UNB, Chattogram :
Thirteen more buffaloes have died allegedly after drinking water of a canal polluted by toxic waste from state-owned Chattogram Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) factory in the city’s Anwara upazila.
Touhidul Islam, panel chairman of Barshat Union Parishad, said the CUFL dumped their toxic waste into the Gobadia canal and the buffaloes died after drinking the water of the canal while grazing in the area on Sunday morning.
“We have taken position in front of the factory gate with the dead buffaloes for compensation,” he said.
The owners of the buffaloes said that the market value of the buffaloes is around Tk 18 lakh.
Locals alleged the company dumps the waste directly into the canal without treatment even though CUFL has an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP).
Meanwhile, CUFL General Manager Moinul Haque said their team has visited the spot.
Animal owners have been asked to apply for compensation, he said.
Besides, it is needed to check whether there is any leakage in the ETP, he added.
Earlier, on April 14, four cows died allegedly after drinking water from the while 12 buffaloes died in the same way last year.
