Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

Today is International Mine Safety Day 2023. The day is celebrated on April 4 every year to ensure the safety of miners. However, miners around the world are still working in insecurity. Still thousands of workers are losing their lives every year while climbing underground mines.

The risk of this death is higher in Asia. Especially the death toll of workers working in coal mines is high. Humans have advanced their livelihoods by using mineral resources since thousands of years ago. But the plight of the miners is not over yet. Along with security, there are also complaints that most miners do not receive their fair dues.

The day is observed to raise awareness to ensure the safety of mineral resources and miners. Usually, workers die due to sudden collapse of the mine and release of poisonous gases in the mine. That is why you have to work very carefully in the mine. Working in mines requires special training.

It should be noted that before going down to all the mines in the world, one has to sign that no one is responsible for his death. In other words, you have to work in the mine with constant risk.

Most of the workers in the world work underground in coal mines. The number of coal mines is also very high. Apart from this, gold, copper, stone mines also have to go underground to work. Oil or gas mining does not technically require people to go underground. Coal is one of the sources of energy extracted from the ground by humans.

Thousands of workers die every year while working in the mines. These workers died due to sudden release of poisonous gas or mine collapse. No major accidents have been reported so far in the mines of Bangladesh. On March 26, 2013, a Chinese engineer named Kexi (48) died due to toxic gas while working at the Barapukuria mine.

China has the highest mining death rate. In 2013, 1,49 people died in coal mining accidents in China. Which is 24 percent less than 2012. In 2012 and 2011, this number was one thousand 384 and one thousand 973 respectively. However, some human rights organizations claim that the actual number of workers who died in coal mine accidents is much higher.

The media reported that worker deaths in China are high due to lack of safety. According to an AFP report, safety rules are often not followed there. In addition, accidents often occur while working in mines in various countries including India, Turkey, Pakistan, Ukraine, Myanmar.

People have been extracting wealth from mines for a long time. The 'Lion Cave' in Swaziland is the oldest mine found by archaeologists. According to radiocarbon dating done here, this mine is about 43 thousand years old. Ancient Paleolithic people extracted iron-rich hematite from these mines.

The Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) formed in 1972 after the independence of Bangladesh discovered coal mines at Barapukuria in Dinajpur district in 1985, Khalashpir in Rangpur district in 1989 and Dighipara in Dinajpur district in 1995. At present workers are working underground in Barapukuria coal mine and Madhyapara Tashsheela mine in Bangladesh.

The ancient Romans ushered in a new era in mining engineering. They discovered methods of extracting minerals on a large scale. Of which the method of bringing huge water through numerous canals for hydraulic mining is particularly noteworthy.

In some mines, the Romans also introduced devices such as water-powered spinning wheels, which were used in the Rio Tinto copper mines in Hexon. Gunpowder was first used in a mine in the Kingdom of Hungary (now Slavonia) in 1627. The Industrial Revolution further advanced mining engineering. Advanced explosives, steam-driven pumps, modernized mining methods.

Finally, let's talk about miners. Despite the development of the country and the nation due to the resources extracted from the mines, the living standards of the miners are still at the bottom. Even today, the security of those who risked their lives to extract minerals or were disabled or killed, has not been ensured. They have to extract minerals every day with insecurity and life risk. Many workers often lose their lives or become crippled.

The lives of miners are as valuable as mines. It is necessary to ensure their safety by modernizing the mining methods. The use of advanced explosives, steam driven pumps etc. in mining engineering should be increased. Those who bring success for the country in exchange for their lives, must come forward to ensure their protection in the country.

And before going down to all the mines of the world, they have to sign that no one is responsible for their death. In other words, you have to work in the mine with constant riskTherefore, advanced explosives, steam powered pumps, modernization of mining methods, besides ensuring maximum safety of the miners are required to take the mining industry forward.

The writer is a, columnist and researcher Founder and Chairman, Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society.