DIPANKAR ROY, Khulna

Toxic emissions from a factory in Rupsha upazila of Khulna have been causing environmental pollution in at least eight neighbouring villages.

The fumes originate from Mimco Carbon Company Limited, an export-oriented factory beside Padma Beel in Tilak village. Established in 2013 on around 45 bighas of land by a businessman from Jamalpur, the factory was inaugurated in March that year by Mannujan Sufian, then state minister for labour and employment.

After operations were halted due to loan default, the factory was later leased from a bank and is now being run by local businessman Shahjahan Shikari and his nephew Masum Billah Shikari.

Locals said since the factory began operations, vast stretches of cropland, fish ponds and residential areas have repeatedly been blanketed by soot and ash from fumes emitted by its furnaces, which operate without emission control, particularly in the evening and at night.

They said the pollution has severely affected the predominantly agricultural area spanning Tilak, Amdabad, Machuadanga, Noihati, Debipur, Samantasena, Patharghata, Godaikhali and other nearby villages.

Padma Beel, covering around 140 hectares, is a vital agricultural zone, with nearly 110 hectares under cultivation.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found the factory producing carbon black in 42 furnaces by burning jute sticks, while 18 more furnaces were under construction.

Despite being only two to three kilometres from the upazila parishad and within one kilometre of more than six educational institutions, the factory has continued operating for years amid a lack of effective monitoring by the authorities concerned, villagers alleged.

Despite repeated protests, human chains and press conferences, no steps have been taken in this regard, locals said. Many believe the factory operates with the backing of influential quarters.

“In recent years, many people here have developed asthma, heart disease and chronic respiratory conditions due to prolonged exposure to the toxic fumes released from the factory’s furnaces every evening,” said Hosne Ara Banu, a resident of Tilak village.

Children are the worst affected, she added.

Farmer Gaffar Sheikh of Debipur village said the pollution has adversely affected crop production.

“We no longer get expected yields. Paddy plants die; tomato and gourd production has declined as flowers wither prematurely. The ash settles in fish ponds, Masum

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