workers singing and digging well

Nasot-singing

THE RYTHMS OF BANGLADESH HELP BREAK THE TEDIUM OF HARD, PHYSICAL LABOUR.

THESE YOUNG MEN ARE DRILLING A DEEP TUBEWELL IN SEARCH OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER-AND EVERY BIT OF DISTRACTION HELPS.

WATER COMING OUT OF PUMP.

BUT THESE DAYS, THE WELLS ARE PRODUCING MORE THAN JUST CLEAN WATER.  THEY ARE ALSO A SOURCE OF THE DEADLY METAL-ARSENIC.

LET SINGING CONTINUE

Map of Bangladesh and highlight Dhaka.

PTC Super: Edmond Roy

Edmond: "This hand pump which in bangladesh is called a tubewell, was actively promoted by international aid agencies and the government for the past 20 years.  In a country where millions of people die due to water borne diseases, this was seen as a permanent solution to the drinking water problem.  Its water is bacteria free, is odourless. Colourless and tastes normal...but now in a perverse twist fo fate, there is evidence that this water may cntain arsenic, which if left unchecked has the potential to lead to the slow death of a nation.

Dr Roy and slides (spotted hands)

Roy: (subtitles at 1.53) This is what we call melanosis.  It happens all over your body and you get these spots.

Dr Roy lecturing

V/O

Dr Sibtosh Roy from the Dhaka community Hospital, was one of the first people to identify arsenic poisoning in the villages fo Bangladesh in 1996.

Dr Roy and slides NB OVERLAY WITH SLIDES AGAIN

Dr. Roy: "this girl is 10 years old.  Her name is

Beauty and she is beautiful, but look at her hands.  When you drink arsenic, you can also get keratosis.  There is a substance in the body-Keratin, which hardens like sand on the beach.  Her hand has become rock hard like that.

CONTINUE pics of Dr Roy lecturing

V/O

ARSENIC POISONING OCCURS SLOWLY.  ITS FIRST SIGNS APPEAR ONLY AFTER A DECADE OF DRINKING CONTAMINATED WATER.

GRUESOME SLIDES

IN ITS EARLY STAGES, IT CAN BE REVERSED BY DRINKING CLEAN WATER AND EATING GOOD FOOD-BUT IN ITS LATER STAGES IT CAN LEAD TO CANCER AND DEATH.