Chemical waste is being dumped at Benapole land port for years together. This is causing problems in business and trade in the space crisis as well as increasing health risks. However, the port authorities have no urge to remove the waste.
Water mixed with chemicals enters the locality from the port and is causing extensive damage to plants, fish farming and homes. The villagers are living a stranded life. Besides, the workers who are unloading goods at the port 24 hours a day are also not safe. The victims have repeatedly complained to the port authorities about the issue for the last five years but no solution has been found.
Port authorities said they are unable to remove the chemical waste generated by the fire due to legal complications. However, these wastes should be taken care of so as not to cause loss or misery to the people.
Aminul Haque, leader of the Benapole Port Import-Export Business Association, said 70 per cent of the country's chemical products imported from India for industrial use come through the Benapole port. These imported products include various types of acidic chemicals and powdered chemicals. Some chemicals are so dangerous that they ignite on their own in a truck or godown. After the fire, all those wastes have been scattered inside the port and roads of the port's populated area year after year as the port authorities did not move them to a safe place. This is seriously polluting the environment.
Badar Uddin, a resident of Benapole port area, said that as the port does not have its own drainage system, acid-mixed water enters the locality, endangering people's health and destroying plants and houses. Besides, in the name of security, the port authorities have blocked the entrance of the villagers with a wall, making it difficult for the boys and girls for study. At various times, the victims wrote letters to the port authorities demanding relief from the situation, but no solution was found.
Habibur Rahman, a laborer engaged in unloading goods at the port, said they have to work and move between garbage and chemical waste. I have been physically ill for twelve months.
Arvind, an Indian truck driver, said he had to stand day after day to unload goods at the Benapole port due to space constraints. If the waste is removed, the space crisis will be reduced a lot.
Ashik Mahmud Sabuj, chairman of the Green World Environment Foundation, an environmental organization, said chemical waste mixed with air increases the health risks of poisoning.
Mofizur Rahman Sajan, president of the Benapole C&F Association, said there has been a space crisis over the years as chemical waste has been dumped in large numbers inside the port. So trade is being disrupted and port users are falling into health risks. It is very important to remove these.
Abdul Jalil, acting director (traffic) of Benapole port, said the chemical waste was not being removed due to legal complications. However, it is important to ensure that these are drained very quickly and that acid-mixed water does not enter the area.
It is learned that in the last 5 years, 6 small and big fire incidents have taken place at Benapole port. It is about metric tons of waste piles of various products including tons of chemicals that have been deposited.