Radioactive material found in container at Ctg port

Experts yesterday identified radioactive substances in nine sacks in an export container earlier seized at the Chittagong Port and safely removed those to another container.

A nine-member team of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) identified the source of radiation at the container, two days after they started an inspection of the container containing 41 sacks.

Talking to The Daily Star, BAEC Chief Scientific Officer Debasish Paul, who led the team, said they identified nine sacks contaminated with radiation.

The team removed the sacks to another container and sealed it off. The sacks were kept in such a way that those could not harm people and the environment, the official added.

All the 41 sacks, weighing 500 kg each, contained dust particles, mainly of zinc of steel rerolling mills.

According to Debasish, the level of radiation in the sacks ranged from 0.3 to 8 microsieverts per hour.

A decision on disposing of the contaminated sacks would be taken later.

Chittagong-based Citadel Global Corporation was exporting the container to China declaring that the sacks contained zinc oxide. The radiation was detected by a device installed at the port gate on August 23.

Customs officials cancelled the container's shipment scheduled for August 24.