Huge quantity of ash is being produced from burning jute sticks in six large furnaces set beside the area of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) at Khatapara village under Aditmari upazila, posing threat to health and environment.

Ash is being produced in a factory built here allegedly without valid documents to export the produce abroad, said locals.

The villagers strongly protested the construction of the factory but to no effect as local musclemen are involved in the business.

"We are not getting expected crops and fruit since the ash factory was set up in the area six months ago. We are also being deprived of getting fresh oxygen as ash from the furnaces pollutes the environment," said Abdul Khaleque, 48, a resident of the village. 

"The green leaves of trees turned black and these are falling off as ash produced from burning huge quantity of jute sticks covered the entire area," said another villager, Abdus Samad.

Schoolgirl Amena Khatun, daughter of Anwar Hossain of the village, said she cannot read easily at their home when the ash covers the area.

She also urged the authorities concerned to shift the factory from the area to save the environment from pollution.

Lovely Begum, a worker of the factory, who gets Tk 150 to do work for 10 hours everyday, said, "We feel breathing problem while unloading ash from the furnaces."

Azad Hossain, manger of the ash factory, said they are running the factory with necessary documents. 

Ash is being produced here to export to China, Taiwan, Germany and Korea at present, he said.

However, on condition of anonymity, a staff of BSCIC, said as the factory owner did not get plot from BSCIC, it is running illegally. 

Lalmonirhat BSCIC Deputy Manger Kahirul Alam Almazi said although no plot of BSCIC was allotted for running the factory, it was set up beside the BSCIC area.

Contacted, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jahurul Islam said, "Legal action will be taken against the owner of the factory if it is running without the permission of the Department of Environment (DoE)."