Chitra river rots with jute
August 7, 2011
A portion of the Chitra river has become seriously polluted, as farmers are rotting jute plants in it.
The pollution that extends some 40km on both sides of the river very badly affected nearly 40,000 people of Narail sadar and Kalia upazilas of the district.
Fishes and other aquatic creatures are dying in hundreds, and their decomposed bodies are making the situation worse for the locals.
Those living by the bank cannot go near the water they were habituated to use for cooking, drinking, washing and bathing until three months ago. The water reeks of dead fish and Read more
Mahamaya lake-a tourist spot spoiled
July 30, 2011
Security in one of country’s most preferred tourist spots under threat
Chittagong: Mahamaya, the second largest man-made lake in the port city, is fast becoming prey to human greed and negligence. Thwarted by pollution and land-grabbers, it is slowly getting girdled by shanties that have robbed the lake of its pristine beauty.
Besides, heavy vehicles like trucks are damaging the roads leading to the lake, sources said.
The lake was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on December 30 last year. After seven months of its inauguration, the embankment is full of potholes due to lack of maintenance. Local goons, patronised by Read more
Hilsa catches too frustrating for fishermen, traders
July 24, 2011
The ongoing hilsa season sees poor netting of the popular fish in the coastal waters, much to the frustration among fishermen and traders.
Fishermen’s families are passing hard days as the catches are not sufficient even to recover the cost of deep sea trips on trawlers for the purpose, according to our correspondent in Patuakhali.
Over 500 trawlers from coastal districts of Patuakhali and Barguna got engaged in catching hilsa in the deep sea after the end of ban period of hilsa catching but this year the catches are much less than expectation.
May to October is generally Read more
Erosion makes 300 families homeless in a week
July 24, 2011
Lalmonirhat, Kurigram
Erosion makes 300 families homeless in a week
Erosion by Teesta and Dharla rivers in Lalmonirhat and Brahmaputra in Kurigram has rendered around 300 families homeless in the last one week.
At least a hundred families at five villages under two unions in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila became homeless due to erosion by Teesta and Dharla rivers in the last 5-6 days.
The erosion hit areas are Bapari Tari, Badai Tari under Mogholhat union and Kalmati, Bagdora under Khuniyagachh union, said Water Development Board (WDB) sources.
Erosion hit Delowar Hossain, Read more
Handicraft brings the joy of self-reliance
July 20, 2011
Tackling poverty with handicraft business
Handicraft brings the joy of self-reliance
The economic hardship has gone from the life of Basana and her family since she has started a handicraft business.
Basana Rani, a 35-year old woman of Adhairpur village in Badalgachhi upazila of Naogaon, is now self-dependent and able to take a square meal thrice daily with her husband two sons, although she spent the most of her life as a domestic help to survive along with the family.
The villagers think that Basana has set an example of success in escaping the vicious cycle of poverty which other can follow Read more
Risky ride on abandoned bridge
July 20, 2011
A ‘death trap’ for people of at least 4 districts
A large number of people have continued risky ride on the awfully dilapidated bailey bridge over the Nautara River near Nautara Bazar in Dimla upazila of Nilphamari on Dalia-Sardarer Hat road as authorities failed to make any alternative arrangement.
Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) declared the 75-metre-long bridge abandoned three years ago but no step has been taken to reconstruct it to ease communication for people of Dimla and Jaldhaka upazilas of Nilphamari district and a part of Lalmonirhat district to go to Panchagarh and Thakurgaon districts Read more
So Important, Still so Ignored
July 11, 2011
Road to Kuakata in awfully bad shape for years
The 14-kilometre-long road from Pakhimara to Kuakata on Patuakhali-Kuakata highway has remained in an awfully dilapidated condition due to lack of renovation for years.
Vehicles ply amid risk the rundown and potholed road connecting Kuakata, an important tourism centre in the southern region, with the rest of the country.
The road becomes virtually unusable, especially during the rainy season.
During a visit on July 1, this correspondent saw over 30 vehicles including Read more
Karnaphuli shrinking
July 2, 2011
Losing navigability due to heavy siltation, creating scope for land grabbers
The Karnaphuli river, a lifeline for Chittagong city and the port, is gradually losing navigability with its width already shrunk by 50 to 270 metres at several points in the last two decades.
Its depth reduced sharply for heavy siltation, disposal of huge quantity of waste from the city and lack of planned dredging, says the annual Hydrographic Survey Chart, prepared by the Hydrographic Department of Chittagong Port Authority.
Silt deposits have surfaced in the river while encroachers Read more
30,000 trees felled there
June 25, 2011
Patuakhali forest officials estimate a day after mindless destruction of mangrove forest
Forest officials yesterday visited Char Bestin in the coastal areas of Patuakhali and Bhola and found over 30,000 trees of the mangrove forest have been chopped down by around 400 locals on Thursday.
Of these trees, over 10,000 were in Patuakhali and the rest in Bhola section, said Devdas, range officer of Char Montaz.
A three-member police team from Rangabali Police Station in Galachipa upazila reached the spot around 5:00pm on Thursday. Seeing the law enforcers the locals stopped felling the trees and Read more
Tidal Surge, Incessant Rain in Bagerhat
June 20, 2011
Over 6,000 shrimp, other fish enclosures washed away
Over six thousand shrimp and sweet water fish enclosures in Bagerhat were washed away by tidal waves amid incessant rain in the last three days, reports our correspondent.
District Fisheries Officer Bazlur Rashid said, farmers incurred a loss of Tk 4.6 crore as 6,271 ponds and shrimp enclosures in the district washed away due to tidal surge and heavy rain.
Farmers fear an irreparable loss of Aus paddy if the water does not recede from 4,500 hactares of cropland within the next four to five Read more
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