MAPUTO, Mar 29 2019 (IPS) – The city of Dondo, about 30 kilometres from Beira, central Mozambique, didn’t escape the strong winds of Cyclone Idai. It is estimated that more than 17,000 families were displaced and more than a dozen schools…
Category: Disasters
Dhaka highrise fire survivors narrate tales of horror
Dhaka, Mar 29 (UNB) – It was not possible to see anything as there was a dark wall of smoke everywhere. Within 10 minutes the smoke spread throughout the building making it difficult for people to escape. Exhausted and terrified, Hasina…
The EU Del expresses deep condolence at loss of life in fire
“The Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh expresses its deep condolences for the loss of lives from the fire at FR Tower on Kamal Ataturk Avenue at Banani, Dhaka. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families which lost…
Dhaka highrise fire survivors narrate tales of horror
Dhaka, Mar 29 – It was impossible to see anything as there was a dark wall of smoke everywhere. Within 10 minutes the smoke spread throughout the building making it difficult for people to escape. Exhausted and terrified, Hasina Parvin,…
At least 19 dead in Banani FR Tower Fire in Dhaka
Dhaka, Mar 28 (UNB) – The death toll from the devastating fire at FR Tower in the city’s Banani area rose to 19 as 13 more bodies were recovered from the spot when the blaze was brought under control on…
No way to defend ourselves against climate change
PARAMARIBO, Feb 21 2019 (IPS) – Two of the most prominent women in the Caribbean nation of Suriname are speaking out about developed countries that release large volumes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. First Lady Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring and Speaker of…
Gender gap in disaster risk management: Why it matters
Submitted by Caren Grown, co-authors: Cristina Otano Over the past decade, the practice of disaster risk management (DRM) has evolved and matured. From mainly focusing on disaster response, local and international actors alike now emphasize the importance of preparedness and…
Untimely rain damages raw bricks in Satkhira brick kilns
Satkhira, Mar 2 – Untimely rain for last four days in the district damaged huge raw-bricks that were stacked up in the open fields for drying causing massive loss to more than one-hundred brick kilns. Saying that more than two-hundred…
Dhaka South City Corpn cuts off utility lines to warehouses
Dhaka, Feb 28 – Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) authorities in separate drive cut off utility lines of 23 chemical warehouse and factories of Islambagh and Shahidnagar area of old Dhaka yesterday in the aftermath of deadly Chawkbazar fire that…
Hailstorm kills ‘several thousand birds’ in Narail
Narail, Feb 27 (UNB) – Several thousand birds, mostly migratory birds, were killed in ‘Anurima Eco Park’ at Panipara village of Kalia upazila in hailstorm accompanying rain that ripped through the country in last three days. Erfan Ahmed, the managing director…
Helicopter with 6 on board missing in Nepal’s mountains
Kathmandu, Feb 27 (AP/UNB) — Police say a helicopter with six people on board that was flying in bad weather is missing in Nepal’s mountainous region. Nepal Police spokesman Uttam Raj Subedi says the helicopter lost contact with the airport…
Two killed, houses razed in BD localised Nor’Westers
Dhaka, Feb 26 – An elderly man was killed in hailstorm in Satkhira while another man died in a lightning strike in Brahmanbaria as localised storms struck during transition of season on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Zamshed Ali,…
EU Del to Bangladesh condole Chawkbazar fire victims
“The EU Delegation expresses its heartfelt condolences for all those affected by the fire which occurred at Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar on 20 February. Our thoughts are with the Government and people of Bangladesh as well as with the bereaved families…
Dr Kamal slams govt for loss of lives in Chawkbazar fire
Dhaka – Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain on Tuesday blamed the government’s irresponsible role for the Chawkbazar fire as it did not take any step in compliance with a High Court order to make the Old Dhaka safe for…
Light earthquake felt in Bangladesh
Dhaka, Feb 26 (UNB) – The light tremor, measuring 4.1 magnitude on the Richter scale, was felt in different parts of the country including the capital on Tuesday morning. The epicenter of the quake was in Gazipur at 10:50am, said…
Jobs for Chawkbazar victims, families mulled: Minister
Dhaka, Feb 26 (UNB) – The government is planning to provide jobs to survivors and family members of Chawkbazar fire victims, said Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed on Tuesday. “Chawkbazar fire is a tragic incident,” he said after visiting the…
Peelkhana carnage masterminds not yet identified: BNP
Dhaka, Feb 25 – The BNP on Monday alleged that the masterminds behind the killings in the BDR mutiny yet to be identified as the investigative report carried out by the army was not made public. “None of the investigations…
Ex-ministers Amu, Dilip verbal duel on chemical warehouse
Dhaka, Feb 25 (UNB) – Criticizing his predecessor Dilip Barua, former Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu on Monday said he demonstrated his ‘stupidity’ by questioning his sincerity about the relocation of chemical warehouses from Old Dhaka. He came up with…
10th anniversary of BDR carnage Monday
Dhaka, Feb 25 (UNB) – The 10th anniversary of the atrocious carnage at Pilkhana BDR Headquarters in the capital is being observed on Monday. A total of 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the carnage beginning on…
One-day state mourning Monday
Dhaka, Feb 25(UNB) –The nation is observing a one-day state mourning in memory of the Chawkbazar fire victims. The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Sunday in this regard. The state mourning is being observed to seek eternal peace of…
Condolence motion in Parliament for Chawkbazar fire victims
Dhaka, Feb 24 – The Jatiya Sangsad on Sunday adopted a condolence motion unanimously over Wednesday’s tragic fire incident at Churihatta in Chawkbazar in the city that left at least 67 people killed seeking peace of the departed souls of…
Chemical godowns not removed for owners’ unwillingness: PM
Dhaka, Feb 23 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said it is regretful that chemical godowns in Old Dhaka could not be relocated for the reluctance of owners. “The government wanted to construct ultramodern godowns with all facilities…
PM for support of all to remove Old Dhaka chemical godowns
Dhaka, Feb 23 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged all concerned to extend their all-out cooperation removing chemical godowns from Old Dhaka. “It’s regretful that still there are chemical godowns in Old Dhaka despite repeated drives against it,”…
No one can avoid liability for Chawkbazar tragedy: Quader
Dhaka, Feb 22 (UNB) – The government will not let anyone responsible for the Chawkbazar get fire off the hook, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Friday. A fire broke out at a Chawkbazar building where chemicals…
Bodies of 45 Chawkbazar fire victims given over to families
Dhaka, Feb 21 (UNB)– Bodies of 46 victims of the devastating Chawkbazar fire were handed over to their families on Friday. Forty-five bodies were handed over by 10am from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Family members received the mortal remains…
Fire spread from chemical warehouse: Dhaka South City
Dhaka, Feb 22 (UNB) – The fire that broke out at Wahed Mansion at Churihatta of Chawkbazar spread fast as chemicals were stored in the building, said a probe body of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) formed over the devastating…
Officials say, 67 killed in Chawkbazar chemical warehouse fire
Dhaka, Feb 21 (UNB) – At least 67 people were killed and around 41 others injured in a devastating fire that broke out at a chemical warehouse and raged through four other adjacent buildings in the city’s Chawkbazar area on…
Govt to give compensation to fire victims: Quader
Dhaka, Feb 21 (UNB) –Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday said the government will provide compensation to the victims of Chawkbazar fire. Investigation will be carried out into the incident and necessary legal measures would be taken…
PM orders proper treatment to Chawkbazar fire victims
Dhaka, Feb 21 (UNB)- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday ordered the authorities concerned to provide proper treatment to the injured people and necessary support to the families of those killed in the fire incident at Chawkbazar in Old Dhaka.…