Toxic fumes put 8 Rupsha villagers at health risk
Khulna Correspondent :
Thick plumes of black smoke curling into the sky have become a daily reality for residents of at least eight villages in Rupsha upazila, where vast stretches of cropland and fish enclosures are now regularly shrouded in what locals describe as toxic fumes.
For nearly two decades, they say, a silent environmental crisis has been unfolding around Padmabil, threatening public health, reducing agricultural output and disturbing the ecological balance of the area.
Residents trace the problem to Mimco Carbon Company Limited, a factory established in 2013 on 45 ???? of land in Tilak village beside Padmabil.
The plant was inaugurated in March that year by the then state minister for labour and employment, Monnujan Sufian.
After reportedly shutting down due to loan default, the factory was later leased from BASIC Bank and is now being operated by local businessman Shahjahan Shikari and his nephew Masum Billah Shikari.
The factory currently runs 42 furnaces where jute sticks are burned to produce carbon black, with 18 additional furnaces under construction.
According to company representatives, the entire output is exported to China. But residents allege that the production process releases thick black smoke that spreads across Tilak, Amdabad, Machuyadanga, Noihati, Debipur, Samantasena, Patharghata and Gadaikhali villages.
They claim the plant lacks modern emission control systems or effective filtration mechanisms, allowing smoke and fly ash to blanket surrounding fields and water bodies.
Abul Fazal, a day labourer, said crop yields have declined significantly in recent years. He alleged that rice production and fruit harvests have fallen, while the persistent foul smell has left many residents suffering from breathing difficulties.
A teacher from Amdabad echoed the concern, pointing out that schools, colleges, madrasas and densely populated residential areas lie close to the factory.
He said locals had organised human chains and press conferences demanding action, but no effective solution had yet been provided.
Masum Billah Shikari, a shareholder of the company, defended the factory’s operations, saying more than 50 similar factories are being established across the country and that his company was the first of its kind.
He maintained that the product is not meant for the local market and is exported entirely to China. Addressing allegations about smoke emissions, he claimed that connecting chimneys to control smoke creates fire hazards and that the furnaces are therefore operated with open mouths.
He further argued that since the area is relatively open, the emissions do not cause environmental harm and that nearby crops and trees are not affected.
However, Upazila Agriculture Officer Tarun Kumar Bala expressed concern over excessive smoke and fly ash, saying they are disrupting pollination, harming beneficial insects and ultimately affecting overall agricultural production.
He added that farmers have been reporting various health complications, raising further alarm about the long-term impact on the community.
The assistant director of the Department of Environment (DoE) in Khulna, Md Harun Or Rashid, said the factory had received environmental clearance in 2013-14 but failed to meet the conditions required for renewal in subsequent years.
He noted that a field-level inspection would be conducted to determine whether the factory is currently operating without valid clearance and that necessary legal steps would be taken if violations are found.
