Havoc in Haor: Atomic energy experts to test samples

The government is sending experts from Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission to probe the recent deaths of fish, ducks and other aquatic lives in the haor areas in the northeastern region.

"We are sending our experts to the haor area. They will collect samples and examine them to determine why fish died,” Science and Technology Minister Yafes Osman told The Daily Star yesterday.

"However, I doubt that the deaths are linked with uranium mining [in India]," said the minister.

An official from the Atomic Energy Commission said they were primarily sending two teams, expected to be there in a day or two.

One team will run tests on samples to see if there is any radioactive material in them. The other team will conduct elemental analysis of the samples. 

It will take some time to find out if uranium was indeed coming from the drilling pits in Khasi Hills in Meghalaya bordering the haor region in Sunamganj, causing the death of aquatic resources, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Forwardman Nongrem, president of Khasi Student Union in South West Khasi Hill Districts, one of the leaders protesting against the uranium mining in the Khasi Hills, spoke with the The Daily Star yesterday.

He said many fish in the Raikor river died this year due to hazardous materials of the uranium mine. 

Though the authorities in Dhaka and Meghalaya are denying any link between the two, he said they “firmly believed” fish were dying because of mining.

In support of the argument, he said such deaths started in 2012 after mining activities began there.

The authorities left some uranium pits open and toxic materials are mixing with the river water, he added.

"Some of the drilling sites of uranium mine at Porkut Nongjri are just a few hundred metres from the India-Bangladesh border,” said Nongrem. 

Meanwhile, a team of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute reached the haor area yesterday, also to examine the cause of death of fish and ducks there.

Led by Chief Scientist Dr Masud Hossain Khan, the team examined waters from Khachar Haor, Halir Haor and Mahaliar Haor.

Talking to reporters, he later said, "The water of the haors is not in its normal condition and there is toxic gas in the water for which fish are dying."