Samples from Atrai show presence of 49pc iron
Scientists have found presence of 49 per cent iron in the samples collected from Atrai riverbed.Photo: STAR
Scientists of Institute of Mining, Mineralogy and Meteorology (IMMM) in Joypurhat have found 49 per cent presence of iron in the randomly collected samples from the Atrai riverbed in Khansama upazila under the district. "We conducted a laboratory test and found 49 per cent iron along with 35 per cent silica and 16 per cent other particles in the previously collected samples," Prodip Kumar Biswas, a geologist and senior scientific officer of IMMM, said yesterday. A five-member team of IMMM under Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) visited the site on Sunday. The team led by Prodip Kumar Biswas comprised chemical engineer Imran Hossain, soil scientist Shanjida Sultana and two technicians of IMMM laboratory, arrived at Guliyara village in Khansama upazila at around 10:30am Sunday. During their four-hour visit to the area, they talked with a number of villagers of Guliyara and several adjacent villages in the area when the locals informed them that many of them have been facing trouble to sink tube-wells in the area. Suggesting that the problem might be due to presence of iron ore, the experts they would recommend Petrobangla and Department of Geological Survey of Bangladesh to conduct a survey to assess the deposition of iron in Atrai River. The deposition of iron at Atrai riverbed seems to have been transported there with the river flow from the upstream in other neighbouring countries, said the experts. They collected samples for further laboratory test. Earlier, Mir Mohammad Abdul Hannan, deputy general manager (Geology) of Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd, told this correspondent, "Our observation suggests presence of iron ore in around 500-metre radius area, but the area may be found to be larger if survey id conducted." Earlier on March 5, engineer Quarumzzaman, managing director of BCMCL, Mir Mohammad Abdul Hannan, DGM (Geology), Sirajul Islam DGM (Admin), and Dr Shahahat Hossain Khan, professor of soil science department of Haji Danesh Science and Technology University visited the spot and confirmed the presence of iron ore in Atrai River.
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