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They drink to death for want of arsenic free tube-wells

Hossain Seraj, Magma
Arsenicosis affected Asia Begum is counting her days at her Hogoldanga village home in Sabdalpur union under Sreepur upazila of Magura district as doctors at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University detected malignancy in her liver seven months ago.
The 50-year-old woman, now bed-ridden, can hardly eat as she has very little digestion power, family sources said.
Asia's husband Baharul Munshi, a poor farmer, died in 2003 after both of his legs were amputated as those developed gangrene from long-term intake of arsenic contaminated water.
Seven other people of the same village also died of arsenicosis and arsenic related diseases between 2003 and 2012 by drinking arsenic contaminated water for several years, sources in Sreepur upazila health complex said.
In last four years, Laily Khatun, 46, wife of Golam Sarwar, their son Belal Hossain, 25, and daughter Joly Khatun, 13, died of similar situation.
Rizia Khatun, 30, Abul Kalam, 50, and Abdus Salam, 42, of the village also faced the same fate in 2003,2005 and 2009 as they drank arsenic contaminated water for years, family and upazila health complex sources said.
In the latest incident on July 11 this year, Golam Tahur, 52, of the village died after his right leg was amputated about eight months ago as gangrene was detected by the doctors, sources in UHC informed.
Visiting the village about 20 kilometres from Magura district town, this correspondent found Golam
Sarwar, 50, his daughter Asma Khatun, 15, Abu Zafar, 34, Sharafat Ali, 40, Rabeya Begum, 40, Firoz Mia, 22, Nawab Ali, 18, Hitu Munshi, 20, Salma Khatun, 20, Shahidul Islam, 53,
Nazmul, 30, and Sohel Mia, 20, are bearing symptoms of arsenicosis.
"One after another, villagers are dying of arsenicosis but the authorities did not bother to arrange fresh water to save us," said Golam Sarwar who lost his wife, a son and a daughter due to arsenic related diseases.
"After Baharul died of gangrene due to arsenic poisoning in 2003, we are crying for arsenic free tube-wells but to no effect. Still people in the area are forced to drink arsenic contaminated water that caused death of seven other people," said Shamsunnahar, wife of deceased Abdus Salam.
When contacted, Mohammad Zinarul Islam, assistant engineer of the Department of Public
Health Engineering in Magura, said, "Within the shortest possible time we will install a deep tube-well at Hogoldanga village to ensure safe water for the villagers."
Dr Shyamol Kumar Das, Sreepur upazila health and family planning officer, said, "The case of arsenic poisoning in Hogoldanga village is a unique case as all the victims of arsenicosis including the eight killed people are members of an extended family. We are now giving iron and antioxidant tablets to the arsenicosis patients as there is no remedy of the disease."