The radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in 24 samples of natural and manufactured building materials commonly used in Bangladesh were measured using HPGe gamma ray spectrometer. The results in the present study were compared with the world average and also with the reported data available in literature. The radium equivalent activity, the absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose, external and internal hazard indices, gamma index, alpha index, annual gonadal dose equivalent and excess lifetime cancer risk were also evaluated to assess the potential radiation hazards associated with these building materials. All samples under investigation were found to be within the recommended safety limit and do not pose any significant radiation hazards. This study can be used as a reference for more extensive studies of the same subject in future.
The hybrid derivative (B4F6) of C. olitorius ×C. aestuans (A/O) turned out superior than C. olitorius var 0-4 in respect of ultimate fibre length and two out of seven characters that contribute to the yield of fibres. The other hybrid C. olitorius ×C. depressus (O/D) was better than the control only in respect of number of fibre pyramids. It is suggested that the further backcrosses of A/O to the control (C. olitorius) be undertaken to combine the superior ultimate fibre quality and the seven characters in a single variety.
The Mros are one of the eleven tribes residing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region in the southeast portion of Bangladesh. They are believed to belong to the Tibeto-Burman group of the Mongoloid race. Their present population is estimated to be around 60,000. The Mro tribe has their own distinct culture, which they still maintain to a large extent. They shun modern allopathic doctors and keep to their own tribal medicinal practitioners to cater to their health-care needs. Since the tribal medicinal practices of the Mro healers are still undocumented, the objective of the present study was to collect ethnographic information on a Mro community and interview a Mro tribal medicinal practitioner who practices among the Mro community residing in Gazalia Union of the Bandarbans district, Bangladesh. Twenty four formulations were obtained from the Mro healer, which formulations were used for treatment of diseases like gastric trouble, headache, asthma, conjunctivitis, ear abscess, mucus, lesions on tongue, vomiting, toothache, pain in throat, chest pain, stomach pain, diarrhea, rheumatism, urinary problems, blood dysentery, abscess on the body, infection on the breast, excessive bleeding following abortion, anemia, bone fracture, constipation in children, and tumor (swellings). One formulation was also used as a contraceptive. The formulations contained a total number of 45 plant species, of which 33 could be identified. Twelve plant species could not be identified suggesting that the forests of the Chittagong Hill Tracts region are still relatively unexplored regarding the presence of various floral species. The identified plant species were distributed into 30 families. Besides plants, the healer also used parts of two reptile species in his formulations, namely the gall bladder of Python molurus (Indian python) and Varanus indicus (monitor lizard). An esoteric item used in one of the formulation consisted of skull of a person who has died of an accident. A number of spices were also used in various formulations, which were a novel aspect of the Mro healer and suggested that he possessed considerable experiences on the medicinal value of spices. By nature, most formulations were complex and contained multiple ingredients, which again attests to the Mro healer’s expertise and knowledge of different plant species. Traditional medicinal knowledge has contributed to discovery of many modern drugs. From that aspect, the plants and reptile species used by the Mro healer presents considerable potential for further scientific studies leading to discovery of more effective cures for various diseases.