Chattogram Customs on Saturday sent 151 tonnes of hazardous acids and acid-related chemicals, stored for years in nine containers at Chattogram Port, to Wata Chemicals Limited in Rupganj, Narayanganj, for safe and environmentally regulated destruction.
The chemicals were transported from the port on the morning of October 3 under police escort, according to the Chattogram Custom House.
Md Rasel Ahmed, Assistant Commissioner of Chattogram Customs, told TIMES of Bangladesh that the chemicals were dispatched to Narayanganj in line with a decision taken at a meeting on September 22.
The disposal initiative was undertaken to improve port safety and reduce container congestion. A total of 150.89 metric tonnes of hazardous chemicals, including acids and acid-related substances, had been identified for disposal from nine containers that had remained at the port well beyond their expiry or usable periods.The containers had been lying at Chattogram Port since 2003 and subsequent years.
The chemicals identified for disposal include 25.55 tonnes of sulfuric acid, 500 kg of nitric acid, 92.54 tonnes of methanol and 32.30 tonnes of thinner.
The disposal process is being carried out following recommendations from the Bangladesh National Authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention (BNACWC) and under the supervision of the Chattogram Custom House Disposal Committee.
The chemicals will be destroyed at Wata Chemicals Limited in Murapara, Rupganj, Narayanganj, using an environmentally friendly and regulated process.
At around 10am on Saturday, vehicles carrying the chemicals left Chattogram Port for the Narayanganj facility in the presence of members of the Disposal Committee.
Several government agencies are supporting the operation, including the BNACWC, Chattogram Port Authority, Chattogram Metropolitan Police, the district administration, Fire Service and Civil Defence, Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Department of Explosives, the Department of Environment and Ansar Battalion.
