Lalmonirhat: The tobacco processing facilities in the district pose health hazards, with at least 200 such installations built in three upazilas under the funding of tobacco companies.
It was alleged that the commercial enterprises lured the simple-minded tobacco cultivators into setting up facilities with all kinds of necessary support.
A section of conscious farmers and locals strongly protested against the installations, but to no effect.
The villagers alleged that the musclemen in the area had been working as tobacco companies’ representatives.
Monowar Hossaun – a schoolteacher in Vatapara village of Aditmari upazila – said at least 20 facilities emerged in the village for processing tobacco leaves.
The installations posed serious threats to the environment, he added.
“Nicotine from the facilities affects all of us in the village and we can’t move easily during the tobacco harvesting period.”
Montu Miah, a worker in tobacco processing facility in Vatapara village, said green tobacco leaves were heated by fire in the facility and it took at least six hours to do that. “A pipe is used for bringing out a cloud of smoke from the factory which affects human living.”
Mazidul Islam, 50, a tobacco grower in Sarpukur village of Aditmari upazila, said tobacco companies bore all expenditure related to installation of tobacco facilities.
“We process tobacco leaves easily, and so we are interested in it,” he said.
Azizul Islam, a college student in Dhadogachh village in Lalmonirhat Sadar, alleged that locals were keen on smoking from tobacco facility which was run round the clock.
Seeking anonymity, a tobacco company’s representative in Lalmonirhat said the farmers were running these tobacco processing units beside their homesteads as they were receiving attractive offers from the company.
He, however, admitted that smoke emitting form the facilities were harmful to the environment and human health including child health.
Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Nuruzzaman said the agriculture department was working in field levels to raise awareness among farmers against setting up of tobacco processing facilities in order to save environment and agriculture.
