Radioactivity detected in container from Brazil at Chattogram Port
Tests have confirmed the presence of three radionuclide isotopes — thorium-232, radium-226, and iridium-192.
Radioactivity has been detected in a container carrying scrap metal imported from Brazil at Chattogram Port, prompting customs authorities to suspend its unloading and isolate it for safety.
According to the Custom House, Chittagong (CHC), the container was flagged by the Megaport Initiative Radiation Detection System during scanning at the port. Subsequent first- and second-stage tests confirmed the presence of three radionuclide isotopes — thorium-232, radium-226, and iridium-192.
Customs officials said the initial reading showed a radioactivity level of one microsievert, a relatively low amount. However, the actual radiation level inside could not be confirmed without further tests, as the container's steel walls and the scrap metal inside may block accurate readings.
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The container is part of a shipment of 135 tonnes of scrap imported by Dhaka-based Al Aqsa Steel Mills Limited in five containers. It was unloaded from the vessel MV Mount Cameron at Jetty No 9 of the GCB Terminal on 3 August.
The radiation alert was triggered on Wednesday during clearance through Gate No 4 of the port.
CHC Joint Commissioner Mohammad Marufur Rahman said the container has been quarantined, and a formal request is being sent to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) to conduct an on-site inspection.
"Scientists will perform detailed radiation tests, after which appropriate measures will be taken," he added.
Radioactive materials are used in medicine, industry, and research, and are normally stored in secure, sealed containers to prevent contamination. After use, they must be properly collected and managed as radioactive waste.
However, due to negligence or accidents, these sources sometimes leak or are discarded improperly, posing risks to human health and the environment.
Customs records show the scrap was loaded in Manaus, a city in northern Brazil, on 30 March. The container travelled through multiple ports -- Cristobal (Panama), Rotterdam (Netherlands), and Colombo (Sri Lanka) -- before arriving in Chattogram on 3 August.
Bangladesh first encountered a radioactive shipment in 2014, when a container of stainless steel scrap bound for India was intercepted in Colombo.
Tests later revealed it contained 'radium-beryllium' emitting 12,000 microsieverts per hour. That hazardous material was safely removed with assistance from experts from Bangladesh, the United States, and other countries.
Commenting on the latest incident, former BAEC chairman Masud Kamal said, "Without detailed testing, it is impossible to determine the exact radiation level. But once an alert is triggered, the container must be kept separate to avoid human contact. Exposure above tolerable levels can pose serious health risks."
