Unplanned embankment poses threat to river
The ongoing construction of an embankment on the Sandhya river in Barishal has sparked outrage among locals who believe the structure will damage the river crucial to their livelihoods. Locals in Banaripara
Daily Star (Bangladesh)
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Create professionals in disaster management
Former adviser to a caretaker government Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury yesterday called for starting formal education on disaster management in the universities of the country. He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of a workshop on 'National Plan for Disaster Management' at the Biam auditorium in the city. The workshop was organised by Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) which is preparing the national plan in collaboration with the UNDP.
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Land developers not applying quake resisting measures
Land developers are filling low-lying lands around Dhaka city for the construction of buildings without applying earthquake resisting measures, speakers at a seminar said yesterday. The developers are also not following the National Building Code while filling the low-lying lands, they added. "We need to update the National Building Code, which should feature the latest developments in earthquake-resistant design," Communication Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader said as the chief guest.
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Public awareness, edn a must to fight AIDS in Asian region
Speakers at a seminar in the port city yesterday underscored the need for proper education among the women to create competent leadership for fighting AIDS and social problems prevailing in the South and South East Asian region. Asian University of Women (AUW) organised the seminar on 'Leadership in a time of crisis: A personal journey in the campaign against HIV/AIDS in Malaysia' at a local hotel. Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, daughter of former prime minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohammad and a prominent journalist, presented a keynote speech as the chief guest.
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Foreboding of an environmental disaster
HUMAN population growth is the primary threat to the world's environment. Each person requires energy, space and resources to survive, resulting in environmental losses. Our population is rapidly rising beyond the earth's ability to regenerate and sustain us with a reasonable quality of life. We are exceeding the carrying capacity of our planet, challenging the existence of several species, including our own.
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'Enforce regulatory measures to protect environment '
Experts at a seminar yesterday underscored the need for education for sustainability with a view to protecting the environment and combating climate change. Expressing concern over environmental degradation, they also suggested enforcing regulatory measures to protect the environment necessary for healthy growth and socio-economic development of the country. International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) organised the seminar on 'Education for sustainability' at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
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Dev plans should be designed considering climate change'
Our national development plans should be designed considering the climate change, speakers said at a seminar at Jahangirnagar University (JU) yesterday. Environmental science department of the university and Training Research Education for Empowerment jointly organised the seminar presided over by department Chairman Dr Sayeed Hafizur Rahman. Speaking as the chief guest, JU Vice Chancellor Prof Mohammad Moniruzzaman said global warming is the reason behind climate change that is affecting the lives of all the living creatures on earth.
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At least 31 killed in Burkina Faso mining accident
At least 31 people died Saturday in a mudslide at an illegal gold mine in Burkina Faso, state-run radio said. Miners dug through the mud to try to rescue survivors and pull out bodies in the mining village of Boussoukoula in southwest Burkina Faso, state radio said. Heavy rains were blamed for the landslide. The accident comes after a June government order for unofficial mines to close until September 30 because of the risk of accidents during the rainy season, when hastily dug tunnels can easily collapse.
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1m solar household systems by 2012 to achieve target
Over 2.30 lakh rural households were brought under the solar power system in last five years by Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL) as alternative source of energy. Executive Director of IDCOL, a company under the Ministry of Finance, M Ehsanul Haque yesterday said they have set a target to install one million Solar Household Systems (SHSs) by 2012 to help government achieve the target of providing electricity to all by 2020.
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Call to combat climate change
Bangladeshi expatriates in Australia and the Australian government have expressed their commitment to combat multiple effects of climate change in Bangladesh. The commitment came at a symposium to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bangladesh Environment Network (Ben) in Canberra last week. The symposium titled 'Environment and Bangladesh' was organised by Ben's Australian chapter at the Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra to strengthen ties between Ben and environmentalists in Australia.
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Developing nations struggle to stay alive
A three-day SAARC conference on climate change was held in Dhaka from 1 to 3 July, where the ministers and experts of South Asian countries resonated the judicious demands of developing nations to adapt vis-a-vis the impacts of the climate change. In the context of global warming, faster sea level rise, frequent devastating cyclones, floods and droughts, the SAARC countries have designed an action plan to combat the environmental challenges.