Dhaka, Oct 8 – As part of digitising the country’s land management, some 65 lakh bhumi khatians (records of land rights) have been scanned and indexed into a computerised system. 65 lakh khatians, 18,500 map-sheets scanned and indexed into the…
Category: Environment
Disrupting climate change
Jules Kortenhorst Despite a surge of apocalyptic weather and fears of runaway climate change, there is still time to stem global warming and save the planet. The clean-energy transformation has already begun – and it will play out faster than…
‘Ken-Betwa project is disaster for Ken Basin People’
In a series of letters that then collector of Panna district wrote when she was a collector of the Bundelkhand district for close to three and a half years, she made startling conclusion that Ken river has no surplus water…
Prince Charles worns of ‘plastic on the manu’ in world’s fish
Britain’s Prince Charles said that plastic is now “on the menu” in the fish we eat and called for decisive action as he opened a conference Thursday on protecting the world’s oceans. The heir to the British throne, a long-time…
Govt was cautious against Myanmar provocation of war: PM
Dhaka, Oct 7 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the government was very much cautious to avert any kind of war with Bangladesh’s neighbour despite repeated provocations from Myanmar.
$7 billion to marine protection
Brussels, Oct 6 (AP/UNB) – A global conference organized by the European Union aimed at better protecting marine life has raised more than $7 billion.
US states declare emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Nate
Mexico City, Oct 7 (AP/UNB) – Tropical Storm Nate gained force as it sped toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula Friday after drenching Central America in the rain that was blamed for at least 21 deaths. Forecasters said it was likely to…
‘Dhaka lobbbies multilaterally keeping bilateral door open’
Dhaka, Oct 7 – Bangladesh continues its strong international lobbying keeping the bilateral door open to ‘peacefully resolve’ the Rohingya issue at the earliest, says a top government official. “We’re strongly lobbying. National interest comes first. At the same time,…
Pressure Myanmar to take back Rohingyas: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday once again urged the international community, including the United Kingdom, to mount pressure on Myanmar to bring back the Rohinyas from Bangladesh. “International pressure on the Myanmar government should continue so that Naypyidaw is…
Prince Charles warns ‘plastic on the menu’ in world’s fish
Britain’s Prince Charles said that plastic is now “on the menu” in the fish we eat and called for decisive action as he opened a conference Thursday on protecting the world’s oceans. The heir to the British throne, a long-time…
Carving out forest land to shelter desperate Rohingya
Dhaka (Reuters) – Hard-pressed to find space for a massive influx of Rohingya Muslim refugees, Bangladesh plans to chop down forest trees to extend a tent city sheltering destitute families fleeing ethnic violence in neighbouring Myanmar.
Rohingya: Walk a mile in their shoes
Nahar Khan My reminiscences of Cox’s Bazar are deeply rooted in my childhood during family vacations taken with my parents and three siblings – horse rides on the beach, sunsets against the widest horizon, charcoal barbecues by nightfall, and copious…
Salman issues directives to pay unpaid salaries of foreign workers
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has allocated SAR 100m ($266.5m) and issued a series of directives with the intention of resolving all cases of unpaid salaries in the kingdom. This follows complaints from hundreds of thousands of workers in the construction…
Back-to-back hurricanes take heavy toll on the Caribbean
By António Guterres UN, Oct 4 (IPS) – As you know, we are coming off a jam-packed High-level week and the opening of the General Assembly. Some of the most important speeches during that period came from leaders of Caribbean…
Gomti banks in Comilla offer new tourist attractions
Dhaka, Oct 5–The banks of the River Gomti with several small entertainment centres dotting the riverside in Comilla offer new promises of becoming a tourist attraction.
Burma: Military Massacres Dozens in Rohingya Village
Soldiers Shot, Stabbed Men and Boys in Maung Nu, Rakhine State Dhaka – The Burmese military summarily executed several dozen Rohingya Muslims in Maung Nu village in Burma’s Rakhine State on August 27, 2017, Human Rights Watch said today. Witnesses…
Aid groups seek $434 for Rohingya refugees
Humanitarian organisations helping Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh said on Wednesday they need $434 million over the next six months to help up to 1.2 million people, many of them children, who need life-saving help. There are an estimated 809,000…
Sydney, Melbourne warned to prepare for 50-degree days
Sydney and Melbourne could regularly face 50 degree Celsius (122F) days within 25 years even if Australia meets its Paris global warming targets, a new study warned Wednesday. Other areas across the country should also prepare for extreme heat, said…
‘Our Rivers, Our Water Future’: International Rivers
International Rivers has just prepared a strategic plan named ‘Our Rivers, Our Water Future. Let’s hear the story from the organisations executive director Kate Horner. – “I’m excited to share International Rivers’ vision for the movement for rivers over the next…
Most countries lagging on health SDGs
Neena Bhandari Sydney: Scientists warn that unless significant political and financial investments are made, many countries will not meet the health-related UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s stripped of ‘Freedom of Oxford’
Dhaka, Oct 4 – An honour granting Aung San Suu Kyi the Freedom of Oxford has been withdrawn by the city’s council because of her response to the Rohingya crisis.
Women and girls: The hardest hit Rohingya refugees
By Paolo Lubrano Dhaka, Oct (IPS) – Of the nearly half a million Rohingya refugees who’ve fled across the border and have sought refuge in Bangladesh, women and girls are the most at risk, sleeping under open skies, roadsides, and…
Burma: US arms sales suspension call faces road block at UNSC
By Thalif Deen UN, Oct 3 (IPS) – When US Ambassador Nikki Haley called for a virtual arms embargo against the repressive and much-maligned military regime in Myanmar, she took a passing shot at two of her fellow veto-wielding, permanent…
Burma ready to begin Rohingya verification in BD
The Myanmar government on Tuesday said they are ready to begin the verification and repatriation of its nationals crossed over to Bangladesh. Myanmar Union Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor Kyaw Tint Swe reiterated Myanmar’s position on Monday,…
BNP calls Myanmar repatriation offer as eyewash
BNP on Monday described the decision of Bangladesh and Myanmar to form a joint working group to start the repatriation process of all the Rohingyas staying in Bangladesh as eyewash and deception. “The meeting between Bangladesh and Myanmar is nothing…
Sri Lankan monk remanded for attack on Rohingya Muslims
Colombo, Oct 2 (AP/UNB) — A Sri Lankan court has remanded a Buddhist monk who, alongside other hard-line Buddhists, stormed a U.N. safe house for Rohingya Muslims, forcing the refugees to flee for protection.
US drug admin to encourage generic contest for complex drugs
Trenton, Oct 3 (AP/UNB) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is opening a new front in its efforts to reduce high drug prices by encouraging development of generic versions of hard-to-make medicines.
Making an economic case for climate action
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, Oct 2 (IPS) – Having faced a year of record temperatures and devastating hurricanes, the United States stands more to lose if it doesn’t take steps to reduce the risk and impact of climate change, according…
‘CRYPTIC MONOLOGUE’ painting show begins in Capital
Dhaka – The Edward M Kennedy Centre and ARTCON have jointly organized a two-weeklong solo painting exhibition ‘CRYPTIC MONOLOGUE’ by artist JAVED JALIL, from 02 – 15 October 2017 at EMK Center, Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
Syrian refugees being summarily deported from Jordan
Amman – Jordanian authorities have been summarily deporting Syrian refugees – including collective expulsions of large families, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The Syrians are not being given a meaningful chance to challenge their removal and…