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The farmers of 20 unions out of total 70 in Narsingdi have expressed their grave concern over the gradual loss of fertility and productivity of their croplands because of the environmental pollution caused by the brick kilns.
   They said brick particles and black smoke of the brick kilns were damaging paddy as well as vegetable on the fields and destroying fertility of soil in these unions.
   Several farmers of Radhanagar union under Raipura upazila told New Age that their union is famous for the production of all kinds of vegetables including cauliflower, cabbage, tomato and potato because of high fertility of soil. The growth of other crops including paddy is also luxuriant, they added.
   They complained that their lands were losing their fertility and productivity following the establishment of brick kilns violating the circular of the land ministry.
   The black smoke emitted from the brick kilns and particles of bricks are destroying the fertility of lands around them.
   The government has prohibited the establishment of brick kiln on fertile land and near human habitation.
   The land ministry in a circular issued in 1990 clearly stated that brick kiln could be set up only on barren and fallow lands.
   The brick manufacturers have been advised to obtain environment impact assessment certificate from the department of environment before establishment any brick field at any place. But many brick manufacturers have set up brick kilns on fertile lands and near human habitations at many places in the district flouting the government circular.
   Allegations have it that the brick manufacturers have successfully managed to stop the interference of the local administration by their money power.

A plan chalked out by the Water Development Board eight years ago to save the Patuakhali town and four upazilas of the district from the threat of flood and onrush of saline water is yet to be implemented.
   Local sources said in 1997 the Water Development Board drew up a Tk 17 crore embankment and drainage programme to protect the Patuakhali town and the four coastal upazilas of Bauphal, Dashmina, Kalapara and Mirjaganj from the menace of flood and saline water.
   Though the Water Resources Ministry approved the project, the executive committee of the national economic council is yet to sanction fund to implement it, the sources added.
   The sources pointed out that major portion of the district town goes under water following high tide and even when the water level of the adjoining river rises slightly.
   The vulnerable areas include Puran Bazar, Kathpatty, Nabab Para, Muslim Para, Nutan Bazar, Charpara, Sadar Road, Sabuj-bag, Kalikapur and Gulbug.

Substandard life-saving drugs have flooded the markets in Jamalpur in recent times.
   Fungus and flies, among other things, are often found in many drug containers including the saline packs, which, the physicians said, could endanger the lives of patients.
   Mushrooming growth of many drug companies is alleged to be responsible for the manufacturing of the sub-standard drugs.
   These companies are even apathetic or careless about the necessity of obtaining certificates from the concerned quality control authority and market their products with attractive publicity.
   A section of physicians is allegedly patronising the companies for marketing these substandard medicines.
   It is also complained that the agents of the drug companies allure the physicians to prescribe their products by presenting them handsome gifts.
   The poor villagers use these medicines as the quacks of the villages prescribe these. Another reason is that these medicines are available at cheaper price in the nearby markets with no result.
   A number of medicine shops are functioning both in the urban and rural areas without drug licenses which are compulsory for the drug stores.
   Sources concerned observed that no drug should be marketed without the certificate of the authorities concerned.
   The monogram of the testing authorities should also be inscribed on the bottles or ampoules of the medicines.
   Conscious people think that exemplary punishment should be awarded to the manufacturers of these sub-standard medicines.
   Mere withdrawal of sub-standard medicines by the companies through advertise-ment in the newspapers should not be accepted, they said.
   They urged the government that inspection of drug stores should be made regular to trade on the lives of the poor patients.

The elevation of the Kurigram municipality to class one status was greeted with jubilation by its residents cutting across party line.
   A notification issued by the order of the President recently raised the status of the Kurigram Municipality.
   Talking to New Age, some town dwellers expressed the hope that with the upgrading of the status of the municipality the town fathers would give due attention to metalling the roads, improving its drainage and sanitation system as well as the water supply.
   Dispelling the fear of a section of the town dwellers, Abu Bakar Siddique, chairman of the municipality, clearly stated that municipal tax would not be increased.