escherichia coli (or E. coli) is one of the best known. Although it is usually harmless, occasionally it can cause inflammations of abdominal membranes or organs. But by no means, it can be called 'fatal'.
The presence of E. coli in the drinking water is an indication and measure of its contamination. Water containing a certain level of E. coli concentration or above it is not safe or suitable for human consumption. If you test the water from a municipal water tap in old Dhaka, you would find a lot of E. coli in it.
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