Authorities at Chattogram Port have intercepted a container of scrap metal from Brazil after radiation was detected during routine checks, prompting an immediate halt to its clearance and placement in isolation.

The alarm was triggered on Wednesday by the Megaports Initiative Radiation Detection System at Gate No. 4 of the port, as the container was being processed for release.

Details of the Shipment

Customs records show the shipment was imported by Al Aksa Steel Mills Ltd, based in Dhaka. It arrived aboard the vessel MV Mount Cameron on August 3 and was part of a five-container consignment weighing 135 tonnes in total. The cargo was intended for the company’s plant in Demra, Dhaka.

Radioactive Isotopes Detected

Preliminary and follow-up scans revealed the presence of Thorium-232, Radium-226, and Iridium-192. The initial reading was one microsievert, which is considered low, but customs officials noted the actual level could be higher since the metal and container walls may reduce the reading.

“The container has been moved to a secure storage zone. We’ve informed the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, and their specialists will inspect the site before any further action,” said Marufur Rahman, Joint Commissioner of Chattogram Custom House.

Past Incidents

Bangladesh first detected radioactive material in imported scrap in 2014. At that time, Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port identified radiation in a container of stainless steel scrap exported from Chattogram to India. The container was returned, and a multinational team removed a radium-beryllium source.