Visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Sunday that Bangladesh has set an example of humanity by sheltering over a million displaced persons from Rakhine State and assured of staying beside Rohingya people always.
Category: Environment
Trump willing to sign a revamped Paris climate deal
President Donald Trump would be willing to sign the US back up to the Paris climate accord, but only if the treaty undergoes major change, he said in comments published Sunday.
Cities must have river pollution abatement plans
Ranjan Panda Cities need to increase treatment, recycling and reuse of wastewater to reduce the amount of untreated wastewater discharged into freshwater bodies by at least 50 per cent by 2030. Ever since the new government at India’s centre came…
Roof gardens to help turn Dhaka into sustainable city
Dhaka, 27 Jan – Several hundred roof gardeners got free saplings of fruit-bearing trees at an informal programme at Dhaka University’s Botany Department premises on Friday a fternoon. The ‘Sabuj Bagan Society’ organized the programme. About 2000 saplings were distributed.
California wants 5 million ‘green’ cars on roads by 2030
California Governor Jerry Brown Friday signed an executive order detailing aims to have five million electric cars on the state’s roads by 2030 — by accelerating the production of such vehicles using financial incentives and rebates. The $2.5 billion, eight-year…
Traditional cultural centres planned in capital Dhaka
Dhaka, Jan 26 – Two cultural centres will be built in city’s Uttara and Mirpur area to spread the practice of cultural activities throughout the city.
Rakhine situation not yet conducive for Rohingya return
Unicef has commended bilateral Rohingya repatriation deal but underscored that situation in Rakhine State is not conducive yet to start repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland. “That is the right things to do (repatriation deal) and Bangladesh should…
Save rivers to develop country: PM Hasina
Putting emphasis on proper river management, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said rivers will have to be protected for saving and developing the country. “A proper river management is a must to protect the country’s rivers…the rivers will have to…
Aid Group shines spotlight on the neglected
Though 2017 was marked by stories of humanitarian disasters around the world, many crises remain under the radar with devastating consequences for those affected, a new report says.
Rohingya crisis: US diplomat quits Suu Kyi’s advisory panel
Veteran US diplomat Bill Richardson has resigned from an international panel set up by Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to advise on the Rohingya crisis.
BD creates framework to monitor SDGs progress
The government has approved the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Bangladesh aimed at tracking the implementation progress of SDGs in the country. The M&E Framework for SDGs was approved at an inter-ministerial meeting titled…
Cape Town now faces dry taps by April 12
As Cape Town suffers its worst drought in a century, residents were warned Tuesday that they face losing piped water to their homes on April 12 — a whole nine days earlier than predicted.
Iraqis face legacy of ‘ISIS Winter’ – toxic fallout of armed conflict
By: Rehab Abd Almohsen Nairobi – An investigation into the toxic fallout of three years of armed conflict has added the environment — and the residents set to suffer long-term impacts from pollution — to the list of casualties in…
Skepticism, worry amid preparation for Rohingya repatriation
Yangon, Jan 24 (AP/UNB) — Myanmar says it’s ready for a gradual repatriation of Muslim Rohingya refugees chased out by the Buddhist-majority country’s military. Bangladesh says it’s preparing for the transfer, but it might need more time. And the refugees…
Facebook ready to help BD deal with environmental issues
Dhaka, Jan 23 – After launching a blood donation feature here on Tuesday, Facebook is now ready to support Bangladesh government to carry out awareness campaign on various social and environmental issues using its popular and big platform.
Overview of outcomes at the 2017 climate talks
by Meena Raman The annual climate change talks under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol (KP) and the Paris Agreement (PA) took place in Bonn, Germany, on 6-18 November 2017, ending a day later…
BD Prime Minister for quick repatriation of Rohingyas
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday stressed the quick repatriation of Myanmar’s forcibly displaced Rohingya people from Bangladesh to their own living places in Rakhaine.The Prime Minister said this when newly appointed UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in…
UNHCR renews call for unhindered access in Rakhine State
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has said the necessary safeguards, as of today, for potential Rohingya returnees are absent, and there are continued restrictions on access for aid agencies, the media and other independent observers.At the same time, refugees from…
HRW urges BD, Myanmar to suspend repatriation plan
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has suggested Bangladesh and Myanmar to suspend the bilateral plan on Rohingya repatriation saying it threatens the refugees’ security and well-being.
Hong Kong engulfed in smog as fears grow over air
Hong Kong’s famous skyline was engulfed in smog Monday, with residents urged to stay indoors. The winter months regularly bring worse air quality to Hong Kong and other parts of the region due to wind direction and weather conditions.
Left behind: Families of migrants wait !
By Rafiqul Islam Sarker Nankar, Bangladesh, Jan 20 (IPS) – Wahid Haider talks about his son’s departure to Italy almost seven years ago without regret or hesitation. Haider has not seen Nayeem, now 30 years old, since he left Nankar…
Trump hits solar panels, washing machines with tariffs
Washington, Jan 23 (AP/UNB) — President Donald Trump on Monday approved tariffs on imported solar-energy components and large washing machines in a bid to help U.S. manufacturers.
Show ‘progress in Rakhine’ before Rohingya repatriation
Dhaka, Jan 22 – Five of Myanmar’s neighbors including Bangladesh are eager to see the progress made so far on the ground in the Rakhine Sate as Myanmar and Bangladesh are now at final stage of starting Rohingya repatriation.
No progress in BD proposal to invest in Nepal hydro power
Bangladesh has recently proposed to invest in hydroelectric projects in Nepal to expand its power options, reports Kathmandu Post. “In order to meet the growing demand, we are considering Nepal a big market that can fulfill our needs,” the premier…
600 unapproved water jars destroyed in capital Dhaka
Dhaka, 22 Jan – The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution, BSTI raided Motijheel and Paltan area in Dhaka to stop selling water in jars without its approval.
Barrier Reef funding boost to tackle predatory starfish
A multimillion-dollar campaign to stop the predatory crown-of-thorns starfish devouring the Great Barrier Reef was announced by the Australian government Monday in a push to preserve the World Heritage-listed ecosystem. The coral-eating starfish are naturally occurring but have proliferated due…
Water management is health management
Giulio Boccaletti London – With climate change accelerating and its effects exacerbating other geopolitical and development crises, the role of environmental protection in preserving and improving human well being has become starkly apparent. This recognition lies at the heart of…
India’s urban awakening
Ejaz Ghani Washington, DC – When the United Kingdom became the first country in the world to undergo large-scale urbanization in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the process transformed its economy and society. Today, India is facing a similar…
Free Rupnagar canal of illegal establishments: HC
Dhaka, Jan 21 -The High Court on Sunday ordered the concerned authorities to take necessary steps for removing the illegal establishments on Rupnagar canal in Mirpur area of the city within one month.
Bill passed to help reduce water wastage
‘The Groundwater Management in Agricultural Activities Bill, 2018’ was passed by parliament on Sunday, aiming to reduce the wastage of water and ensuring well-planned use of groundwater.Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury moved the Bill and it was passed by voice vote,…