School children in Bangladesh affected by gas leak
(Sept. 11,, 2012) In Bangladesh, an investigation is under way after around 150 students
from a school near Dhaka fell ill on Sunday after inhaling escaped emissions from
a nearby pharmaceutical factory. Many of the students from the Hazi Kasimuddin Public
School started vomiting and complained of feeling faint as toxic gas from the Beximco
Pharma factory engulfed part of the school, which has around 1,000 students. “It happened
around 8 a.m. when parents were dropping off kids outside. Suddenly, several classrooms
were engulfed by thick, white smoke from the Beximco factory. Students began feeling
sick and fainted,” said school principal Helal Uddin. At least 60 students, most of
them under 12, were hospitalized. Toxic emissions from the factory are nothing new,
the principal complained. “Ten students fell ill in 2006 and further emissions took
place in 2007 and 2008. However, authorities ignored our repeated complaints and the
police didn’t cooperate,” he said. Local police chief Ismail Hossain said their complaints
are being taken seriously this time, but did not say why previous complaints were
ignored. Beximco apologized for the gas leak and tried to play down health fears.
An Environment Department official said Beximco had violated rules by installing an
exhaust vent that was too low and which put the school at risk.