Abu Naser Khan speaks at a seminar at the National Press Club in the city yesterday. On his right are Sirajul Islam, Prof Jasim Uddin and Syeda Rezwana Hasan.Photo: STAR

At least 2,000 industrial units operating in the city are constantly releasing toxic wastes polluting the environment at an alarming rate that result in spreading of diseases, including cancer.
Director of Environment Mohammad Shahjahan said this at a seminar on 'Threats on environment and public life from industrial waste' at the National Press Club in the city yesterday.
Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (Bela) and Paribesh Bachao Andolan (Paba) jointly organised the seminar with former vice chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Prof Jasim Uddin in the chair.
Environmentalists called on the government to ask every industrial unit to set up effluent treatment plant (ETP).
Shahjahan said more than 2,000 industrial units within the city release toxic wastes that are polluting the environment at an alarming rate. They have visited 694 units of which 471 are extremely required ETP.
Abdul Gani, a teacher of Buet, said, “I have tested in the laboratory leaves and edible foods and vegetable plants in industrial area of Savar. Toxic elements like lead, copper, zinc, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, nickel and iron originated from industrial wastes were found in all those tested.”
The toxic elements in leaves, vegetables and food items are causing cancer, respiration problem, kidney infection and such other diseases, he added.
Leaders of both the organisations said few industrial units have ETPs, but those are kept out of function.
Speakers noted with concern that the government had directed the owners of such industries to submit schedule of setting up ETP by June 30 last. FBCCI had also assured of obeying the government order but failed.
They underlined the importance of making the people conscious of the gravity of health hazards caused by toxic industrial wastes, adding that the government should be very strict in abiding by the rule of setting up ETP by industrial units to save the environment from population.
They said toxic elements of industrial wastes get mixed with vegetables and foods, causing a number of serious diseases in human body.
Syeda Rezwana Hasan, Abdul Gani and Sheikh Muhammad Shahidullah also spoke at the programme.