Staff Reporter:
Arsenic has been detected in tube-well water at all 1,290 government primary schools in Jashore, with excessive levels found at 16 schools, according to recent tests conducted by the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE).
The tests were carried out at the DPHE laboratory, raising concerns over the safety of drinking water available to schoolchildren. According to the office of the DPHE executive engineer in Jashore, the district has 1,290 government primary schools across eight upazilas.
Of these, 267 are in Manirampur, 251 in Jashore Sadar, 117 in Abhaynagar, 102 in Bagharpara, 139 in Chaugachha, 131 in Jhikargachha, 158 in Keshabpur and 125 in Sharsha.
Despite the detection of arsenic, many school authorities reportedly remain unaware of the test results. As a result, students may still be drinking water from contaminated tube-wells.
The internationally recommended tolerable level of arsenic in drinking water is 10 parts per billion (ppb), or 10 micrograms per liter (μg/L). Long-term ingestion above safe limits is linked to skin lesions, cardiovascular complications, and cancers of the bladder, lungs, skin, and kidneys. At Kashimpur Government Primary School in Manirampur, 0.62 milligrams of arsenic was detected in the tube-well water, while 0.102 milligrams was found at Shyamkur Government Primary School in the same upazila. At Kayba Government Primary School in Sharsha, the level was 0.65 milligrams.
Kashimpur school headteacher Abdus Sattar said they had not been informed by any government office about the test result. “If we had been informed, we would have identified the tube-well and stopped students from drinking its water. We will take a quick decision on the matter because we cannot knowingly put our students at risk,” he said.
Shyamkur headteacher Bidhan Chandra said they were unaware of the contamination. He said the tube-well had been painted green, while students mainly used water from a deep tube-well.
At Kayba Government Primary School, headteacher Saidu Nessa said water from the affected tube-well was generally not used for drinking. However, she said the school authorities should have been informed about the excessive arsenic level.
Professor Pavel Chowdhury, president of the Sachetan Nagarik Committee (SANAK), Jashore, said the situation was alarming. “The risky tube-wells should be identified immediately and the concerned school authorities should be informed. At the same time, alternative sources of safe drinking water must be arranged for the students,” he said.
Dr Mahabubur Rahman, assistant professor of paediatrics at Jashore Medical College, said arsenic-contaminated water should not be consumed.
“The concerned schools must take immediate initiatives in this regard. If children do not have access to safe drinking water, they may suffer from various diseases,” he said. Khan Masum Billah, additional deputy commissioner (Education and ICT) of Jashore, said water from tube-wells containing excessive arsenic must not be consumed. “Necessary measures will be taken in this regard, and alternative sources of safe drinking water will be arranged for the students,” he said.
Abdul Alim Gazi, executive engineer of DPHE Jashore, said arsenic levels in tube-well water at all government primary schools in the district had recently been tested.
“Arsenic was detected in the water of every tube-well. Excessive levels were found in 16 schools. We have advised the authorities to arrange alternative sources of safe drinking water for students at those schools,” he said.
