DoE proposes enforcing pollution tax, awareness programs

'Polluters pay is a globally applicable phenomenon, and this should be enforced in Bangladesh as well' As a measure to bring down pollution, Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE), Dr AKM Rafique Ahammed, on Wednesday proposed making polluters pay for the damage they cause to the environment. He said this at a seminar […]

Relocation of tanneries imperil workers

Unemployment runs high after the relocation led to factory owners laying off thousands of workers The relocation of Dhaka’s tannery industry from Hazaribagh may have served to bring it up to standards, but has yet to provide for the tens of thousands of workers involved in the industry. Unemployment runs high after the relocation led […]

State of food security and nutrition in the world 2019

This joint report is issued annually by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization. It presents the latest estimates on food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition at the global and regional levels. The 2019 edition continues to signal […]

Health Tips: 8 Precautions To Take During Monsoon To Prevent Viral Infections

Health Tips: Immunity tends to weaken during monsoon. Blame change of weather or generally weak body, it is important to take extra precaution during the rainy season to avoid catching flu, cough, cold and other viral infections. Here are some tips that can help.  Monsoon diseases: Tips to prevent viral infections in the rainy season […]

Arial Beel: Home of Abundant Natural Resources

Arial Beel (Wetland) – a large water body of 136 square kilometers, situated south of Dhaka in between Padma and Dhaleshwari river. The beel's features change from season to season. Specially, during the winter time, it's diversity reaches a unique level. A few days back, I have been there. On my way, I stopped at […]

Round table meeting with media on harmful effects of mercury containing products on health and environment

US generates more electricity from renewables than coal for first time ever

The US generated more electricity from renewable sources than coal for the first time ever in April, new federal government data has shown. Clean energy such as solar and wind provided 23% of US electricity generation during the month, compared with coal’s 20%, according to the Energy Information Administration. This represents the first time coal has […]

Climate change may cut Kazakh grain harvest by 37 percent by 2030

The phenomenon presents enormous challenges for development, including its impact on agricultural supply chains.  Sixty-six percent of Kazakh land is vulnerable to drought. The numbers can be critical for the country, the world’s ninth largest by landmass and second largest in arable land per inhabitant, where cultivated land occupies an estimated 81 percent of the total area. World Bank […]

Belize to protect critical wildlife corridor that’s home to jaguars and more

In a boost to jaguars and other iconic wildlife of Central America, the government of Belize has approved a proposal to protect the Maya Forest Corridor, a key stretch of jungle that could help create the largest contiguous block of forest in Central America. About 20 kilometers (12 miles) long and 7 kilometers (4 miles) wide, the […]

Beyond Polar Bears: Biodiversity Loss Threatens Life in the Arctic

In late April, the Seventh Session of the Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) met in Paris, France. The goal for the 132 member governments and contributing institutions was to summarise the magnitude of ecological destruction on the planet and map the way forward. Their Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services found that only four of […]