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[🇧🇩] Save the Rivers/Forests/Hills-----Save the Environment
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Bangladesh significant contributor to economic loss due to inadequate e-waste mgmt: ITU
The global loss due to inadequate e-waste management practices amounts to $37 billion annually, with Bangladesh being a significant contributor, according to a study conducted by the International Telecommunication Union...www.newagebd.net
Bangladesh significant contributor to economic loss due to inadequate e-waste mgmt: ITU
Taufiq Hossain Mobin 03 July, 2024, 22:46
View attachment 6736
Old and worn-out electronic devices are seen at a shop in the capital Dhaka recently. The global loss due to inadequate e-waste management practices amounts to $37 billion annually, with Bangladesh being a significant contributor, according to a study conducted by the International Telecommunication Union. | New Age photo
The global loss due to inadequate e-waste management practices amounts to $37 billion annually, with Bangladesh being a significant contributor, according to a study conducted by the International Telecommunication Union.
The report 'The Global E-WASTE Monitor 2024' published by the ITU, a specialised agency of the United Nations, Bangladesh is one of the largest e-waste generators in the South Asian region and the country generated 367 million kilograms of e-waste in 2022 at a rate of 2.2 kilograms per capita.
The report defined e-waste as the waste stream that contains both hazardous and valuable materials generated from disposed electrical and electronic equipment.
The UN agency published statistics of e-waste generation in 193 countries based on the data for the year 2022, showing that a record 62 billion kilograms of e-waste were generated globally in 2022, averaging 7.8 kilograms per person a year.
The report explained that despite gaining $28 billion from metal recovery and $23 billion from reduced greenhouse gas emissions, the costs of e-waste treatment and associated health and environmental impacts remain high.
With $10 billion spent on treatment and $78 billion in externalised costs, the net result is a staggering $37 billion annual loss in global e-waste management, it said.
The externalised costs amount to an estimated $36 billion in long-term socioeconomic and environmental costs, $22 billion representing the cost of illnesses and decreases in human capital, and the average monetised value of working lives caused by mercury emissions, $19 billion arising from the release of plastic waste into the environment, less than $1 billion arising from the release of lead into the environment and its effects on wildlife and humans.
Experts said that Bangladesh was incurring loss in this sector due to lack of a formal mechanism in e-waste management, and said e-waste management could be an industry if the government had set up proper process.
Hridoy Roy, a lecturer of the chemical engineering department at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, told New Age that assessing the economic impact of e-waste management in Bangladesh would be hard for various reasons.
'One of the main reasons is currently there is no formal mechanism for collecting and recycling e-waste in the country. Policies regarding this need to be introduced accordingly,' he said.
The ITU report stated that Bangladesh had only a few licensed e-waste dismantlers, which used basic resource recovery practices that were polluting and unsafe.
In the Southern Asian region, India, Iran, Thailand and Pakistan were above Bangladesh in generating e-waste, amounting to 4,137 million kilograms, 817 million kilograms, 753 million kilograms and 559 million kilograms of e-waste respectively in 2022.
Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan and the Maldives stayed below Bangladesh.
Of these countries, the first three generated 175 million kilograms, 42 million kilograms, 32 million kilograms respectively and the remaining two five million kilograms each.
While not highlighting on the formal and informal e-waste management in Bangladesh, the report said that only 22.3 per cent of this e-waste was documented as formally collected and recycled in an environmentally sound manner in the global scenario.
The report said that e-waste had a direct and severe impact on the environment and people's health.
E-waste contains toxic and persistent substances, such as the flame retardants that are used in appliances and in EEE containing plastics.
It also said that several international studies of the emissions caused by open burning of various materials, including hazardous materials, highlighted the health risks of inhaling the heavy metals and brominated flame retardants contained in plastic e-waste.
Mentioning unmanaged recycling of temperature exchange equipment, such as refrigerants as another major, but often overlooked concern, the report stated that it contributed to climate change and depletion of the ozone layer.
The report observed that the ministry of environment, forest, and climate change of Bangladesh issued the e-waste Management Rules in 2021, after nearly 10 years of talks.
The rules introduce the extended producer responsibility framework for e-waste management, requiring producers of almost all EEE to register with the Department of Environment, have an approved e-waste management plan and reach collection targets of 10 per cent in 2022, increasing annually by 10 percentage points to 50 per cent by 2026.
The report said that the government of Bangladesh had been unable to implement the rules despite the progress made.
M Shahidul Islam, chairman of the department of geography and environment at the University of Dhaka, told New Age that consumption of electrical and electronics enhanced in Bangladesh, so disposing these goods had become a matter of concern, as it was a densely populated country.
'Bangladesh has two main resources, water and soil. Either disposed EEE, or e-waste goes to water, or mixes in soil. Water and soil get polluted by the heavy metals of e-waste, such as lead,' he said.
'Specific policy and its implementation are needed for e-waste management. But e-waste management in Bangladesh is currently treated as a casual issue without much seriousness,' he added.
One of the main component of e-waste recycling is that of re-cycling plastic casings of electronics items. Other than recycling plastic drink containers, which Bangladesh is very good at recycling into PET fibre for polyester clothing etc., the recycling sector of plastic e-Waste is not as well developed.
There are vibrant sectors in both Pakistan and India on re-cycling plastic casings and there are burgeoning markets for recycled items and by products in both countries, both larger commercial level products like road substrate and brick/masonry items as well as Handicraft level products. There could be opportunities to take lessons from both.
Saif
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A radical economic shift is needed to save the planet
Yunus termed the current economic framework "wrong" because it rewards destruction.
A radical economic shift is needed to save the planet
Visual: Anwer Sohel
At The New York Times Climate Forward, an event held in New York in September this year that discussed the climate threats faced by Bangladesh, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus was quite direct in saying that the current economic system is driving global environmental destruction and climate breakdown. This is a remarkable stance given that only a handful of world leaders dare to call out the big elephant in the room or even discuss this inconvenient truth.
Yunus termed the current economic framework "wrong" because it rewards destruction. The fundamental problem, according to him, is that modern economies are built around one destructive principle: maximising profit, even at the expense of the environment. The endless cycle of "buy, buy, buy" inevitably leads to waste, which is the very engine of the economy, while it's also driving environmental and climate crises. Every purchase fuels the fire that's burning down our home. For example, deforestation may contribute to an increase in the GDP, but it destroys ecosystems too. Similarly, tiger prawn farming in Bangladesh's southwestern coastal districts, promoted for export earnings, has wreaked havoc on the environment and local livelihoods by increasing soil salinity. This illustrates how destructive practices are justified in the name of economic growth, even as they threaten the very foundations of sustainable life and livelihood.
In the relentless pursuit of profit in our current economic structure, we ignore the immense cost of the environmental damage being inflicted on the planet. Six out of the nine planetary boundaries—critical thresholds that keep Earth habitable—are already overshot beyond their safe operating limits. These boundaries are interconnected, meaning a breach in one area, such as change in land use, affects other areas such as climate change, biodiversity loss, freshwater contamination, etc. This interconnectedness underscores the urgent need to rethink how we design our economies, lifestyles, and consumption patterns that can have positive effects across these nine boundaries, not just reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate change. If the breach of these boundaries stays long beyond their safe limits, the future of our planet is in jeopardy.
The chief adviser also noted that the current economic model has created staggering wealth inequality: a tiny group of elites are hoarding unimaginable wealth while the majority struggle to survive. The richest one percent has more wealth than the bottom 95 percent of the world population. In Bangladesh, both income and wealth inequalities have been exacerbated over the years; the top 10 percent of the population controls 41 percent of the country's total income, while the bottom 10 percent earns a measly 1.31 percent. It's a disgraceful and dangerous imbalance, and Yunus didn't shy away from calling out this disparity a "shame." His critique extended to the Paris Agreement, which he believes will fail as long as we operate within the same flawed profit-driven economic framework, which will never save us from ecological collapse as it is hardwired for failure. The so-called solutions we're pursuing currently—green growth, incremental reforms, greenwashed policies, non-binding international agreements, etc—are nothing but Band-Aids slapped on a gushing wound.
Growth and consumption cannot continue infinitely on a planet with finite resources; hence, GDP is not the right reference for us—it's a broken measure of success that celebrates destruction. Experts like Jason Hickel, who is a proponent of degrowth, argue that beyond a certain point, GDP growth is no longer correlated with well-being, particularly in wealthy nations in the Global North. Giorgos Kallis and others argue that the current consumption level and growth projections in the Global North will make it impossible to meet the Paris Agreement's goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Several reports and scientific models support this grim forecast that our current global effort is far off the track in limiting temperature rises. Continuing along the current trajectory, even with green growth, will lead to warming far above two degrees Celsius, threatening ecological collapse and the sixth mass extinction.
What, then, is the way out of the current destructive economic model? It's simple: we need to discard GDP growth as the sole measure of progress and adopt a more holistic indicator that accounts for social, ecological and economic well-being. Beyond GDP or well-being, the approach to development that prioritises equality and holistic progress, rather than simply increasing wealth for a select few, is gaining traction among economists and experts in other fields, who are calling for a new measure—one that values human well-being and planetary health over the bloated bank accounts of billionaires.
In Bangladesh, a student-led mass uprising has brought the Yunus-led interim government to power. They enjoy a broad mandate to implement sweeping reforms to rebuild the nation. Unlike elected political governments, which are less likely to pursue such reforms for transformative change, the interim government has a unique opportunity to lay the groundwork for a new economic system that Yunus called for at The New York Times event.
By establishing a commission on "well-being economy," the interim administration could lead the charge in developing a new metric to replace GDP as the primary measure of social, economic, and political progress. The chief adviser has influential friends and allies around the world, who would be ideal candidates to serve on such a commission. A new economic system focused on social, ecological, and economic well-being—rather than GDP growth that exacerbates inequality, environmental degradation, and climate breakdown—could align with the hopes and aspirations of 17 crore people of the country, paving the way for a truly new Bangladesh.
Shamir Shehab is a public policy analyst focused on the intersection of climate change, environmental sustainability, and development. He is managing partner at Catalyzing Sustainable Transformation (CaST) Network.
Visual: Anwer Sohel
At The New York Times Climate Forward, an event held in New York in September this year that discussed the climate threats faced by Bangladesh, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus was quite direct in saying that the current economic system is driving global environmental destruction and climate breakdown. This is a remarkable stance given that only a handful of world leaders dare to call out the big elephant in the room or even discuss this inconvenient truth.
Yunus termed the current economic framework "wrong" because it rewards destruction. The fundamental problem, according to him, is that modern economies are built around one destructive principle: maximising profit, even at the expense of the environment. The endless cycle of "buy, buy, buy" inevitably leads to waste, which is the very engine of the economy, while it's also driving environmental and climate crises. Every purchase fuels the fire that's burning down our home. For example, deforestation may contribute to an increase in the GDP, but it destroys ecosystems too. Similarly, tiger prawn farming in Bangladesh's southwestern coastal districts, promoted for export earnings, has wreaked havoc on the environment and local livelihoods by increasing soil salinity. This illustrates how destructive practices are justified in the name of economic growth, even as they threaten the very foundations of sustainable life and livelihood.
In the relentless pursuit of profit in our current economic structure, we ignore the immense cost of the environmental damage being inflicted on the planet. Six out of the nine planetary boundaries—critical thresholds that keep Earth habitable—are already overshot beyond their safe operating limits. These boundaries are interconnected, meaning a breach in one area, such as change in land use, affects other areas such as climate change, biodiversity loss, freshwater contamination, etc. This interconnectedness underscores the urgent need to rethink how we design our economies, lifestyles, and consumption patterns that can have positive effects across these nine boundaries, not just reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate change. If the breach of these boundaries stays long beyond their safe limits, the future of our planet is in jeopardy.
The chief adviser also noted that the current economic model has created staggering wealth inequality: a tiny group of elites are hoarding unimaginable wealth while the majority struggle to survive. The richest one percent has more wealth than the bottom 95 percent of the world population. In Bangladesh, both income and wealth inequalities have been exacerbated over the years; the top 10 percent of the population controls 41 percent of the country's total income, while the bottom 10 percent earns a measly 1.31 percent. It's a disgraceful and dangerous imbalance, and Yunus didn't shy away from calling out this disparity a "shame." His critique extended to the Paris Agreement, which he believes will fail as long as we operate within the same flawed profit-driven economic framework, which will never save us from ecological collapse as it is hardwired for failure. The so-called solutions we're pursuing currently—green growth, incremental reforms, greenwashed policies, non-binding international agreements, etc—are nothing but Band-Aids slapped on a gushing wound.
Growth and consumption cannot continue infinitely on a planet with finite resources; hence, GDP is not the right reference for us—it's a broken measure of success that celebrates destruction. Experts like Jason Hickel, who is a proponent of degrowth, argue that beyond a certain point, GDP growth is no longer correlated with well-being, particularly in wealthy nations in the Global North. Giorgos Kallis and others argue that the current consumption level and growth projections in the Global North will make it impossible to meet the Paris Agreement's goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Several reports and scientific models support this grim forecast that our current global effort is far off the track in limiting temperature rises. Continuing along the current trajectory, even with green growth, will lead to warming far above two degrees Celsius, threatening ecological collapse and the sixth mass extinction.
What, then, is the way out of the current destructive economic model? It's simple: we need to discard GDP growth as the sole measure of progress and adopt a more holistic indicator that accounts for social, ecological and economic well-being. Beyond GDP or well-being, the approach to development that prioritises equality and holistic progress, rather than simply increasing wealth for a select few, is gaining traction among economists and experts in other fields, who are calling for a new measure—one that values human well-being and planetary health over the bloated bank accounts of billionaires.
In Bangladesh, a student-led mass uprising has brought the Yunus-led interim government to power. They enjoy a broad mandate to implement sweeping reforms to rebuild the nation. Unlike elected political governments, which are less likely to pursue such reforms for transformative change, the interim government has a unique opportunity to lay the groundwork for a new economic system that Yunus called for at The New York Times event.
By establishing a commission on "well-being economy," the interim administration could lead the charge in developing a new metric to replace GDP as the primary measure of social, economic, and political progress. The chief adviser has influential friends and allies around the world, who would be ideal candidates to serve on such a commission. A new economic system focused on social, ecological, and economic well-being—rather than GDP growth that exacerbates inequality, environmental degradation, and climate breakdown—could align with the hopes and aspirations of 17 crore people of the country, paving the way for a truly new Bangladesh.
Shamir Shehab is a public policy analyst focused on the intersection of climate change, environmental sustainability, and development. He is managing partner at Catalyzing Sustainable Transformation (CaST) Network.
Saif
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No end in sight to river grab, pollution as yet
THE River Buriganga, the ecological lifeline of Dhaka, faces a slow death. The photograph that New Age published on October 30 shows unabated encroachment on the river land and the unchecked dumping of polythene bags and rubbish in the river at Islambagh in Dhaka. Untreated liquid industrial...
www.newagebd.net
No end in sight to river grab, pollution as yet
31 October, 2024, 00:00
THE River Buriganga, the ecological lifeline of Dhaka, faces a slow death. The photograph that New Age published on October 30 shows unabated encroachment on the river land and the unchecked dumping of polythene bags and rubbish in the river at Islambagh in Dhaka. Untreated liquid industrial effluents discharged into the river indiscriminately has left the river biologically dead as the level of dissolved oxygen — needed for the survival of fish and other aquatic animals — became very low. Dockyards have run illegally for decades, encroaching on the Buriganga along a stretch between Keraniganj and Narayanganj. The faulty demarcation of the river by the custodians, including the administration of two districts, the Inland Water Transport Authority and the environment department, has created further scope of encroachment. Despite High Court directives, the enactment of laws and policy-level decisions, the recently deposed Awami League-led government failed to end the pollution and encroachment on the river land. The interim government has repeatedly talked about saving rivers as its priority agenda but it has so far made no decisive move to reclaim rivers since it assumed office.
The failure of successive governments in protecting the River Buriganga as well as other rivers is a failure to perform their mandated duty. Article 18(A) of the constitution states that the state will endeavour to protect and conserve rivers, wetland and forests. Other laws — the Bangladesh Water Act 2013, the National River Conservation Commission Act 2013, and the Environment Conservation Act 1995 — also oblige the government to protect the rivers. Successive governments, however, have not taken the issue of river protection seriously. In the past, eviction drives by the Inland Water Transport Authority against dockyards excluded the ones owned and run by politically influential quarters. Industrial units near the Burganga have been in operation without treatment plants but they have rarely faced any penalty. Under pressure from green activists, the National River Conservation Commission Act was made. But, it has not structurally evolved to play an effective role. In 2012, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority prepared a sewerage master plan, which proposed 11 sewage treatment plants in and around the city. However, most of plants are still in planning stages, encouraging an illegal use of storm sewers. In the name of road network development, public agencies violate environmental laws and encroach on river land. Roads and Highway Department statistics show that at least 35 U-turns or U-loops are constructed, filling major rivers on the Dhaka–Chattogram and Dhaka–Aricha highways. The division has filled about 30–40 feet of Karnapara canal near Savar with municipal waste to construct a U-loop on the Dhaka–Aricha highway, negatively influencing the navigability the Buriganga and its channels.
Considering that the economic and ecological integrity is dependent on the river system, the interim government should take issues of river management seriously and protect rivers from being encroached on. Errant industrial unit owners should also be held to account.
31 October, 2024, 00:00
THE River Buriganga, the ecological lifeline of Dhaka, faces a slow death. The photograph that New Age published on October 30 shows unabated encroachment on the river land and the unchecked dumping of polythene bags and rubbish in the river at Islambagh in Dhaka. Untreated liquid industrial effluents discharged into the river indiscriminately has left the river biologically dead as the level of dissolved oxygen — needed for the survival of fish and other aquatic animals — became very low. Dockyards have run illegally for decades, encroaching on the Buriganga along a stretch between Keraniganj and Narayanganj. The faulty demarcation of the river by the custodians, including the administration of two districts, the Inland Water Transport Authority and the environment department, has created further scope of encroachment. Despite High Court directives, the enactment of laws and policy-level decisions, the recently deposed Awami League-led government failed to end the pollution and encroachment on the river land. The interim government has repeatedly talked about saving rivers as its priority agenda but it has so far made no decisive move to reclaim rivers since it assumed office.
The failure of successive governments in protecting the River Buriganga as well as other rivers is a failure to perform their mandated duty. Article 18(A) of the constitution states that the state will endeavour to protect and conserve rivers, wetland and forests. Other laws — the Bangladesh Water Act 2013, the National River Conservation Commission Act 2013, and the Environment Conservation Act 1995 — also oblige the government to protect the rivers. Successive governments, however, have not taken the issue of river protection seriously. In the past, eviction drives by the Inland Water Transport Authority against dockyards excluded the ones owned and run by politically influential quarters. Industrial units near the Burganga have been in operation without treatment plants but they have rarely faced any penalty. Under pressure from green activists, the National River Conservation Commission Act was made. But, it has not structurally evolved to play an effective role. In 2012, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority prepared a sewerage master plan, which proposed 11 sewage treatment plants in and around the city. However, most of plants are still in planning stages, encouraging an illegal use of storm sewers. In the name of road network development, public agencies violate environmental laws and encroach on river land. Roads and Highway Department statistics show that at least 35 U-turns or U-loops are constructed, filling major rivers on the Dhaka–Chattogram and Dhaka–Aricha highways. The division has filled about 30–40 feet of Karnapara canal near Savar with municipal waste to construct a U-loop on the Dhaka–Aricha highway, negatively influencing the navigability the Buriganga and its channels.
Considering that the economic and ecological integrity is dependent on the river system, the interim government should take issues of river management seriously and protect rivers from being encroached on. Errant industrial unit owners should also be held to account.
Saif
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Role of youth in fight against air pollution
AMID the lingering haze over Bangladesh’s cities, air pollution has become an escalating public health crisis. From brick kilns to traffic congestion, harmful pollutants seep into every aspect of urban life, making this not just a climate issue but a matter of human survival. These fine...
www.newagebd.net
Role of youth in fight against air pollution
Fahmida Farzana and Abdullah M Rafi 31 October, 2024, 00:00
Dust covers the main road at Shyampur in the capital Dhaka, one of the most polluted cities in the world. | New Age/Sony Ramany
AMID the lingering haze over Bangladesh’s cities, air pollution has become an escalating public health crisis. From brick kilns to traffic congestion, harmful pollutants seep into every aspect of urban life, making this not just a climate issue but a matter of human survival. These fine particulate matters — dust, soot, and smoke — can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, posing severe health risks. A study by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute shows that air pollution is reducing the average life expectancy in Bangladesh by 6.8 years. The most vulnerable group — children, pregnant women, and low-income communities — are bearing the heaviest burden of this invisible threat.
Bangladesh’s youth are particularly at risk. Their daily commutes, reliance on crowded public transportation, and outdoor activities expose them to higher levels of pollutants, putting them at increased risk of respiratory diseases and long-term cognitive impairments. Despite government initiatives, air quality in cities as Dhaka remains critically poor, partly due to gaps in enforcement and the need for a broader multisectoral effort.
The health impacts of air pollution extend beyond respiratory diseases. There is growing evidence linking air pollution to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cognitive disorders such as dementia. Tackling these requires a stronger healthcare system.
As Bangladesh grapples with the consequences of poor air quality, it is the youth who can step forward, not only as victims but also as catalysts for change. Their leadership in climate action and public awareness is critical to safeguarding the health and future of the next generation, offering a path toward a healthier, more sustainable Bangladesh.
Air pollution’s dual threat
AIR pollution plagues both outdoor and indoor air in Bangladesh, giving rise to a two-pronged public health crisis. Indoor air pollution, largely caused by the burning of biomass fuels such as wood, dung, and crop residues for cooking, emits pollutants including PM2.5 and also volatile organic compounds.
Women and children spend a large amount of time in poorly ventilated spaces, increasing their vulnerability to respiratory disease since standing still for long periods allows these potential contaminants to stew. A well-known science journal, The Lancet, in 2019 showed that households that use biomass fuels are twice as likely to cause pneumonia to children under five. In Bangladesh, over 75 per cent of households continue to use solid fuels for cooking, leading to over 94,800 deaths from indoor air pollution in 2019, with 12 per cent of infant deaths also linked to household air pollution, according to the State of Global Air 2020.
Furthermore, secondhand smoking of tobacco at home is one of the biggest contributors to poor indoor air quality. A study by the ARK Foundation, conducted in collaboration with The University of York, revealed that 92 per cent of children studied were exposed to secondhand smoke at home. Here it has been highlighted that the prolonged exposure significantly raises the risk of respiratory infections and long-term health issues, such as poor academic performance and an increased likelihood of smoking later in life. With only 38.5 per cent of homes being completely smoke-free, the study calls for the urgent need to reduce SHS exposure.
Outdoor air pollution remains a major concern, particularly in urban areas. Vehicles, industries, and construction also contribute significantly to elevated levels of pollutants such as PM2.5, nitrogen oxides, and sulphur dioxide. According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority 2022 report, Dhaka ranks near the bottom in terms of air quality, with 1.5 million vehicles, the majority of which are deteriorating, adding to the problem. This is exacerbated by inadequate regulations on pollution and poor transportation infrastructure.
Moreover, brick kilns are an important contributor to outdoor pollution. According to the World Bank’s South Asia Air Quality Management Report 2020, Bangladesh has approximately 7000 coal-fired brickkilns that account for more than 40 per cent of PM2.5 emissions in Dhaka. These emissions are major causes of poor respiratory health in urban areas, including Rajshahi, where asthma and other forms of lung illness are on the rise.
Comprehensive measures such as the adoption of cleaner cooking technology, the reduction of secondhand smoke exposure, and the implementation of more durable vehicle emissions regulations for on-road cars to reduce both the air pollution sources are burning needs right now.
Health impacts
THE effects of air pollution are profound, particularly among vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, and low- and middle-income communities. Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are associated with exposure to PM2.5, NOx, and SO2. Over 10 per cent of children living in urban areas such as Dhaka, Gazipur, and Chattogram suffer from severe respiratory diseases primarily due to exposure to air pollution.
Pregnant mothers are more likely to face preterm deliveries, low birth weight, and developmental impairments in their children as a result of extended PM2.5 exposure. Women in LMI communities are particularly vulnerable since they are exposed to both indoor biomass toxins and outdoor automobile emissions. Limited access to healthcare exacerbates these risks, further marginalising existing vulnerable individuals, as stated in the UNICEF Bangladesh Health Report 2022.
Beyond physical health, air pollution has a profound impact on mental health. Children exposed to high amounts of pollution are more likely to develop anxiety, depression, and cognitive deficits. These mental health difficulties exacerbate the already heavy burden of physical diseases in densely polluted metropolitan settings.
Air quality management
TO COMBAT pollution, the government of Bangladesh has enacted laws such as the Air Pollution Control Rules 2022 and the Brick Manufacturing Control Act; however, enforcement remains inadequate. The paper highlights that limited resources for monitoring and enforcing air quality regulations lead to significant gaps, especially in densely populated, low-income urban areas.
The absence of coordination among government organisations hinders air quality control efforts. Resource and staffing shortages hinder regular inspections, particularly in the Department of Environment, allowing polluting industries and unregulated brick kilns to operate unchecked.
The Air Quality Index is monitored by the DoE and international partners such as the US Embassy in Dhaka; however, real-time data access and monitoring system accuracy remain limited. Despite progress under the Clean Air and Sustainable Environment project, issues with enforcement and public access to data persist.
Role of youth in climate action
YOUTHS are not only the primary sufferers of the air pollution but the crucial agents of change. They participate in more outdoor activities and commute, exposing them to larger amounts of pollutants. Communities have been organised by youth-led efforts such as Fridays for Future Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative to urge for stronger implementation of air quality regulations. Young leaders have launched awareness campaigns, organised protests, and pushed for cleaner technologies to increase the reduction of air pollution, according to the Fridays for Future Bangladesh 2023 Action Plan.
Furthermore, university students have come up with inexpensive air cleaners and eco-friendly cooking stoves to fight indoor and outdoor pollution. Their innovations are significant in mitigating health hazards among the LMI communities exposed to the high level of air pollution. Youth-led activism has also been enhanced by organisations including UNICEF and UN-Habitat, who have provided them with opportunities to present their solutions and get hands-on experiences on international platforms, as reported by the UN-Habitat Youth Initiatives Report 2023.
To conclude, we can hope that while Bangladesh faces one of its most serious public health crises, the government will step up its effort and collaborate with non-governmental organisations to strengthen healthcare institutions and promote community resilience. While much work remains, if the government, NGOs, and youth-led groups work together, they can very well achieve cleaner air and better public health outcomes for all our citizens. It is the time to breathe hope into the air and empower the next generations.
Fahmida Farzana and Abdullah M Rafi work for the ARK Foundation, Bangladesh
Fahmida Farzana and Abdullah M Rafi 31 October, 2024, 00:00
Dust covers the main road at Shyampur in the capital Dhaka, one of the most polluted cities in the world. | New Age/Sony Ramany
AMID the lingering haze over Bangladesh’s cities, air pollution has become an escalating public health crisis. From brick kilns to traffic congestion, harmful pollutants seep into every aspect of urban life, making this not just a climate issue but a matter of human survival. These fine particulate matters — dust, soot, and smoke — can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, posing severe health risks. A study by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute shows that air pollution is reducing the average life expectancy in Bangladesh by 6.8 years. The most vulnerable group — children, pregnant women, and low-income communities — are bearing the heaviest burden of this invisible threat.
Bangladesh’s youth are particularly at risk. Their daily commutes, reliance on crowded public transportation, and outdoor activities expose them to higher levels of pollutants, putting them at increased risk of respiratory diseases and long-term cognitive impairments. Despite government initiatives, air quality in cities as Dhaka remains critically poor, partly due to gaps in enforcement and the need for a broader multisectoral effort.
The health impacts of air pollution extend beyond respiratory diseases. There is growing evidence linking air pollution to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cognitive disorders such as dementia. Tackling these requires a stronger healthcare system.
As Bangladesh grapples with the consequences of poor air quality, it is the youth who can step forward, not only as victims but also as catalysts for change. Their leadership in climate action and public awareness is critical to safeguarding the health and future of the next generation, offering a path toward a healthier, more sustainable Bangladesh.
Air pollution’s dual threat
AIR pollution plagues both outdoor and indoor air in Bangladesh, giving rise to a two-pronged public health crisis. Indoor air pollution, largely caused by the burning of biomass fuels such as wood, dung, and crop residues for cooking, emits pollutants including PM2.5 and also volatile organic compounds.
Women and children spend a large amount of time in poorly ventilated spaces, increasing their vulnerability to respiratory disease since standing still for long periods allows these potential contaminants to stew. A well-known science journal, The Lancet, in 2019 showed that households that use biomass fuels are twice as likely to cause pneumonia to children under five. In Bangladesh, over 75 per cent of households continue to use solid fuels for cooking, leading to over 94,800 deaths from indoor air pollution in 2019, with 12 per cent of infant deaths also linked to household air pollution, according to the State of Global Air 2020.
Furthermore, secondhand smoking of tobacco at home is one of the biggest contributors to poor indoor air quality. A study by the ARK Foundation, conducted in collaboration with The University of York, revealed that 92 per cent of children studied were exposed to secondhand smoke at home. Here it has been highlighted that the prolonged exposure significantly raises the risk of respiratory infections and long-term health issues, such as poor academic performance and an increased likelihood of smoking later in life. With only 38.5 per cent of homes being completely smoke-free, the study calls for the urgent need to reduce SHS exposure.
Outdoor air pollution remains a major concern, particularly in urban areas. Vehicles, industries, and construction also contribute significantly to elevated levels of pollutants such as PM2.5, nitrogen oxides, and sulphur dioxide. According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority 2022 report, Dhaka ranks near the bottom in terms of air quality, with 1.5 million vehicles, the majority of which are deteriorating, adding to the problem. This is exacerbated by inadequate regulations on pollution and poor transportation infrastructure.
Moreover, brick kilns are an important contributor to outdoor pollution. According to the World Bank’s South Asia Air Quality Management Report 2020, Bangladesh has approximately 7000 coal-fired brickkilns that account for more than 40 per cent of PM2.5 emissions in Dhaka. These emissions are major causes of poor respiratory health in urban areas, including Rajshahi, where asthma and other forms of lung illness are on the rise.
Comprehensive measures such as the adoption of cleaner cooking technology, the reduction of secondhand smoke exposure, and the implementation of more durable vehicle emissions regulations for on-road cars to reduce both the air pollution sources are burning needs right now.
Health impacts
THE effects of air pollution are profound, particularly among vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, and low- and middle-income communities. Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are associated with exposure to PM2.5, NOx, and SO2. Over 10 per cent of children living in urban areas such as Dhaka, Gazipur, and Chattogram suffer from severe respiratory diseases primarily due to exposure to air pollution.
Pregnant mothers are more likely to face preterm deliveries, low birth weight, and developmental impairments in their children as a result of extended PM2.5 exposure. Women in LMI communities are particularly vulnerable since they are exposed to both indoor biomass toxins and outdoor automobile emissions. Limited access to healthcare exacerbates these risks, further marginalising existing vulnerable individuals, as stated in the UNICEF Bangladesh Health Report 2022.
Beyond physical health, air pollution has a profound impact on mental health. Children exposed to high amounts of pollution are more likely to develop anxiety, depression, and cognitive deficits. These mental health difficulties exacerbate the already heavy burden of physical diseases in densely polluted metropolitan settings.
Air quality management
TO COMBAT pollution, the government of Bangladesh has enacted laws such as the Air Pollution Control Rules 2022 and the Brick Manufacturing Control Act; however, enforcement remains inadequate. The paper highlights that limited resources for monitoring and enforcing air quality regulations lead to significant gaps, especially in densely populated, low-income urban areas.
The absence of coordination among government organisations hinders air quality control efforts. Resource and staffing shortages hinder regular inspections, particularly in the Department of Environment, allowing polluting industries and unregulated brick kilns to operate unchecked.
The Air Quality Index is monitored by the DoE and international partners such as the US Embassy in Dhaka; however, real-time data access and monitoring system accuracy remain limited. Despite progress under the Clean Air and Sustainable Environment project, issues with enforcement and public access to data persist.
Role of youth in climate action
YOUTHS are not only the primary sufferers of the air pollution but the crucial agents of change. They participate in more outdoor activities and commute, exposing them to larger amounts of pollutants. Communities have been organised by youth-led efforts such as Fridays for Future Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative to urge for stronger implementation of air quality regulations. Young leaders have launched awareness campaigns, organised protests, and pushed for cleaner technologies to increase the reduction of air pollution, according to the Fridays for Future Bangladesh 2023 Action Plan.
Furthermore, university students have come up with inexpensive air cleaners and eco-friendly cooking stoves to fight indoor and outdoor pollution. Their innovations are significant in mitigating health hazards among the LMI communities exposed to the high level of air pollution. Youth-led activism has also been enhanced by organisations including UNICEF and UN-Habitat, who have provided them with opportunities to present their solutions and get hands-on experiences on international platforms, as reported by the UN-Habitat Youth Initiatives Report 2023.
To conclude, we can hope that while Bangladesh faces one of its most serious public health crises, the government will step up its effort and collaborate with non-governmental organisations to strengthen healthcare institutions and promote community resilience. While much work remains, if the government, NGOs, and youth-led groups work together, they can very well achieve cleaner air and better public health outcomes for all our citizens. It is the time to breathe hope into the air and empower the next generations.
Fahmida Farzana and Abdullah M Rafi work for the ARK Foundation, Bangladesh
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A radical economic shift is needed to save the planet
Yunus termed the current economic framework "wrong" because it rewards destruction.www.thedailystar.net
A radical economic shift is needed to save the planet
View attachment 10170
Visual: Anwer Sohel
At The New York Times Climate Forward, an event held in New York in September this year that discussed the climate threats faced by Bangladesh, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus was quite direct in saying that the current economic system is driving global environmental destruction and climate breakdown. This is a remarkable stance given that only a handful of world leaders dare to call out the big elephant in the room or even discuss this inconvenient truth.
Yunus termed the current economic framework "wrong" because it rewards destruction. The fundamental problem, according to him, is that modern economies are built around one destructive principle: maximising profit, even at the expense of the environment. The endless cycle of "buy, buy, buy" inevitably leads to waste, which is the very engine of the economy, while it's also driving environmental and climate crises. Every purchase fuels the fire that's burning down our home. For example, deforestation may contribute to an increase in the GDP, but it destroys ecosystems too. Similarly, tiger prawn farming in Bangladesh's southwestern coastal districts, promoted for export earnings, has wreaked havoc on the environment and local livelihoods by increasing soil salinity. This illustrates how destructive practices are justified in the name of economic growth, even as they threaten the very foundations of sustainable life and livelihood.
In the relentless pursuit of profit in our current economic structure, we ignore the immense cost of the environmental damage being inflicted on the planet. Six out of the nine planetary boundaries—critical thresholds that keep Earth habitable—are already overshot beyond their safe operating limits. These boundaries are interconnected, meaning a breach in one area, such as change in land use, affects other areas such as climate change, biodiversity loss, freshwater contamination, etc. This interconnectedness underscores the urgent need to rethink how we design our economies, lifestyles, and consumption patterns that can have positive effects across these nine boundaries, not just reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate change. If the breach of these boundaries stays long beyond their safe limits, the future of our planet is in jeopardy.
The chief adviser also noted that the current economic model has created staggering wealth inequality: a tiny group of elites are hoarding unimaginable wealth while the majority struggle to survive. The richest one percent has more wealth than the bottom 95 percent of the world population. In Bangladesh, both income and wealth inequalities have been exacerbated over the years; the top 10 percent of the population controls 41 percent of the country's total income, while the bottom 10 percent earns a measly 1.31 percent. It's a disgraceful and dangerous imbalance, and Yunus didn't shy away from calling out this disparity a "shame." His critique extended to the Paris Agreement, which he believes will fail as long as we operate within the same flawed profit-driven economic framework, which will never save us from ecological collapse as it is hardwired for failure. The so-called solutions we're pursuing currently—green growth, incremental reforms, greenwashed policies, non-binding international agreements, etc—are nothing but Band-Aids slapped on a gushing wound.
Growth and consumption cannot continue infinitely on a planet with finite resources; hence, GDP is not the right reference for us—it's a broken measure of success that celebrates destruction. Experts like Jason Hickel, who is a proponent of degrowth, argue that beyond a certain point, GDP growth is no longer correlated with well-being, particularly in wealthy nations in the Global North. Giorgos Kallis and others argue that the current consumption level and growth projections in the Global North will make it impossible to meet the Paris Agreement's goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Several reports and scientific models support this grim forecast that our current global effort is far off the track in limiting temperature rises. Continuing along the current trajectory, even with green growth, will lead to warming far above two degrees Celsius, threatening ecological collapse and the sixth mass extinction.
What, then, is the way out of the current destructive economic model? It's simple: we need to discard GDP growth as the sole measure of progress and adopt a more holistic indicator that accounts for social, ecological and economic well-being. Beyond GDP or well-being, the approach to development that prioritises equality and holistic progress, rather than simply increasing wealth for a select few, is gaining traction among economists and experts in other fields, who are calling for a new measure—one that values human well-being and planetary health over the bloated bank accounts of billionaires.
In Bangladesh, a student-led mass uprising has brought the Yunus-led interim government to power. They enjoy a broad mandate to implement sweeping reforms to rebuild the nation. Unlike elected political governments, which are less likely to pursue such reforms for transformative change, the interim government has a unique opportunity to lay the groundwork for a new economic system that Yunus called for at The New York Times event.
By establishing a commission on "well-being economy," the interim administration could lead the charge in developing a new metric to replace GDP as the primary measure of social, economic, and political progress. The chief adviser has influential friends and allies around the world, who would be ideal candidates to serve on such a commission. A new economic system focused on social, ecological, and economic well-being—rather than GDP growth that exacerbates inequality, environmental degradation, and climate breakdown—could align with the hopes and aspirations of 17 crore people of the country, paving the way for a truly new Bangladesh.
Shamir Shehab is a public policy analyst focused on the intersection of climate change, environmental sustainability, and development. He is managing partner at Catalyzing Sustainable Transformation (CaST) Network.
Bamboo based economy has the potential to make this world pollution free and simultaneously take care of housing problem of planet. If I get some time, I will discuss this in detail. Bamboo can take care of energy challenge, Pollution problem and housing problem simultaneously will generating huge employment.
Saif
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Never heard of bamboo based economy before. Looking forward to knowing more about it from you in the future.
Saif
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Of rivers and people
The present leadership must prioritise the development of these two assets of Bangladesh for a sustainable and prosperous future.
Of rivers and people
How we neglect our two biggest assets
People cross the Buriganga River by boat near the Sadarghat area in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on March 28, 2023. FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
Ever since my student days in the late 60s and early 70s, and later throughout my 52 years in journalism, I have tried to analyse our development strategies and understand how our experts planned our future. It does not require too much thinking to realise that our two biggest assets are our people and rivers. I always wondered why our planners did not use them as the centrepiece of all their thinking and planning.
If we look at our map, it becomes obvious how widespread our river network is and how amazingly it reaches every nook and corner of the country. It is almost like the network of nerves through which oxygen-rich blood flows to every part of the body to keep us alive and healthy.
Just imagine what we could have done with our rivers. Every part of Bangladesh could have had easy access in terms of transport of people, goods and services. Transportation could have been cheap, dependable and democratic as all strata of our population could access them. What's more, given the climate crisis, we could have made it an environment-friendly transport system. Rivers are our nature-gifted infrastructure of communication. Of course, we need roads, but building a communication network through rivers could have made a most attractive, productive and pro-poor alternative.
Instead, what we have done with our rivers has been unthinking, destructive, and near suicidal. We never adequately valued them, nor did we develop any comprehensive plan that would integrate them with our overall development strategy. We never even performed the most rudimentary functions to maintain them. We never dredged them adequately. So, over the years, silt and sediments accumulated and raised our riverbeds and clogged the water flow. In addition, we built dams, culverts, sluice gates and elevated roads without adequate planning to maintain the water flow, and on occasions diverting them in ways that harmed our rivers.
Then we poured poison into them. All city sewers went into them. But what was disastrous was the dumping of poisonous industrial waste into the rivers. Just imagine: millions of tonnes of poison-laden waste were released into our beautiful, life-giving, food-supplying rivers ceaselessly for years. To put it bluntly, we killed our rivers.
The number of rivers in Bangladesh was originally estimated to be around 1,200. Later, the figure was revised to about 700, and now the official estimate is 405. The National River Conservation Commission, however, says the number is 907. The ones that are still around, in spite of our neglect, are so polluted that, in some, even bacteria cannot survive. We have made our process of industrialisation fundamentally anti-nature. This cannot be sustained. We are jeopardising our own future.
Our other story of neglect is of our people. Our biggest asset—our human resource, especially the youth. We all know that we are among the most densely populated countries in the world. We could have also become a highly productive country if we had educated this population, trained them with appropriate skills, and equipped them with the right technological tools. Instead, we played with the future of our youth.
From the moment in human history when humans became surplus producers, we started accumulating wealth. As we became divided into nations and formed our own separate countries, the wealth of each country depended on how productive its citizens were. With the Industrial Revolution, productivity reached new levels and technologically advanced countries became rich. All these lessons are right in front of us.
Instead of educating our people for the 21st century, we left them unskilled, so they remained unprepared to navigate the world of artificial intelligence, and were forced to opt for the lower-level unskilled jobs when seeking employment abroad. How could we not have spent more on education and healthcare, and equip our people with greater skills and entrepreneurship to bring home the unimaginable opportunities that the modern world has to offer? How could we have missed the point that the present is a world of ideas? Yes, infrastructure is needed, but creativity is needed much more. How could we have not seen that some of the world's biggest conglomerates are mere products of ideas—Google, Amazon, Uber, Airbnb, Microsoft, etc? Even Apple, which builds some of the most amazing phones, is driven by ideas.
I have often wondered about what we have done, in the 53 years of our independent existence, in the field of education. We have had several education commissions since 1971. What were their outcomes? The Qudrat-i-Khuda Education Commission, established in 1972, aimed to establish a new education system to meet the needs of the new nation moving away from its colonial past as well as the Pakistani version of it. There was no shortage of education commissions: Mofizuddin Ahmed Commission in 1987; Shamsul Huque Commission in 1997; National Education Policy Formulation Committee in 2000; and Kabir Chowdhury Commission in 2009.
Except for the first, no other education commission acquired the needed prestige and clout to have any impact. Some significant political changes occurred which had their own impact on the commissions' findings and their subsequent implementation.
Like everything else in Bangladesh, education is a highly politicised affair. Each regime has tried to impose its own political philosophies and views on the students through control and change in school curricula. As the Awami League was the longest-serving party in government, it did the maximum damage. One of the political aims of the AL regime was to show that during its tenure, students were better educated than before. Hence, emphasis came on the quantity rather than quality, with larger and larger numbers of students being shown as passed in public examinations. Quality and learning discipline were largely abandoned.
Later, when it became evident that passing an exam was losing all meaning and that students at the college and university levels couldn't take the burden of higher learning, quality began to receive increased attention. By then, much ground was lost.
Coming back to our planning for the future, we urge the present leadership to finally put emphasis on the two assets—rivers and people—that can be our passport for a sustainable and prosperous future. Given all the uncertainties that the world now faces, having well-educated, appropriately skilled and sufficiently trained human resources will be the most appropriate development policy to follow.
So here we are, facing an ever-changing world, technological innovation of unimaginable potential, social transformation of unpredictable consequences, and a future of unknown—and in many ways unknowable—realities with a population totally unprepared to deal with the impact.
As we celebrate the new opportunities opened up by the recent student-led people's uprising, we must, with utmost urgency, start focusing on the future. The two assets referred to above are our best options.
Mahfuz Anam is the editor and publisher of The Daily Star.
How we neglect our two biggest assets
People cross the Buriganga River by boat near the Sadarghat area in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on March 28, 2023. FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
Ever since my student days in the late 60s and early 70s, and later throughout my 52 years in journalism, I have tried to analyse our development strategies and understand how our experts planned our future. It does not require too much thinking to realise that our two biggest assets are our people and rivers. I always wondered why our planners did not use them as the centrepiece of all their thinking and planning.
If we look at our map, it becomes obvious how widespread our river network is and how amazingly it reaches every nook and corner of the country. It is almost like the network of nerves through which oxygen-rich blood flows to every part of the body to keep us alive and healthy.
Just imagine what we could have done with our rivers. Every part of Bangladesh could have had easy access in terms of transport of people, goods and services. Transportation could have been cheap, dependable and democratic as all strata of our population could access them. What's more, given the climate crisis, we could have made it an environment-friendly transport system. Rivers are our nature-gifted infrastructure of communication. Of course, we need roads, but building a communication network through rivers could have made a most attractive, productive and pro-poor alternative.
Instead, what we have done with our rivers has been unthinking, destructive, and near suicidal. We never adequately valued them, nor did we develop any comprehensive plan that would integrate them with our overall development strategy. We never even performed the most rudimentary functions to maintain them. We never dredged them adequately. So, over the years, silt and sediments accumulated and raised our riverbeds and clogged the water flow. In addition, we built dams, culverts, sluice gates and elevated roads without adequate planning to maintain the water flow, and on occasions diverting them in ways that harmed our rivers.
Then we poured poison into them. All city sewers went into them. But what was disastrous was the dumping of poisonous industrial waste into the rivers. Just imagine: millions of tonnes of poison-laden waste were released into our beautiful, life-giving, food-supplying rivers ceaselessly for years. To put it bluntly, we killed our rivers.
The number of rivers in Bangladesh was originally estimated to be around 1,200. Later, the figure was revised to about 700, and now the official estimate is 405. The National River Conservation Commission, however, says the number is 907. The ones that are still around, in spite of our neglect, are so polluted that, in some, even bacteria cannot survive. We have made our process of industrialisation fundamentally anti-nature. This cannot be sustained. We are jeopardising our own future.
Our other story of neglect is of our people. Our biggest asset—our human resource, especially the youth. We all know that we are among the most densely populated countries in the world. We could have also become a highly productive country if we had educated this population, trained them with appropriate skills, and equipped them with the right technological tools. Instead, we played with the future of our youth.
From the moment in human history when humans became surplus producers, we started accumulating wealth. As we became divided into nations and formed our own separate countries, the wealth of each country depended on how productive its citizens were. With the Industrial Revolution, productivity reached new levels and technologically advanced countries became rich. All these lessons are right in front of us.
Instead of educating our people for the 21st century, we left them unskilled, so they remained unprepared to navigate the world of artificial intelligence, and were forced to opt for the lower-level unskilled jobs when seeking employment abroad. How could we not have spent more on education and healthcare, and equip our people with greater skills and entrepreneurship to bring home the unimaginable opportunities that the modern world has to offer? How could we have missed the point that the present is a world of ideas? Yes, infrastructure is needed, but creativity is needed much more. How could we have not seen that some of the world's biggest conglomerates are mere products of ideas—Google, Amazon, Uber, Airbnb, Microsoft, etc? Even Apple, which builds some of the most amazing phones, is driven by ideas.
I have often wondered about what we have done, in the 53 years of our independent existence, in the field of education. We have had several education commissions since 1971. What were their outcomes? The Qudrat-i-Khuda Education Commission, established in 1972, aimed to establish a new education system to meet the needs of the new nation moving away from its colonial past as well as the Pakistani version of it. There was no shortage of education commissions: Mofizuddin Ahmed Commission in 1987; Shamsul Huque Commission in 1997; National Education Policy Formulation Committee in 2000; and Kabir Chowdhury Commission in 2009.
Except for the first, no other education commission acquired the needed prestige and clout to have any impact. Some significant political changes occurred which had their own impact on the commissions' findings and their subsequent implementation.
Like everything else in Bangladesh, education is a highly politicised affair. Each regime has tried to impose its own political philosophies and views on the students through control and change in school curricula. As the Awami League was the longest-serving party in government, it did the maximum damage. One of the political aims of the AL regime was to show that during its tenure, students were better educated than before. Hence, emphasis came on the quantity rather than quality, with larger and larger numbers of students being shown as passed in public examinations. Quality and learning discipline were largely abandoned.
Later, when it became evident that passing an exam was losing all meaning and that students at the college and university levels couldn't take the burden of higher learning, quality began to receive increased attention. By then, much ground was lost.
Coming back to our planning for the future, we urge the present leadership to finally put emphasis on the two assets—rivers and people—that can be our passport for a sustainable and prosperous future. Given all the uncertainties that the world now faces, having well-educated, appropriately skilled and sufficiently trained human resources will be the most appropriate development policy to follow.
So here we are, facing an ever-changing world, technological innovation of unimaginable potential, social transformation of unpredictable consequences, and a future of unknown—and in many ways unknowable—realities with a population totally unprepared to deal with the impact.
As we celebrate the new opportunities opened up by the recent student-led people's uprising, we must, with utmost urgency, start focusing on the future. The two assets referred to above are our best options.
Mahfuz Anam is the editor and publisher of The Daily Star.
- Jan 26, 2024
- 2,730
- 902
- Axis Group
If we plant bamboos on large scale, we can make methanol out of that to make bio methanol fuel. It can be used to construct very environment friendly houses. Bamboo absorbs pollution on large scale. Large scale plantation can finish off pollution.Recently, I visited my friend"s farm. I advised him to add sugarcane peels which remains after sugarcane juice is extracted. He said it is very costly. I told him that they are available free. He said me that it is an old story. Since it is used to make methanol, it's cost has escalated very high. Bamboo is a perfect material to make fuel for flex engine.
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Listen to this.
Bamboo can be used to make houses, cloths, Shoes, used as pickles, make drinks, bio fuel, construct bamboo bridges and even automobiles. It is No 1 in pollution absorption.
Last edited:
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First organic state of India, Sikkim.
youtu.be
vUV8W8g6QmE?si=pVlVCdvUfyxCJyKM
YouTube
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
youtu.be
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India's Food Consumption Pattern Emerges As Most Sustainable, As Per WWF Report
India's Food Consumption Pattern Emerges As Most Sustainable, As Per WWF Report
If all nations followed the consumption pattern of India, the world would need less than "one Earth" to meet food demands, the report suggests.
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