[🇧🇩] Save the Rivers/Forests/Hills-----Save the Environment

[Saif]

undefined | The Financial Express

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Research, knowledge for climate resilience

Published :
Jun 24, 2025 01:19
Updated :
Jun 24, 2025 01:19

When the developed nations are yet to get the priorities in terms of global warming right, countries like Bangladesh are not expected to have enviable records on such issues. But much as such countries may be the least contributor to environmental pollution leading to worsening climate, their stake is higher than that of the rich and more pollutant nations. Thus Bangladesh is the seventh most climate-vulnerable country in the world. Usually, the vulnerability indices of the smaller, least developed, and developing countries have prompted them to look more for external climate funds than domestic resources. Now domestic mobilisation of fund is also important because no one else will bear the brunt of increasing and unpredictable natural calamities. The country will definitely claim its share of the rightful green climate fund (GCF) created under the UN framework convention, but it also has to do its homework for judicious utilisation of this fund and its domestic allocation for the purpose.

According to a report carried in the FE on Sunday last, the moderate domestic allocation of fund hardly finds its rational and proper use. Climate is a vast subject and it is not same everywhere on the planet. This deltaic land may have some similarities with its big neighbour India but still this lower riparian nation has its special problems which are quite different from that upper riparian land. So this country has to identify the causes of its climate-related vulnerabilities on its own. This climate emergency points to the fact that continuous and extensive research is the key to pinpointing the causes and nature of vulnerability arising out of global warming. To the credit of the Sunday's report, it has pointed out the paucity of research and knowledge management in relation to climate vulnerability or lack of resilience. In a country of limited research base, though, this is not quite surprising.

However, the fact is that indifference to climate-related research can be self-defeating in the end. Under the six broad categories of climate funding by 25 ministries, this particular research field has been the least recipient of allocation of fund, according to the report. This has to change urgently because the less than 5.0 per cent ---roughly 3.0 per cent --- allocation for research and knowledge creation and implementation will not help the country to build a model of resilience to climate vulnerability. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and the Bangladesh Agriculture University have been an exception to the general lack of research culture in the country. Now there is a complaint that the salinity-drought- and flood-tolerant paddies developed by the BRRI have failed to reach farmers at the grassroots level because of lack of government promotion and patronage.

Such inaction on the part of government agencies act as a disincentive for research. Academic knowledge gets authenticated by research and experiment but unless the outputs of such efforts are taken out of the laboratory for implementation at the field level to the benefit of the end users, the overall ambience of knowledge creation through research and experiments shrinks. Given the country's vulnerabilities to an increasingly hostile climate, the jaded outlook must change for developing its own robust research base in order to take care of the special kinds of problems confronting it.​

 

[Saif]

Decarbonisation is prerequisite for foreign funding

There is growing concern about the likely scarcity of foreign funding for non-green development projects in the immediate future. Reports from various sources, including leading multinational financiers, confirm a marked shift in the global project funding landscape, prompted by international treat

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Decarbonisation is prerequisite for foreign funding

Wasi Ahmed
Published :
Jun 25, 2025 00:54
Updated :
Jun 25, 2025 00:54

There is growing concern about the likely scarcity of foreign funding for non-green development projects in the immediate future. Reports from various sources, including leading multinational financiers, confirm a marked shift in the global project funding landscape, prompted by international treaties aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change. Foreign funding -- a crucial driver of development in countries like Bangladesh -- is now aligning more closely with climate commitments under agreements such as the Paris Accord.

Key institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank Group (WBG), and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have already pledged to follow the 'Direct Investment Lending Operation' (DILO) framework consistent with the Paris Agreement. This commitment signals a definitive preference for investments that are environmentally sustainable, pushing countries to restructure their development strategies around green objectives.

Infrastructure specialists warn that financing for coal, oil, and other fossil-fuel-based projects may soon disappear altogether. Although Bangladesh is not a significant emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs), it nonetheless faces pressure to decarbonise its economy. This entails adopting expensive technologies like carbon capture and storage -- an investment challenge for a developing country. Multilateral lenders are reportedly maintaining updated lists of activities they consider compatible or incompatible with a low-carbon trajectory. As a result, any project that does not prioritise emissions reduction or energy efficiency will likely find it difficult to secure international financing.

This raises an urgent question: what does this new financing climate mean for Bangladesh's development ambitions? Fully grasping the implications of the Paris Agreement's guidelines on foreign investment will take time. Bangladesh, despite contributing minimally to global emissions, is among the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Recognising this, the government has already laid out emission reduction targets across multiple sectors, signalling a proactive stance towards transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

According to Bangladesh's revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), submitted in August 2021, the country intends to cut GHG emissions by 27.56 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030 through unconditional measures, with an additional 61.9 million tonnes to be reduced conditionally -- subject to foreign support. Realising these ambitious targets requires an estimated $175 billion in investment. More broadly, Bangladesh needs roughly $10 billion annually to finance development initiatives in energy, transport, urban infrastructure and more.

Local experts stress that decarbonisation and emission reduction must now be embedded in the core of all development planning. For instance, projects in the energy and manufacturing sectors should now aim for greater reliance on renewable energy, efficient hydropower systems, and modern heating and cooling technologies that minimise GHG emissions.

The DILO framework under the Paris Agreement outlines a list of eligible activities aligned with climate mitigation goals. These include water supply and sanitation, sustainable construction, information technology and environmental research. Conversely, funding is now explicitly restricted to projects involving thermal coal mining and coal-based power generation. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2016, set a global goal of limiting average temperature rise to well below 2°c -- and ideally to 1.5°c -- above pre-industrial levels.

Bangladesh's Planning Commission and other government bodies reportedly view this shift in funding priorities positively. They believe it will drive better alignment between development projects and sustainable environmental goals. Future project design and approval will likely incorporate more rigorous environmental screening and compliance requirements. However, while the intentions behind these changes are positive, their implementation poses practical challenges. Multilateral financiers have expressed willingness to continue supporting Bangladesh, but their decisions will increasingly depend on whether proposed projects demonstrate measurable contributions to climate goals. This means that future proposals must be underpinned by robust environmental assessments, carbon impact studies, and clear mitigation strategies.

Ensuring access to foreign funding under these stricter guidelines calls for meticulous planning. Incorporating energy transition measures -- such as replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy -- in development projects will not only make them more fundable but also help address the long-term challenge of climate change.

Admittedly, the shift towards green development may slow or complicate certain traditional growth strategies. Yet, it also presents an opportunity, a chance for Bangladesh to build its development trajectory on sustainable, environmentally responsible foundations. But to do this effectively, the country will require significant capacity building in institutions, workforce skills, and technical knowledge.

Transitioning to green energy and low-carbon infrastructure demands extensive investment in research and innovation. Bangladesh must also upgrade its technical training and education systems to equip the workforce for new jobs in the renewable energy and clean technology sectors.

The shift will have socio-economic ramifications. Industries heavily dependent on fossil fuels may face disruption, potentially causing job losses or economic dislocation. Policymakers must, therefore, design inclusive transition strategies to cushion vulnerable communities and sectors. Social protection, retraining programmes and job creation in green sectors will be crucial components of a just transition.

At the same time, investing in green infrastructure can bring multiple benefits. Reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels will enhance energy security and insulate the economy from global price shocks. Cleaner air, lower pollution levels, and improved public health outcomes are additional dividends of a green transition. This makes the environmental imperative a public health and economic priority as well.

Moreover, the emphasis on sustainable projects can spur innovation and entrepreneurship. Sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism could experience rapid growth. Bangladesh's natural resources, biodiversity and geographical location have considerable potential for green economic initiatives -- provided they are well managed and supported.​

 

[Saif]

Plastic pollution grows for flawed recycling

The country’s plastic recycling industry continues to be fraught with many barriers, including lack of awareness about plastic pollution, poor waste separation and unsupportive tax policies.

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Plastic pollution grows for flawed recycling
Sadiqur Rahman 25 June, 2025, 00:21

File photo

The country’s plastic recycling industry continues to be fraught with many barriers, including lack of awareness about plastic pollution, poor waste separation and unsupportive tax policies.

Despite Bangladesh recycling nearly 40 per cent of the plastic waste, far better than the global average of 9 per cent, serious plastic pollution inflicts deep impact on its environment and lives not only of human beings but all living beings also, according to environment experts and activists.

Stakeholders of plastic recycle industry observe that policy and other necessary support will significantly reduce the threat of plastic pollution with Bangladesh annually generating around 8,00,000 tonnes plastic waste, according to an estimate by development organisation Practical Action.

With a call to reduce plastic pollution, the government is celebrating World Environment Day today, instead of on June 5 set by the United Nations for observing the day, as this year it fell in the Eid-ul-Azha holiday.

This year’s theme for the day—‘Beat plastic pollution’—particularly highlights the country’s miserable failure to address the use of single-use plastics although it was the world’s first country to ban single-use plastics in 2002.

Successive governments’ failure to materialise the ban brought monstrous consequences— around 87,000 tonnes of single-use plastics, including polythene bags, are discarded annually with its 96 per cent ending up directly as waste, reveals ‘Plastic Tsunami: Bangladesh’s Maritime Ecosystem Under Siege’, a World Bank study report published in 2024.

On November 1 last year, the incumbent interim government rolled out a renewed effort to restrict the production, marketing, and use of polythene bags. The drive was invariably halted in just two weeks of its execution in face of fierce protests by workers of the plastic polythene bag factories in Old Dhaka.

Experts, however, suggest that plastic pollution in Bangladesh is more a waste mismanagement problem rather than bad consumption.

Yusuf Ashraf, a director at the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, emphasises adopting of advanced recycling technology as they do in the industrially developed countries like Singapore.

Separation technology is highly important, he says, adding mixing plastics with other solid waste lowers the quality and recycling value.

‘City corporations and municipal councils, other waste management authorities, are typically unable to separate plastic from other waste,’ Yusuf told New Age.New age fashion

‘Extortion from waste transporters by the police and local strongmen is another big problem in plastic recycling,’ he also said.

Indiscriminate littering of household waste in polythene bags is a major driver of plastic pollution and monsoon-time urban flooding, as the plastics clog drainage systems, experts observe.

Professor Ijaz Hossain, dean of engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said that the country currently recycles around 40 per cent of its plastic waste, and the rest ended up in landfills and water bodies.

‘Yet, the remaining 60 per cent is mismanaged due to poor waste handling and public littering,’ he said.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s first ‘Global Plastics Outlook’ report revealed in 2022 that the global plastic waste mismanagement rate was 22 per cent and the recycling rate for plastic trash was 9 per cent.

Ijaz said that the country’s amount of mismanaged plastic waste surpass the global average. Apart from single-use polythene bags and PET bottles, which is polyethylene terephthalate, the most common type of polyester used to make bottles in which most beverages are put and marketed, a wide array of plastic products, including food wrappers, medicine foils, baby diapers, cotton buds, vehicle parts and styrofoam goods enter the waste stream daily.

Professor Ijaz stressed the need for bold public campaigns, strict anti-littering laws, implementation of extended producer responsibility and financial incentives for waste collectors to improve plastic recycling.

BPGMEA director Yusuf calls for friendly tax policies to support the recycling industry, saying that while recyclers are tax-exempted, businesses involved in sorting and purchasing recycled raw materials must pay value added tax.

Citing that some global garment brands ask for recycled plastic hangers, he said that the export of such items from Bangladesh faced difficulties.

He added that hangers made from recycled plastics are sometimes rejected by airport scanners due to iron content or sludge, while only imported recycling machines could produce iron or sludge-free plastic raw materials.

According to him, locally made recycling machines cannot produce quality products, while the imported machines cost up to $45,000.

‘Although the import duty on such machines is only 1 per cent, the duty on spare parts remains an unreasonable 15 per cent,’ Yusuf said.

He called for rational import policies, easy bank loans for importing efficient plastic recycling machines and duty waiver to incentivise the use of recycled plastics in manufacturing.

The 2025-26 budget has doubled the VAT on tableware, kitchenware, household items, hygiene products and similar goods from 7.5 per cent to 15 per cent at the production stage.

To promote eco-friendly recycling industries, the withholding tax on the supply of raw materials to these sectors has been reduced from 3 per cent to 1.5 per cent.

Although the ‘Solid Waste Management Rules 2021’ mandates city corporations and municipal authorities to ensure waste separation, the rule had yet to become binding for them due to their operational limitations, said Fahmida Khanom, additional secretary (environment wing) at the environment, forest and climate change ministry.

Entrepreneurs in plastic recycling can get soft loans from Bangladesh Bank’s green fund, she also notes, adding that Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation’s partner organisations also provide loans for small-scale recyclers.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh should not follow the West's example on climate change

Climate change is a man-made problem, but campaigners and irresponsible politicians have blown this out of proportion.

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Bangladesh should not follow the West's example on climate change

The incessant scare stories have driven some Western governments to enact immensely costly policies. File photo: REUTERS

In recent years, climate anxiety has taken over many Western governments and most international organisations. The result has been ruinous policies that help little but undermine future prosperity needed to deal with a host of other problems. Fortunately, Bangladesh can avoid repeating their mistakes.

Climate change is a man-made problem, but campaigners and irresponsible politicians have blown this out of proportion and call it an existential threat that could eradicate humanity. No further action on climate will result in a problem, but it would not be the end of the world.

The incessant scare stories have driven some Western governments to enact immensely costly policies. The UK has gone further in climate policies over the past two decades than nearly any other country. As a result, the inflation-adjusted electricity price, weighted across households and industry, has increased significantly from 2003 to 2023. By comparison, the US electricity price has remained almost unchanged over the same period.

At the same time, the rich world is increasingly realising that it faces many other expensive challenges, including an ageing population bringing higher pension and healthcare costs, crumbling infrastructure, poor educational outcomes and a need for larger defence spending. Yet the EU has committed itself to climate goals which will cost it severely.

Bangladesh should not repeat the mistakes made by Western countries by diving headlong into ineffective climate policies. It has a record of huge achievements, vast potential, and—like every other country—a myriad of complex challenges. Bangladesh must get the balance right between the challenges and opportunities in front of it. A considered, balanced response to climate change means rolling out solar and wind in the areas where that is sensible, while realising that the longer-term solution to climate change must be innovation.

In 1970, when hunger stalked the developing world, the answer was not to make the whole world eat less to redistribute food. Innovation through the Green Revolution dramatically increased yields and brought better varieties and more fertiliser. Likewise, we will not solve climate change by being poorer, colder and with less power. Instead, the leading industrial nations that are responsible for the majority of carbon emissions need to ramp up innovation in future generations of low-carbon energy. Once they innovate clean energy to be cheaper than fossil fuels, everyone will be able to switch.

Adaptation is another vital climate change response. Farmers across Bangladesh know this already: they adapt to suit changes in the climate. In cities, we know that adaptive infrastructure like green areas, more reflective surfaces, and water features helps keep temperatures cooler. Adaptation can avoid a large part of the climate problem.

Finally, poverty alleviation is a crucial part of the response to climate change. Lifting people out of poverty reduces their vulnerability to climate shocks like heat waves or hurricanes. Moreover, wealthier, more prosperous societies can afford better protection from the elements, along with better nutrition, healthcare and social protection. Wealthy countries can spend more on environmental protection, and all other good things.

Being smart about climate change also means that governments will have more resources to invest in solving other important challenges.

One such investment: we should boost maternal and newborn health through a simple package of basic emergency obstetric care and more family planning. Globally, this could save the lives of many mothers and newborns every year. Another phenomenal investment: agricultural research and development to help Bangladesh's farmers become more efficient.

Bangladesh has immense possibilities if it can seize the opportunity to invest wisely and judiciously. It should avoid the singular climate focus of some Western countries and invest based on rigorous economic science in areas where it can make the most impact and the greatest progress.

Bjorn Lomborg is president of the Copenhagen Consensus, visiting fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, and author of False Alarm and Best Things First.​

 

[Saif]

What Ramchandrapur's revival means for Dhaka

This canal is approximately three kilometres in length and is almost filled with dust, including solid waste, plastic, and household waste, which interferes with the regular water flow and causes waterlogging during the rainy season. Another adverse effect of pollution is the spread of mosquitoes t

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

A clean canal, a healthier city
What Ramchandrapur's revival means for Dhaka
Tanjim Hasan Patwary

Published :
Jun 25, 2025 10:16
Updated :
Jun 25, 2025 10:16

This canal is approximately three kilometres in length and is almost filled with dust, including solid waste, plastic, and household waste, which interferes with the regular water flow and causes waterlogging during the rainy season. Another adverse effect of pollution is the spread of mosquitoes that cause dengue, which increases during the monsoon. Yes, this has been the typical scenario at Ramchandpur Canal, located in Mohammadpur, which has been successfully cleaned to revive the biodiversity and environment of its surroundings.

The two-day-long project was conducted under the supervision of 2 government organisations, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

The project started on June 20th and ended the following day, highlighting the importance of water flow for a healthy lifestyle.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Mohammad Ejaz, Administrator of DNCC, visited the project on the concluding day of the campaign.

More than 300 volunteers from DNCC and Footsteps actively participated in this work to provide a healthy life for the residents of the residence.

Moreover, the waste emits a stench that can spread airborne diseases to its nearby inhabitants.

The effect is especially severe for children and older people, as they often have a weakened immune system. Furthermore, this type of environmental pollution can lead to long-term health complications in the human body, which may sometimes result in fatal diseases among its inhabitants.

The government's campaign to rescue this canal was conducted several times in previous years, but no real benefit was gained from those efforts. Not only are the industrials responsible, but the general public is also responsible.

People deliberately throw plastic and other debris into the canal, which ultimately leads to the canal being filled with wastewater, making the once lively river a deadly one.

The sewage and construction debris pollute the water in this canal, which has a detrimental impact on aquatic life and contributes to the canal's poor condition.

The cleaning project of this year has made the dwellers surrounding the canal happy, but regular supervision is also crucial to maintaining this scenario throughout the year.

Public awareness should also be created in this regard, as any initiative will be ineffective without the proper understanding of its residents.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, talked to the journalists while visiting the campaign.

She said, "We can not ignore the significance of canals to our lives. However, the government can not serve the duty of cleaning the canals alone. The general public should assist us so that we can continue our work smoothly."

"If the dwellers of this region do not help us in this regard, no initiative will be successful. We also have a plan to make the canal deeper, but it may take some time, as the work may threaten the buildings surrounding the canal. But we are hoping to make a meaningful solution of it, and the residents of here will get benefits if our upcoming plans become successful," she added.

Mohammad Ejaz, Administrator of DNCC, also visited the campaign. He also attended the dialogue with the journalists at the campaign.

He said, "Canals have a good tie with the people of that residence. Any animosity at the flow of canals adversely affects the lifestyle of those residents. So, we have to be careful to protect the canals for our betterment."

There are several canals in Dhaka city, although the total number of canals in this city varies according to different government organisations. According to Dhaka District Administration (2016), the total number of canals in Dhaka city is 58. On the other hand, the number is 54, according to 2 city corporations in Dhaka (2022).

Cleaning the waste of Ramchandrapur can serve as an example to other canals in Dhaka city, conveying a message to continue such work in the rest of the canals. The densely populated Dhaka city may offer its residents a better life, which is a long cherished dream for people living there. Government initiatives, as well as public awareness through personal and community efforts, are essential to make this dream a reality.

Shah Rafayet Chowdhury is the Co-founder and President of Footsteps. He said, "Firstly, we doubted whether we would be successful in cleaning it up, as it was full of waste. However, when we began our work, we received very positive responses from all the project stakeholders. DNCC helped us a lot while implementing our project, especially their logistics support, which made our work smooth."

"We have a plan to monitor the canal so that the cleanliness remains in the future. As the sanitation system near the canal is extremely woeful, we will work with the related ministries of the government so that the residents of that area get a healthy, livable place. We may also engage ourselves to restore the water supply system along with other individuals so that the canals of Dhaka city can explore its missing heritage."

Canals are assets for any country that balance the water flow of the city. However, unawareness and an unethical mentality contribute to environmental disruption, leading to suffering in daily life.

Therefore, public and private initiatives, as well as awareness among the people, must be created to protect the canals, which will ultimately save the dwellers from destruction.​

 

[Saif]

Recycling capacity needs to be upped to tackle plastic pollution

THE dismal state of waste management, especially of plastic waste, can hardly be overstated. The limited recycling capacity appears to have exacerbated the situation. World Environment Day this year has placed special an emphasis on plastic pollution. Although Bangladesh has made some strides in...

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Recycling capacity needs to be upped to tackle plastic pollution
26 June, 2025, 00:00

THE dismal state of waste management, especially of plastic waste, can hardly be overstated. The limited recycling capacity appears to have exacerbated the situation. World Environment Day this year has placed special an emphasis on plastic pollution. Although Bangladesh has made some strides in recycling plastic waste, a substantial volume of plastic remains uncollected. An estimated 800,000 tonnes of plastic waste are produced annually and at least 60 per cent is not recycled. A World Bank study says that about 70 per cent of plastic waste is mismanaged and carelessly discarded. A United Nations Environment Programme study says that Bangladesh ranks among the top 10 plastic-polluting countries and is the 7th highest plastic-consuming nation in the world. The issue is further aggravated by a high volume of single-use plastic although Bangladesh is the first country to ban single-use plastics in 2002. About 87,000 tonnes of single-use plastic containers are discarded annually in Bangladesh, most of which finds way to water bodies and waterways.

Research suggests that an estimated 23,000 to 36,000 tonnes of plastic waste are disposed of annually in 1,212 hotspots around canals and rivers in and around Dhaka. Much of this haphazardly dumped waste ends up in rivers and other aquatic systems. Tourist-heavy regions are also plagued by a high concentration of plastic waste and the areas are similarly marked by the absence of effective waste management and recycling mechanism. Although the government has expressed its commitment to reducing plastic usage, it has yet to take any meaningful action. This inaction has contributed to a rise in the prevalence of single-use plastic containers, including items such as food packaging, straws, cotton buds, sachets, coffee stirrers, and bottles for soda, water and soft drinks, along with plastic bags. Experts say that plastic pollution is largely a problem of waste mismanagement, noting that proper recycling can transform waste into wealth. Yet, the recycling industry continues to face significant barriers, including the absence of comprehensive policy support. The adoption of advanced recycling technologies and the enforcement of waste segregation practices, mandated by the Solid Waste Management Rules 2021 but not yet followed by relevant agencies for operational limitations, are crucial in addressing the threat of plastic waste. Industry insiders have also highlighted the need for supportive tax policies and access to soft loans to help foster the growth of the recycling sector.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Vantara | India's Solution to Wildlife Biodiversity Loss | Vantage with Palki Sharma

No of trees in vantara - Search Videos

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[Krishna with Flute]

25 million trees are planted at Vantara.​

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Why Vantara is one of its kind: Setting global benchmarks in animal welfare​

Committed to preserving endangered species, Vantara is spearheading innovative conservation breeding programmes for species such as the Cheetah, slender loris, vulture, and the Great Indian Bustard.​

Moneycontrol News

March 04, 2025 / 15:21 IST

PM Modi inaugurated the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.​

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Reliance Foundation’s Vantara in Gujarat’s Jamnagar and inaugurated the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.



Spread across 3,500 acres, Vantara is a wildlife preservation project founded by Anant Ambani, director on the boards of RIL and Reliance Foundation. The project is also supported by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation.


Vantara is focused on creating best-in-class animal conservation and care practices, including state-of-the-art healthcare, hospitals, research and academic centres. It also collaborates with with reputed international universities and organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF).

Here are the 10 key things to know about the initiative.

•It runs the world’s largest rescue operations for wildlife (with over 25,000 wild animals) and the largest Conservation & Breeding Centre (over 48 species).


•It is also houses Aisa’s first wildlife hospital with CT scan and MRI units.

• It has world’s largest and India’s only Animal Wildlife Quarantine.

•It has the largest Leopard Rescue Centre (over 300) and Elephant Care Centre (over 250).


•Vantara has Asia’s largest pharmacy for animals. It also has over 75 animal ambulances.

•Till date, over 250 international rescue operations have been successfully completed.

•Vantara’s state-of-the-art hospitals and clinics Include : CT scan, MRI, Ultrasound, Chemotherapy, X-rays, Endoscopy, Lithotripsy, Laser Therapy, Acupuncture, Robotic Laser Surgeries, Blood Bank, Blood Plasma Separator and Abaxis Vet Scan among other facilities.

•There are 25,000,000 trees in Vantara.

• Around 3,500 people work in Vantara.

• It has the world’s only central sterilisation facility dedicated towards wildlife conservation.

Under Vantara’s auspices, non-profit public trusts are dedicated to the selfless service of animals, setting global benchmarks in animal welfare. Committed to preserving endangered species, Vantara is spearheading innovative conservation breeding programmes for species such as the Cheetah, slender loris, vulture, and the Great Indian Bustard, with a special emphasis on animals native to India.

Disclaimer: Moneycontrol is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.

No of trees in vantara - Bing

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[Krishna with Flute]

I have created my own small Vantara called Shanti Park. 9500 trees are planted. Atleast 2000 more are planned this rainy season. 4 small Miyawaki forest.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

 

[Saif]

Displaced by climate or design?

AS RISING seas swallow coasts, floods wash away livelihood and droughts parch once-fertile lands, the image of the climate-displaced person has become an emblem of the unfolding climate crisis. These stark environmental shifts are no longer distant projections but daily realities for millions...

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Displaced by climate or design?
26 June, 2025, 21:39

People stand on the eroded river bank in Munshiganj.

If we are to genuinely address the crisis of climate-induced displacement, we must challenge the depoliticised and sanitised narratives that currently dominate policy discourse and media representation, write Aminur Rahman and Quazi Arunim Rahman

AS RISING seas swallow coasts, floods wash away livelihood and droughts parch once-fertile lands, the image of the climate-displaced person has become an emblem of the unfolding climate crisis. These stark environmental shifts are no longer distant projections but daily realities for millions across the globe. The world, especially countries in the Global North, has adopted this narrative with increasing ease — citing ‘climate displacement’ as a tragic but seemingly unavoidable consequence of global warming. However, beneath this seemingly empathetic framing lies a troubling normalisation of forced displacement, one that often conceals the deeper roots of responsibility, historical exploitation and entrenched power imbalances.

Is climate change the sole villain displacing millions from their homes? Or is this displacement, often portrayed as an inevitable act of nature, also manufactured — shaped and accelerated by the unchecked activities, consumption patterns, and political choices of the Global North? We must ask whether the movement of people is truly about nature’s wrath or the calculated outcomes of global inequality and systemic injustice.

Politics of naming

THE term ‘climate displacement’ sounds neutral, even sterile — as if it were a natural event, like rainfall or an earthquake. It de-emphasises human agency and obscures the deeper structural injustices that have led us here. In reality, what we often call ‘climate displacement’ is a form of forced uprooting driven largely by the extractive economies, fossil fuel dependencies and high-carbon lifestyles of wealthier nations. These patterns of overconsumption and environmental degradation have created a planetary crisis, the consequences of which are most intensely felt in the Global South. In countries like Bangladesh, where communities have contributed the least to global emissions, people now face the most severe climate impacts — rising tides, salinization, river erosion and the collapse of agricultural systems.

Labelling this as ‘climate-induced displacement’ alone serves to erase the culpability of the Global North. It subtly shifts the discourse from one of accountability to one of adaptation, from justice to humanitarianism. In this framing, the Global North often emerges not as the historical polluter or instigator of structural inequalities, but as the benevolent saviour offering aid and support. This clever narrative repositioning distances the powerful from responsibility and reframes displacement as an unfortunate — but blameless — side effect of climate change.

Displacement as managed outcome

WHAT if displacement isn’t just a regrettable side effect of climate change, but a managed outcome — one that fits comfortably within the Global North’s geopolitical and economic frameworks? Climate displacement has increasingly become a policy category within development, climate adaptation and disaster response plans. Yet these plans are often crafted without reference to political histories, colonial legacies or the socio-economic systems that created vulnerability in the first place. Instead of working towards deep, structural climate justice that interrogates root causes, we now witness the institutionalisation of climate refugees as a manageable, predictable group within global governance frameworks.

Aid flows, resettlement programmes, and climate finance packages are offered — often presented with public relations fanfare — but these rarely challenge the global systems that create and perpetuate environmental harm. Worse, such policies can reinforce existing inequalities by treating displaced populations as passive recipients of charity, rather than active holders of rights, knowledge and demands. Displacement becomes framed as a technical issue, solvable with logistics and funding, rather than as a political issue that demands fundamental changes in global systems of extraction and accumulation.

Who gets to stay?

CLIMATE change does not impact everyone equally — nor does it displace everyone equally. Wealthier populations in flood-prone or wildfire-risk areas may relocate with government support, insurance coverage and a pathway to reestablish their lives in safer zones. They often have the privilege of mobility, safety nets and institutional recognition. In stark contrast, marginalised communities, particularly in the Global South, are left with few viable options. They must either remain in deteriorating environments or undertake dangerous and uncertain migrations — often without formal recognition, protection under international law, or access to rights and services in destination areas.

This disparity is not accidental or coincidental. It reflects a deeply entrenched global order where some lives are protected and others are rendered disposable. In such a framework, displacement becomes not merely a consequence but a deliberate mechanism — a way to keep the Global South in a continuous state of precarity, dependency and subjugation. The decision of who gets to stay and who is forced to move reveals uncomfortable truths about whose lives are valued and whose suffering is tolerated.

Reclaiming the narrative

IF WE are to genuinely address the crisis of climate-induced displacement, we must challenge the depoliticised and sanitised narratives that currently dominate policy discourse and media representation. We must move beyond the passive label of ‘climate migrants’ or ‘climate displaced’ or ‘climate refugee’ and ask deeper, more difficult questions: Who created the conditions for their displacement? Who benefits from the way this crisis is framed? And who is made invisible or voiceless in the process?

It is time for the Global North to confront its historical and ongoing role in producing climate harm — not merely through symbolic gestures or pledges but through concrete acts of responsibility. This includes not only reducing emissions at home but also paying reparations for historical damage, transferring clean technologies without conditions, and most importantly, upholding the rights, dignity, and autonomy of displaced communities. This is not a matter of charity — it is a matter of justice, accountability, and shared humanity.

Ultimately, climate displacement is not just about the climate. It is about power, inequality and responsibility. And unless we are willing to name those truths, we risk turning one of the greatest moral challenges of our time into just another managed crisis — with the most vulnerable paying the highest price.

Aminur Rahman is a researcher and seasoned development professional. Quazi Arunim Rahman is a lecturer at the University of Brahmanbaria.​

 

[Saif]

Lightning kills 350 annually in Bangladesh

Lightning strikes continue to pose a growing threat in Bangladesh, claiming nearly 350 lives every year, with the northeastern districts of Sunamganj, Netrokona and Sylhet identified as the most vulnerable zones. Khan Mohammad Golam Rabbani, a weather expert from the intergovernmental organisation

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Lightning kills 350 annually in Bangladesh

Published :
Jun 28, 2025 21:25
Updated :
Jun 28, 2025 21:25

Lightning strikes continue to pose a growing threat in Bangladesh, claiming nearly 350 lives every year, with the northeastern districts of Sunamganj, Netrokona and Sylhet identified as the most vulnerable zones.

Khan Mohammad Golam Rabbani, a weather expert from the intergovernmental organisation Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES), shared the data at a seminar held on Saturday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre to mark International Lightning Safety Day.

“On average, 3.36 million lightning strikes occur in Bangladesh annually, causing around 350 fatalities,” he said.

He named Sunamganj, Netrokona and Sylhet as the districts most at risk, as per a bdnews24.com report.

“The risk peaks in April and May. Recently, lightning incidents have increased by 10 per cent, with further rises expected,” Rabbani added.

The seminar was jointly organised by RIMES and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

At the same event, Disaster Management Secretray Mostafizur Rahman said: “Work is under way to transform the Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) into a full-fledged department.

“It won’t just focus on cyclones -- it will serve all forms of disaster preparedness. Its role will include everything from raising awareness across the country to engaging local volunteers.

“These volunteers will receive training not just on cyclones but across all disaster types,” he added.

The seminar also shared key safety tips during lightning strikes:
​

• Stay indoors if dark clouds appear or thunder is heard​
• ​
• If working outdoors without access to shelter, crouch low with limbs tucked in. Do not lie flat on the ground​
• ​
• If in water, stay under the boat canopy​
• ​
• Without a canopy, reduce contact with the boat floor as much as possible​
• ​
• Stop fishing​
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• Avoid water bodies​
• ​
• Do not take shelter under trees or on elevated ground​
• ​
• Stay away from torn power lines​
• ​

Places deemed unsafe during lightning strikes include:
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• Tents set up in open areas​
• ​
• Shelters with open roofs​
• ​
• Metal structures such as uncovered passenger sheds​
• ​
• Umbrellas are also unsafe​

The seminar recommended staying indoors for at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap is heard.​

 

[Saif]

Why Dhaka has become unliveable

To survive Dhaka, you need a strategy. Start by embracing the absurd: treat every crisis as a plot twist.

www.thedailystar.net

Why Dhaka has become unliveable

FILE PHOTO: STAR

Picture this: you're standing in the middle of Shahbagh at 8:30am. The sun is already a vengeful orb, the air tastes like exhaust fumes and unfulfilled promises, and the traffic—oh, the traffic—is a fossilised river of cars, rickshaws, and humanity. A man in a sweat-soaked shirt argues with a CNG-run autorickshaw driver over a fare increase of Tk 10. A schoolgirl hops over a sludge-filled pothole, her uniform skirt flapping like a surrender flag.

Somewhere, a protest slogan echoes, muffled by the honking symphony. Welcome to Dhaka, the city that never sleeps, because it's too busy being stuck in traffic, dodging waterlogged streets, or wondering if today's political demonstration will be the one that finally tips the collective sanity into the abyss.

A recent editorial by The Daily Star, titled "This is not how a city can survive", is a primal scream into the void. It catalogues Dhaka's daily crucifixion: protests that gridlock entire neighbourhoods, infrastructure that crumbles faster than a biscuit in cha, and a government that seems to treat citizen welfare as an afterthought in its grand political opera. But how does one survive here? Not just exist, not just endure, but carve out a sliver of dignity—or at least a functioning Wi-Fi connection—amid the chaos? Let's muse.

Dhaka operates on a unique principle: maximum effort, minimum progress. You leave home at 7am to reach your office five kilometres away by 9am, only to discover that a spontaneous protest has turned the road into a car park. The protesters, bless their democratic hearts, are exercising their right to dissent. The traffic police, meanwhile, are exercising their right to vanish. You sit. You sweat. You contemplate the existential irony of a metro rail gliding overhead while your CNG-run autorickshaw dies.

The editorial nails it: this isn't just inconvenience, it's systemic erosion. When protests metastasise into daily blockades, when VIP movements reroute entire neighbourhoods, when monsoon rains turn roads into Venetian canals (sans the romance), the city becomes less a habitat and more a stress simulator. The elderly, the sick, the parents hauling toddlers through sludge—these aren't extras in a dystopian film. They're us. And the tragedy isn't just the suffering, it's the normalisation of it. We have mastered the art of shrugging, "Ki ar korar? Eitai to Dhaka."

But here's the twist: Dhaka's chaos is also its alchemy. The same streets that trap you for hours host impromptu tea stalls where strangers bond over shared misery. The protests that infuriate you also remind you that dissent, however disruptive, is a heartbeat this city refuses to silence. Survival here isn't about avoiding the chaos; it's about learning to dance in the rubble.

Let's be honest: optimism in Dhaka feels like bringing a parasol to a tsunami. The just-revealed Global Liveability Index 2025 ranks us 171st out of 173 cities, below even Kyiv, a city currently hosting an actual war. Our air quality rivals industrial chimneys. Our infrastructure budget seems to evaporate faster than rainwater in July. And don't get me started on the mosquitoes—Aedes aegypti, the unofficial mascot of our public health nightmares.

Yet, cynicism is a luxury this city can't afford. The editorial's plea to prioritise citizens' well-being isn't just a policy suggestion; it's a survival manifesto.

The government's inertia—whether in tackling air pollution, fixing roads, or addressing inflation—is a masterclass in absurdity. The new metro rail? A Band-Aid on a bullet wound. The real solution—disciplined traffic management, green spaces, functional public transport—remains as elusive as a quiet afternoon in Gulistan.

Surviving Dhaka demands a sense of humour. Not the slapstick kind, but the gallows variety. Take the Great Waterlogging Chronicles: you invest in waterproof shoes, only to discover the real enemy is the floating garbage island blocking the drain. Or the VIP Movement Saga, where your entire commute is derailed because someone's convoy needs to glide through the city like a pampered comet. And then there's the Protest Paradox: you support the right to demonstrate but draw the line when it turns your 20-minute errand into a three-hour odyssey.

The editorial's call for "responsible protest" is noble but feels like asking a tornado to mind its manners. Protests here aren't just political theatre; they're catharsis. When the system grinds you down, blocking a road feels like the only megaphone you've got. The problem isn't dissent—it's the collateral damage. A city can't thrive when its arteries are clogged daily, when ambulances are trapped behind slogan-chanting crowds, when students miss exams because the streets are a battleground.

But imagine this: What if protests were organised with precision? What if the government actually planned for them, rerouting traffic, designating zones, ensuring that emergencies aren't collateral damage? What if, instead of adversarial standoffs, we had dialogue?

To survive Dhaka, you need a strategy. Start by embracing the absurd: treat every crisis as a plot twist. Stuck in traffic? Perfect time to memorise a poem. Power outage? Candlelit introspection hour. Find your oasis—a rooftop garden, a quiet cafe, a library corner—and claim a sliver of peace amid the bedlam. Channel your inner Tagore; the man wrote about birds and freedom while colonialism loomed. Create beauty anyway. Demand better, but build resilience: advocate for change, but don't wait for it. Plant a tree. Mentor a kid. Fix a pothole yourself (if the city won't). And above all, laugh. Loudly. Because if you don't, you'll cry.

The editorial ends with a plea for collaboration—government, parties, citizens—to stop treating civic life as a hostage. But collaboration requires trust, and trust is in shorter supply than parking spots here. Yet, hope persists, in the students demanding safer streets, architects designing vertical gardens, journalists chronicling both collapse and resilience.

Dhaka is a city of contradictions. It's a place where you can attend a rooftop art exhibition overlooking a slum, where a phuchka vendor philosophises about inflation, where the smell of rain on concrete mingles with the stench of neglect. It's unliveable. It's home.

The editorial is a mirror held up to our collective face, reflecting exhaustion, yes, but also a stubborn refusal to surrender. Survival here isn't passive; it's a daily rebellion. So, the next time you're trapped in traffic, roll down your window. Share a snack with the rickshaw wala. Complain about the potholes. Dream of a better city. And remember: Dhaka's chaos is also its pulse. As long as it beats, so do we.

Zakir Kibria is a writer and policy analyst.​

 

[Saif]

Govt should step up forecasting, warning of lightning strikes

BANGLADESH has, as Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System data suggest, the highest rate of death by lightning strike in South Asia. Whilst more than 3.3 million lightning strikes happen in Bangladesh every year, the rate of death by strikes remains at 1.21 per 1,000 square...

www.newagebd.net

Govt should step up forecasting, warning of lightning strikes
30 June, 2025, 00:00

BANGLADESH has, as Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System data suggest, the highest rate of death by lightning strike in South Asia. Whilst more than 3.3 million lightning strikes happen in Bangladesh every year, the rate of death by strikes remains at 1.21 per 1,000 square kilometres, with India trailing by 0.86 and Nepal by 0.62. Records show that 270 people have so far died by lightning strike this year. The figure of death by lightning strike was 322 in 2024, as records available with the disaster management department say. In 2020, considered the worst year since 2015 in terms of the disaster, lightning strikes killed 427 people. Data show that 62 per cent of more than 3.3 million lightning strikes happening in Bangladesh every year occur between April and June, with May being the month when most of the strikes take place. And, lightning strikes happen mostly in Jamalganj, an upazila in the north-eastern district of Sunamganj, with 103 strikes per square kilometre on an average every year. Other areas where lightning strikes happen frequently are Netrakona and Moulvibazar, near Sunamganj.

Meteorologists say that the north-eastern haor region sits on massive, static water bodies in the background of Meghalaya which offers a perfect condition for lightning strikes. An analysis of 13 years of lightning strike data points to a conclusion that the frequency of the strike has increased by about 10 per cent, viewed on par with the global knowledge that an increase in temperature by one degree Celsius accounts for an increase in the frequency of lightning strikes by 10 per cent. A typical lightning strike is said to have about 300 million volts and 30,000 amperes of current. And, death by lightning strike remains a problem, which may not be eliminated but can be minimised with an efficient warning system. An early forecast of lightning strike is difficult but specific warning, as experts say, is possible six to 12 hours before lightning strikes. A meteorologist at the Met Office says that Bangladesh has introduced an experimental advanced lightning forecasting system which since April 1 has been able to forecast lightning strikes one to six hours before the disaster happens. Experts now demand that the government should ask mobile operators to broadcast lightning warnings to communities vulnerable to lightning strikes so that death by lightning strikes could be minimised.

Whilst the government should, in such a situation, step up the forecasting so that warnings could be flagged six to 12 hours before the happening, it should put in place a warning broadcast system to make the best use of the forecast.​

 

[Saif]

Govt focused on reducing dust to control air pollution in Dhaka: Rizwana

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, Climate Change and Water Resources, has announced a series of proactive steps aimed at tackling air pollution, with a strong focus on controlling dust pollution in Dhaka ahead of winter. Rizwana also outlined the government's co

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Govt focused on reducing dust to control air pollution in Dhaka: Rizwana

UNB
Published :
Jun 30, 2025 23:01
Updated :
Jun 30, 2025 23:01

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, Climate Change and Water Resources, has announced a series of proactive steps aimed at tackling air pollution, with a strong focus on controlling dust pollution in Dhaka ahead of winter.

Rizwana also outlined the government's comprehensive plan addressing immediate, mid-term, and long-term solutions under the Bangladesh Clean Air Project (BCAP).

The adviser came up with the information while talking to journalists at the Bangladesh Secretariat following a productive meeting with a visiting team of Chinese air pollution experts.

“As part of short-term measures, all road repair works in Dhaka are targeted to be completed before winter. Surface covering, fencing and water spraying systems will be implemented to control dust,” she said.

Additional initiatives including using watering carts, land hardening and enforcing a “zero soil” policy will be taken to prevent dust from exposed surfaces, she added.

To curb vehicular pollution—a major contributor to poor urban air quality—the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) will remove outdated vehicles and introduce 250 new ones.

Plans are also in place to establish 10 automatic vehicle inspection centers to enforce emission standards.

Besides, a working group will be formed in consultation with the Chinese experts to develop long-term strategies, said the adviser.

She also stressed the importance of accurate data collection and analysis for policy formulation and sustainable progress.

Mid- and long-term goals include establishing an advanced air quality emission monitoring system, aligning emission standards with global norms, introducing sanitary landfills and waste incineration plants and promoting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cleaner cooking.

Meanwhile, tax incentives for environmentally friendly practices and technologies are also under review.

Under BCAP, the Department of Environment (DoE) will launch a continuous emission monitoring system for high-polluting industries and conduct training and awareness programs nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) will install road fencing and introduce 50 electric vehicles to promote cleaner transport.

A Japan-funded initiative will establish eight real-time air quality monitoring stations to support evidence-based policymaking and the BEST project will also be implemented to complement these efforts.

Advisor Rizwana expressed optimism about the collaboration with the Chinese expert team, noting that their expertise will significantly enhance Bangladesh’s capacity to fight air pollution.

She reaffirmed the government's strong commitment to creating a cleaner and healthier environment for all.

Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Professor Yu Zhao, Executive Dean, School of Environment, Nanjing University; Dr. Haikun Wang, Vice Dean, Nanjing-Helsinki Institute in Atmospheric and Earth System Sciences; and Dr. Tengyu Liu, Associate Professor, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, were present among others.

The meeting emphasized the importance of developing a national emission inventory and conducting chemical analyses to identify pollution sources.

These steps will lay the foundation for a robust source apportionment study—key to designing targeted, science-based interventions across the country.​