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

[Saif]

Bangladesh sees one of warmest winters

The coldest month January ended rather warm, with barely any cold wave days, setting this winter well on the trajectory to become one of the warmest in the country’s history.

www.newagebd.net

Bangladesh sees one of warmest winters
Emran Hossain 03 February, 2025, 00:14

The coldest month January ended rather warm, with barely any cold wave days, setting this winter well on the trajectory to become one of the warmest in the country’s history.

February is the last month of the three-month-long winter when cold waves occur but the temperature does not drop as much as in January, the second half of which coincides with the first half of the formidable winter month on the Bangla calendar —Magh.

Magh, used to bring punishing cold, so much so that it spawned myths like Magh makes even tigers shiver, has only 10 days to go with Sunday’s temperature hovered around 30C over vast swathes of the country, particularly cities and other urban areas.

Many said that they used ceiling fans day and night in the current peak of Magh with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department predicting the possibility of a brief cold wave before winter officially ends this month.

‘The average minimum temperature in January was 1.1C higher than what is usual,’ meteorologist AKM Nazmul Hoque told New Age.

January saw its lowest minimum temperature to drop to 7.3C on January 10 in Tetulia, which is also the lowest temperature recorded so far this winter.

Temperature dropped frequently below 7C over the last 15 years. Only four other Januaries have been as warm as the immediate past one, showed an analysis of 44 years of data preserved by the meteorology department.

The temperature did not drop below 7.3C, as it happened last in January in 2025, also in 1982, 1986, 2002 and 2009.

On January 28, 2024, the lowest temperature dropped to 5C at Dimla of Nilphamari. On January 20, the year before in 2023, the lowest temperature was recorded to be 5.6C in Srimangal of Moulvibazar.

In 2022, the lowest temperature was 6C, recorded on January 31 in Tetulia of Panchagarh.

Four cold waves, two lasting just one day each and the rest two three and four days, were recorded in this January.

January turning out this warm presented a sharp contrast to the beginning of winter in December when temperature saw a sharp drop middle of the month ushering in a cold wave. The temperature dropped to 8.4C on December 13 with the season’s first cold wave lasting for three days. The December 2024 was the coldest regarding the recorded lowest temperature in the 44 years since 1981, showed an analysis of the BMD data. The first cold wave this winter hit three weeks earlier than last year.

A cold wave, which can be mild, moderate and severe, reflects the fall of air temperature over a large area below 10C.

‘The circulation of air has been very strange this year,’ said Bazlur Rashid, a senior BMD meteorologist and climate researcher.

Winter arrives with the arrival of westerly, wind blowing from the west to east, particularly from the Mediterranean Sea, he explained.

This winter there has been a constant flow of wind from the Mediterranean, without almost any break, which was unusual, and the wind got blocked around Afghanistan, he said.

The strong westerly, which flows close to the surface, prevented Jet wind, upper atmosphere wind flowing above 18,000 feet, from taking its usual course.

Jet wind flows from the east to west, at a high speed exceeding 100kmph. The temperature in the jet wind starts at -20C. The temperature can reach -50C.

Jet wind descends close to the surface when westerly weakens, increasing the feeling of cold, which did not happen this year. Jet wind also got stuck around Afghanistan, almost never reaching either West Bengal or Bangladesh.

‘Jet wind needs to come down to 12,000 feet or even lower to lower the temperature and give the feeling of cold,’ said Bazlu, adding that the wind remained above 15,000 feet so far.

Jet wind usually passes over Bangladesh and its adjacent West Bengal during winter, which had not happened this winter.

Cloudless sky and absence of fog along with high land surface temperature has made the current winter feel rather warm, meteorologists have observed.

January was 99 per cent rain deficient as well, while December was 91 per cent rain deficient. Back to back low pressure formed in November and December, potentially contributing to cloudless skies by pulling clouds into them.

The temperature observations from Bangladesh showed a clear climate signal, with fewer and shorter cold waves in the recent decades, according to a BMD report titled ‘Changing climate of Bangladesh’, released in February last year.

Cold waves became concentrated in January in Dhaka division, the report said. There were some cases of cold waves in December and February as well, according to the report.

In one of the coldest areas of the country, Rangpur division, cold waves started early or mid-December throughout most of the period studied—1980–2023. The northern district recorded a cold wave even in November in 1981. But the period of cold waves appears to have been delayed over the past few years, starting at the third or fourth week of December or even in January, the report said.

Historically, cold waves were frequent in January and February but in recent years the end of February had been without any, the report said about Rangpur. In Rajshahi division, known for extreme heat during summer and intense cold during winter, the period of cold waves started in the first week of December up to 2006 but then decreased, indicating a delay in cold wave conditions.

In Rajshahi division in 2023, no cold spell was recorded in December at all. The number of cold wave days in December and February has decreased also, while a large number of cold wave days were observed in January throughout the period 1980–2023 in the division, the BMD report said.​

 

[Saif]

Our development model is poisoning Dhaka

True reform should involve policies that protect Dhaka’s residents and their right to a liveable city.

www.thedailystar.net

Our development model is poisoning Dhaka

People are being forced to organise movements to protect what's left of open, green spaces like Panthakunja Park. FILE PHOTO: PRABIR DAS

After the fall of a deeply corrupt and irresponsible government through a mass uprising, we believed that many things would improve. But our hopes have been shattered. One of our most critical concerns is related to survival—our ability to simply breathe and live.

Dhaka's air pollution remains among the worst in the world. The city continues to hold the infamous record of having the most hazardous air globally. When the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 300, the air is classified as "extremely dangerous." In some areas of Dhaka, AQI has surpassed 400, even approaching 500. Even on Sunday morning, Dhaka had the worst air in the world. At such levels, the concentration of harmful particulate matter in the air makes it dangerous for humans. The situation is dire, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. The rate at which cases of respiratory diseases, neurological disorders, fever, cough, and lung infections are rising is alarming.

Despite these circumstances, we have not seen the government take meaningful steps to address the crisis. The situation has deteriorated to the point where people are forced to organise movements simply to protect open, green spaces like Bahadur Shah Park, Tetultola playground, Panthakunja Park, and Khilgaon playground in Dhaka, as well as in other cities. The previous government showed complete negligence to these issues, and we had hoped that the new interim government would be more responsive. However, this has not been the case.

For instance, the Panthakunja Park, which used to be a small open space with some trees, has been taken over for the construction of a ramp of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway. To prevent this, some young activists have been protesting on site for more than 50 days, and concerned citizens have expressed solidarity with them, yet the government has not responded positively. Instead, officials claim that these projects cannot be cancelled or revised. However, the ramp being built in Panthakunja was not a part of the original plan. It was introduced later to benefit certain private companies seeking to maximise their profits. An article by Kallol Mustafa recently published in this daily has detailed how such projects are often linked to private interests rather than genuine public needs.

There have been numerous proposals and projects to protect Dhaka's environment, including efforts to clean up the Buriganga River and other nearby rivers, to clean up the city's air. Loans worth hundreds of crores of taka have been organised from the World Bank and other lenders in the name of the environment's improvement. Yet, there are no visible results. Where has this money gone? Many argue that protecting the environment requires significant financial investment, but this is incorrect. Environmental protection does not require excessive funds, rather it requires stopping disastrous spending. In fact, unnecessary investments and projects that serve private interests are actively destroying the environment.

One of the primary causes of environmental degradation in Dhaka is unregulated construction. Without proper planning or assessment of long-term consequences, construction activities are going on unchecked. The construction sector now accounts for around eight percent of Bangladesh's GDP (2021). To maintain this economic growth, open spaces are being filled in, parks are being encroached upon, and land is being leased for commercial purposes. Even historic places like Bahadur Shah Park are being leased out for commercial purposes.

The fundamental issue here is that no serious effort is being put into reducing air pollution in Dhaka. Many of the environmental projects funded by international funding agencies such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have ironically contributed to its destruction instead. For example, under the guise of "social forestry" projects, natural forests in Bangladesh at various locations have been destroyed and replaced with commercial plantations of eucalyptus and acacia, which have had a devastating ecological impact. The destruction of the Chakaria Sundarbans is a prime example of that. In the name of energy development, Bangladesh has also built multiple coal-fired power plants, significantly increasing air pollution. While projects aimed at reducing pollution exist, the primary beneficiaries are consultants, bureaucrats who enjoy foreign trips, and individuals engaged in import-dependent activities.

Among other major causes for pollution are brick kilns, deforestation and river encroachments. Addressing these issues does not require massive financial investments; rather, it demands proper planning and decisive government action. Recently, the government attempted to ban polythene bags, but it was ineffective. One of the key reasons was the significant financial investment and employment tied to the polythene industry. Transitioning away from polythene to natural fibre-based alternatives requires a well-planned approach, including consultation with industry stakeholders and ensuring the availability of viable substitutes. But instead of implementing a structured transition plan, the government simply issued a top-down directive, which predictably failed.

Bangladesh has no shortage of natural fibres, and we could have developed a thriving industry around environment-friendly products to replace polythene. Unfortunately, there has been no development in the jute industry. Loans from the World Bank, rather than promoting jute-based alternatives, contributed to the industry's decline. Meanwhile, because of indiscriminate use of cheap polythene, Dhaka's drainage system remains clogged, leading to severe waterlogging and further river pollution.

Dhaka could have been a much healthier city. Surrounded by rivers, it had the potential to be an environmentally sustainable urban area. If its rivers had been preserved, its open spaces protected, and large-scale afforestation efforts undertaken, the city's air quality would have significantly improved. Adequate greenery—fruit-bearing trees, flowering plants, and natural forests—could have dramatically reduced disease rates and provided a much healthier living environment.

Instead, Dhaka is surrounded by countless brick kilns, despite repeated discussions about their harmful impact. Most of these kilns operate illegally. They must be shut down, and viable alternatives to bricks must be introduced.

If immediate steps are not taken, Dhaka will fully transform into a city of sick people. We are already witnessing a sharp increase in illnesses, and this will only worsen if urgent measures are not implemented. There are no playgrounds for children, no open spaces where people can breathe fresh air, and the water we drink is contaminated. Citizens cannot even enjoy a clean and peaceful time by the river.

This extreme deprivation stems from the current development model, which prioritises profit maximisation for a select group over public welfare. Projects are designed to benefit certain influential groups through lobbying, while the common people—who bear the consequences—are entirely excluded from the decision-making process.

The present government frequently talks about reforms, but what kind of reforms are they referring to? Reform is not an abstract concept; it requires concrete actions. True reform should involve policies that protect Dhaka's residents and their right to a liveable city.

Anu Muhammad is a former professor of economics from Jahangirnagar University.​

 

[Saif]

Saving rivers is our duty

River pollution in Dhaka continues with little effort to curb it.

www.thedailystar.net

Saving rivers is our duty
Outcome of govt actions must be more visible

VISUAL: STAR

It is hardly surprising that pollution sources around Dhaka's rivers have nearly doubled over the last five years, given the unchecked degradation of rivers and other waterbodies in the country. Industrial units, government agencies, and private individuals have all contributed equally and untiringly to poisoning the waters of Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakhya, Balu, Karnatali, and Dhaleswari rivers—Dhaka's lifelines for centuries. Despite repeated calls to save them, successive governments have failed to take effective measures to prevent pollution or hold the polluters and encroachers accountable, emboldening them further.

As a result, according to a recent River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) study, the number of pollution sources—industries, kitchen markets, dockyards, municipal sewerage lines, private sewerage outlets, and waste dumping stations—has surged from 608 to 1,024 in just five years. Even sluice gates and service canals are contaminating major rivers like Buriganga and Shitalakhya by channelling pollutants directly into them. All this means that the Tk 1,000 crore spent by the previous government on projects to protect Dhaka's rivers literally went down the drain. Evidently, corruption and political favouritism compromised its commitment to saving rivers.

The interim government, free from such biases and with environment activist Syeda Rizwana Hasan in its ranks, is expected to show greater dedication to protecting rivers and the environment. However, while efforts to restore 19 canals across Dhaka have recently begun, actions against major river polluters and encroachers have remained inadequate. No one expects the government to solve the deep-rooted issues involved with river protection overnight, but its measures must be more visible, especially against key offenders, to deter others.

Additionally, the National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) must be reactivated and empowered without any further delay. It is baffling that this vital agency is still operating with minimal staff months after the interim government revoked its chairman's appointment. Further delays in making it functional will only worsen pollution and allow more rivers to fall to encroachers. Ultimately, saving our rivers is a collective responsibility. While the government must act decisively, citizens, too, must refrain from polluting activities. Our rivers are essential for our survival—we all must do the best we can to protect them.​

 

[Saif]

St Martin’s Island: Clean-up effort to be launched from mid-Feb

A clean-up effort will be launched in St Martin’s Island under Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar in mid-February following suspension on tourism activities for next nine months

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St Martin’s Island: Clean-up effort to be launched from mid-Feb

Photo: Sharif Sarwar/File

A clean-up effort will be launched in St Martin's Island under Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar in mid-February following suspension on tourism activities for next nine months.

According to the directives of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Cox's Bazar district administration will coordinate the entire operation, said Mohammad Salauddin, deputy commissioner of the district.

"The tourism season has ended and we are now focusing on reviving the island's natural environment which sustained damages due to tourism. Local residents will be involved in the activities to boost their income," he said.

"Earlier, in December and January, a total 14 tonnes of plastic and polythene wastes were collected from the island in exchange for food items including rice, oil, lentils and biscuits," the DC added.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in October last year restricted tourist visits to just three months of the year -- November, December, and January – with a daily limit of 2,000 tourists, in order to reduce pollution and protect the island's environment and biodiversity.

The Department of Environment in 1999 declared St Martin's Island an Ecologically Critical Area. In 2023, the government designated 1,743 square kilometres of the Bay of Bengal adjacent to St Martin's Island as a protected area under the Wildlife Act.

The first initiative to control tourism on the island was taken in August 2020. The government assigned the Center for Geographical Information Services (CEGIS) to conduct a study. Following the research, CEGIS concluded that the primary cause of environmental destruction in St Martin's Island is unregulated tourism, adding that tourists should not be allowed to stay overnight on the island under any circumstances.

Although the island has a daily capacity of 2,000 visitors, some 10,000 to 12,000 tourists travelled there every day even in last year. At least 230 hotels and motels have been established illegally without any waste management systems, leading to an accumulation of sewage and plastic wastes across the island.

A study found that the island's water contains 10 times more bacteria than the mainland. Crabs are being caught for tourist consumption, while boat traffic and campfires are endangering three rare species of sea turtles. The excessive number of tourists is also causing a sharp decline in groundwater levels.

In 1980, the island had 141 coral species, but by 2016, the number dropped to 41. Research organisations warned that without urgent conservation efforts, St Martin's Island could lose all the coral species by 2045.

"We have to save St Martin's Island to carry on the tourism business," said Abu Morshed Chowdhury, president of Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

"The reduction in tourist numbers is now helping to protect the island's biodiversity," said Dipak Sharma, president of Cox's Bazar Forest and Environment Conservation Council.

Md Zamir Uddin, deputy director of DoE in Cox's Bazar, said they are assessing the damage sustained due to tourism in the island and how much manpower is needed to organise the clean-up activities in order to set the work plan to this end.

Mujibor Rahman, chairman of St Martin union parishad, said people of island and UNDP staffs have already begun cleaning up the beaches and other areas after the tourists left the coral island.

The hotel owners and their staffs, who came from outside, are wrapping up their belongings to leave the island, he added.​

 

[Saif]

Save elephants, protect biodiversity

The recent deaths of several elephants raise questions about our commitment to wildlife conservation.

www.thedailystar.net

Save elephants, protect biodiversity
Govt must restore forest lands, ensure safe elephant corridors

VISUAL: STAR

The deaths of several Asian elephants in the Chattogram region in recent times raise questions about our commitment to wildlife conservation. According to media reports, more than 30 elephants have been found dead in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas and Chattogram's Anwara, Karnaphuli, and Banshkhali upazilas over the past decade. Last year, seven elephant deaths were recorded in Ukhiya and Teknaf alone.

Many of these elephants were electrocuted or shot dead, while others succumbed to hunger, malnutrition, and disease due to food shortages. Expanding human settlements, economic zones, and infrastructure built on elephant habitats and migratory routes are disrupting their natural movement, which typically spans 70-80 kilometres daily in search of food and water. In Ukhiya and Teknaf, the Rohingya refugee camps as well as the barbed-wire fence built by Myanmar government along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border have blocked five of the eight existing elephant corridors in Cox's Bazar, making at least 15 water bodies inaccessible to the area's 205 elephants.

Similarly, in Anwara and Karnaphuli, establishing the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) and the China Economic Zone by clearing forests—and without undertaking proper environmental feasibility studies, one may add—has further disrupted the life and habitat of the elephant population. Environmental conservation guidelines were also ignored during the construction of the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar railway line, creating additional barriers for these animals. Alarmingly, many of the elephant deaths have occurred in reserved forests and wildlife sanctuaries. What is the purpose of declaring an area a "wildlife sanctuary" if we cannot ensure the safety of the wildlife within it?

There is reason to expect stronger action from the current interim government which claims itself to be pro-environment. In October, the environment adviser helped establish a committee in the KEPZ area to ensure the protection of wild elephants. However, more action is needed across all regions where human-elephant conflicts have been intensifying. The consequences of habitat degradation and destruction extend to humans as well, with 136 people estimated to have been killed by elephants in the last six years.

The government, therefore, must take urgent, visible measures to prevent deforestation, restore forest lands, implement reforestation initiatives, and ensure that the natural routes for elephant movement are never violated under any circumstances. Anti-nature infrastructure development projects undertaken by the Awami League government should also be critically reviewed. We must find a way to coexist with other species without endangering their survival.​

 

[Saif]

BELA demands cancellation of road, car park project in Osmani Udyan

In the letter, sent on February 9, BELA urged authorities to immediately halt all activities encroaching upon open spaces in the park. It also called for consultations with urban planners to remove unauthorised structures and ensure unrestricted public access, according to a press release

www.thedailystar.net

BELA demands cancellation of road, car park project in Osmani Udyan

The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association yesterday sent a formal letter demanding the cancellation of the proposed road construction through Osmani Udyan and the planned 20-storey car parking facility within the park.

In the letter, sent on February 9, BELA urged authorities to immediately halt all activities encroaching upon open spaces in the park. It also called for consultations with urban planners to remove unauthorised structures and ensure unrestricted public access, according to a press release.

Recent media reports revealed that the Ministry of Public Administration plans to build a connecting road from Fulbaria Phoenix Road to Abdul Gani Road through Osmani Udyan to facilitate vehicular movement towards the Secretariat. Additionally, a 20-story car parking facility is planned within the park.

Over the past seven years, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has constructed various structures inside the park under the guise of renovation, restricting public access.

According to urban planners, while legal provisions allow a maximum of 5 percent infrastructure development in parks, 23 percent of Osmani Udyan has already been occupied by structures.

Bangladesh's laws prohibit using or transferring playgrounds or open spaces for any purpose other than their intended use. The courts have also issued clear directives for preserving parks and playgrounds, including the removal of unauthorised structures.

BELA sent the letter to several top officials, including the secretaries of the ministries of housing and public works, public administration, and environment, as well as the local government division. It was also addressed to the administrator of DSCC, the chairman and chief town planner of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, and the chief engineer of the Public Works Department.

The letter strongly opposes any decision that contradicts existing laws and court directives regarding the preservation of parks and open spaces.​

 

[Saif]

Nearly all nations miss UN deadline

Nearly all nations missed a UN deadline to submit new targets for slashing carbon emissions, including major economies under pressure to show leadership following the US retreat on climate change.

www.thedailystar.net

Nearly all nations miss UN deadline

Nearly all nations missed a UN deadline to submit new targets for slashing carbon emissions, including major economies under pressure to show leadership following the US retreat on climate change.

Just 10 of nearly 200 countries required under the Paris Agreement to deliver fresh climate plans by February 10 did so on time, according to a UN database tracking the submissions.

Under the climate accord, each country is supposed to provide a steeper headline figure for cutting heat-trapping emissions by 2035, and a detailed blueprint for how to achieve this.

Global emissions have been rising but need to almost halve by the end of the decade to limit global warming to safer levels agreed under the Paris deal.

UN climate chief Simon Stiell has called this latest round of national pledges "the most important policy documents of this century".

Yet just a handful of major polluters handed in upgraded targets on time, with China, India and the European Union the biggest names on a lengthy absentee list.

Most G20 economies were missing in action with the United States, Britain and Brazil -- which is hosting this year's UN climate summit -- the only exceptions.

The US pledge is largely symbolic, made before President Donald Trump ordered Washington out of the Paris deal.

- Accountability -

There is no penalty for submitting late targets, formally titled nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

They are not legally binding but act as an accountability measure to ensure countries are taking climate change seriously and doing their fair share toward achieving the Paris goals.

The sluggish response will not ease fears of a possible backslide on climate action as leaders juggle Trump's return and other competing priorities from budget and security crises to electoral pressure.

Ebony Holland from the International Institute for Environment and Development said the US retreat was "clearly a setback" but there were many reasons for the tepid turnout.

The EU, historically a leader on climate policy, has been delayed by elections and internal processes and is bracing for fresh polls in Germany and Poland.

An EU spokeswoman said a collective target for the 27-nation bloc would be unveiled "well ahead" of the UN COP30 climate conference in November.​

 

[Saif]

Natural disasters cost Bangladesh $3 billion annually

Extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, storms, and heatwaves, cost Bangladesh nearly US$3.0 billion annually, affecting over 6.3 million people each year. These findings are part of 'The Climate Risk Index 2025' report, released Thursday by the Germanwatch. The report focused o

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Natural disasters cost Bangladesh $3 billion annually
FE ONLINE REPORT
Published :
Feb 13, 2025 17:47
Updated :
Feb 13, 2025 18:18

Extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, storms, and heatwaves, cost Bangladesh nearly US$3.0 billion annually, affecting over 6.3 million people each year.

These findings are part of 'The Climate Risk Index 2025' report, released Thursday by the Germanwatch.

The report focused on the disproportionate impact of climate change on global south countries.

Between 1993 and 2022, more than 9,400 extreme weather events worldwide caused nearly 0.8 million deaths and $4.2 trillion in economic losses.

Dominica, China, and Honduras were the most affected countries, while Bangladesh ranked 31st.

The report said a devastating heatwave from March to May 2022, which reached 49.5°C in Pakistan and extended to India and Bangladesh, caused over 90 deaths.

A study by the World Weather Attribution project found that climate change made this heatwave 30 times more likely, underscoring the growing threat of compounding climate events.

Despite its vulnerability, Bangladesh has become a global leader in disaster risk reduction.

Cyclone-related deaths have dropped more than 100-fold over the past 40 years—from 0.5 million in 1970 to 4,234 in 2007—thanks to improved early warning systems and community preparedness.

The report also noted that China, India, and the Philippines face recurring extreme weather, while Dominica, Honduras, Myanmar, and Vanuatu are most affected by exceptional disasters.

Italy, Spain, and Greece were among the top 10 most affected countries globally, showing that even wealthy nations are not immune.

Laura Schaefer of Germanwatch warned that the climate crisis is becoming a global security risk, requiring urgent action. David Eckstein emphasized that $4.2 trillion in losses over 30 years equals Germany’s GDP, urging stronger mitigation efforts.

Lina Adil from the same organisation called for increased climate finance for vulnerable nations, particularly at the upcoming Brazil Climate Summit, to keep global warming near the 1.5°C target.​

 

[Saif]

Coats plans to go greener in Bangladesh

The UK-headquartered thread manufacturer Coats Group has been expanding its operations in Bangladesh to meet the growing demand from local customers, according to a top official.

www.thedailystar.net

Coats plans to go greener in Bangladesh

David Paja

The UK-headquartered thread manufacturer Coats Group has been expanding its operations in Bangladesh to meet the growing demand from local customers, according to a top official.

The globally leading thread-maker is also opting to go green as it aims to take the "driving seat in sustainability," said David Paja, the group chief executive officer (CEO) of Coats.

In an interview with The Daily Star at a hotel in Dhaka last week, Paja said the group has set targets to use 60 percent recycled content by 2026 and 100 percent non-virgin raw materials by 2030.

Currently, Coats uses 45 percent of its raw materials from non-virgin sources.

In Bangladesh, the thread-maker runs two production plants -- one in Gazipur and another in Chattogram. The Chattogram factory was built 35 years ago, while the second plant was opened in Gazipur in 2002.

The factories employ more than 2,000 workers.

The company says it has been facing growing demand from local customers as Bangladesh's apparel exports have increased substantially. The demand for apparel accessories, such as thread, is also on the rise.

It now supplies sewing thread to more than 800 customers in Bangladesh, Paja said.

He added that the group now looks to produce sustainable and recyclable products, as the demand for items like recycled thread, yarn and apparel has been increasing worldwide due mainly to changing consumer habits in fashion.

According to Paja, the thread business is promising in Bangladesh due to its ready customer base, geographical proximity to manufacturing hubs and the country's large number of manufacturing units.

Moreover, Bangladesh holds a strong position in the global tariff regime and has a solid track record about its apparel might.

Besides, the country gets the benefit from a ready workforce, with more than 20 lakh people entering the job market every year.

The group CEO said that over the last five years, the group has continued to invest in expanding its capacity in Bangladesh, as the market is very promising.

Also, the company has set a target to invest in water recycling processes to reuse 50 percent of its wastewater as part of its sustainability plan.

Coats has been planning its sustainability strategy around five pillars: reducing emissions; transitioning materials from virgin to recycled products; water recycling; ensuring zero waste to landfill; and making Coats a great place to work for its people and promoting female leadership.

Paja said, "Coats has been the global leader in thread for decades, and it has a responsibility. We have decided to take the driving seat in sustainability. We have an energy roadmap for 2050."

Regarding energy costs and availability, Paja said his company has already focused on energy sustainability, which is why energy-efficient tools have been installed at its plants.

The company has invested in heat recovery systems and motors to reduce energy consumption. Currently, 30 percent of the company's energy demand is met by solar panels installed on its rooftops, while 60 percent is generated by the company itself. The remaining 10 percent of the energy requirement comes from the national grid.

When asked whether Bangladesh could benefit from the Trump administration's decision to impose tariffs on China and other countries, Paja said it is difficult to anticipate and forecast.

However, Bangladesh has already benefited from the additional tariffs, as work orders have shifted from China to Bangladesh.

Apart from the apparel accessories sector going green, Paja said the fashion industry itself needs to transform, as consumers are now demanding more sustainable products.

Digital technologies must be further developed, as brands face pressure to provide greater traceability of raw materials and finished products. Digital solutions help consumers trace products accurately, he added.

The group CEO said that three key issues -- sustainability, digital technology and innovation -- will shape the future of the fashion industry; and Coats is well ahead in all three areas.​

 

[Saif]

Reclaiming canals: Now or never

With the canal reclamation drive on the agenda of the interim government, one wonders whether it makes Dhaka dwellers at all optimistic about its success, given the decades of repeated failures to accomplish the task. Despite the undeniable benefits of reclaiming lost and threatened canals, urban e

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Reclaiming canals: Now or never
Wasi Ahmed
Published :
Feb 18, 2025 22:49
Updated :
Feb 18, 2025 22:49

A canal in Dhaka illegally occupied by local people is filled with household waste and garbage. —Collected Photo

With the canal reclamation drive on the agenda of the interim government, one wonders whether it makes Dhaka dwellers at all optimistic about its success, given the decades of repeated failures to accomplish the task. Despite the undeniable benefits of reclaiming lost and threatened canals, urban experts remain sceptical due to the authorities' long history of inaction. Successive governments have pledged to take strict measures, yet tangible results remain elusive. The interim government's advisor for water resources, climate change, and environment, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, has announced an ambitious plan to reclaim nineteen canals across the capital this year by evicting encroachers. Of these, six canals-Baunia Canal, Rupnagar Canal, Begunbari Canal, Manda Canal, Kalunagar Canal, and Korail Lake-will be freed from encroachment and pollution before the upcoming monsoon. Speaking at the inauguration of the restoration works under Dhaka's two city corporations, the advisor also revealed plans to begin reclaiming 13 additional canals shortly. The government intends to introduce agricultural activities, greenery, and fish farming along the banks of the restored canals, while urging city dwellers to actively engage in the protection of these vital waterways. This time, the authorities seem more cautious than ever, acknowledging past failures and leveraging the advantage of being free from political influences. A key difference in this initiative is the level of inter-agency collaboration and community involvement, which was absent in previous efforts. For the first time, four ministries-Local Government, Environment, Water Resources, and Housing and Public Works-are jointly overseeing the project. Supporting entities include Dhaka WASA, Rajuk, the district administration, NGOs such as BAPA and Green Voice, and the Bangladesh Army. The plan involves demarcating canal boundaries, cleaning polluted waters, conserving canal banks, and integrating waste management and drainage systems. The first phase of work covers 23.66 kilometres across six canals: Baunia Canal (7.19km), Rupnagar Canal (3.5km), Begunbari Canal (1.69km), and Karail Lake (2.45km). Manda Canal (4.37km) and Kalunagar Canal (4.46km). Subsequent phases will reclaim 13 additional canals, including Boalia, Dumni, Shyampur, and Satarkul. A contemporary had reported some time ago that 39 canals in and around Dhaka have totally disappeared. Those that are still alive are mostly in the grip of influential quarters. Besides, due to construction of roads and walkways on both sides of the canals, there is hardly any space left to maintain them to allow discharge of water. On the other hand, unplanned urbanisation has led to the building of box culverts over the canals, an act believed to be instrumental in killing the vital arteries of the capital. According to the Dhaka WASA, until 1985, the capital had 54 canals and most of those were interlinked making their ultimate journey towards the four rivers around the city. It is not at all difficult to detect how most of them got lost or buried and the nature of hindrance that rendered them so. All it takes, according to the experts, is political will - one that we happen to experience only occasionally. In fact, it doesn't require an expert to bring home the importance of canals in rescuing Dhaka from the dreadful water logging and a host of other attendant problems and public sufferings. However, help from the experts is necessary to identify the routes of the canals lost to human greed and misdeeds. Professor Ainun Nishat, noted environmentalist, in an interview with a local daily, commented that tracing the routes of the canals can easily be done from documents, including the length and breadth of each and every canal. The Dhaka district administration can play a lead role in this. Most of the canals are 'owned' by the district authority. The Dhaka WASA is in charge of maintaining about two dozens of canals, the remaining few are virtually 'orphans' with no single agency assigned to maintain them. Another renowned urban expert Professor Nazrul Islam commented that the only way we can hope to recover the lost canals and maintain those is through enacting a law. Experts emphasise that once the reclamation work is completed, a long-term maintenance and monitoring plan must be in place to prevent future encroachment and degradation. Local communities should be actively involved in keeping the canals clean and functional. Awareness campaigns, legal enforcement, and community participation should go hand in hand to make this initiative a lasting success. Without a structured maintenance strategy, Dhaka risks falling back into the same cycle of negligence and destruction, rendering the entire effort futile. Canals in many big cities are life-lines potentially capable of cleansing the cities from dirt and garbage in a natural way-- besides flashing out rain waters as well as containing flash floods to a great extent. In Thailand's capital Bangkok, canals crisscrossing the city are also a treat for the eyes. The clean flow of water, courtesy of painstaking maintenance, is a good enough respite for the city dwellers amid the city's din and bustle. In traffic-choked Dhaka, canals could also be an alternative mode of travel for commuters, provided such a scheme is well designed and strictly enforced. But before we indulge in such wishful daydreams, we must see the canals first.​

 

[Saif]

Country needs to brace for climate catastrophe

Bangladesh has to bear the brunt of awful climate impacts though its contribution to global warming is negligible, believed to be less than 0.47 per cent of global emission. The Bonn-based green organisation Germanwatch reaffirmed this phenomenon and focused on how climate change is likely to leave

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Country needs to brace for climate catastrophe
Sarker Nazrul Islam
Published :
Feb 18, 2025 22:39
Updated :
Feb 18, 2025 22:39

Bangladesh has to bear the brunt of awful climate impacts though its contribution to global warming is negligible, believed to be less than 0.47 per cent of global emission. The Bonn-based green organisation Germanwatch reaffirmed this phenomenon and focused on how climate change is likely to leave disproportionate impact on countries like Bangladesh. It estimates that climate-induced disasters inflict a loss of $3.0 billion on this country annually and affect above 6.3 million of its people.

Because of its unique location and geophysical formation, Bangladesh is a disaste- prone deltaic plain, battered almost regularly by cyclones, floods, heat waves, erratic rainfall and drought that seriously hinder its development efforts. In recent years, these extreme climatic events are taking place in Bangladesh more frequently and with increased fierceness. Quoting Germanwatch, this newspaper reports that cyclones have assumed a more devastating proportion and are taking place recurrently in the Bay of Bengal under the impact of global warming. Bangladesh was devastated by some 49 cyclones since 1960 and was swept over by as many as five cyclones just in twelve months beginning from May 2023.

Scorching heat waves have become an almost common feature of the country's weather pattern during the summer months. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department, mercury rose to a record high of 43.8 degree Celsius in Jashore in April last year. The World Weather Attribution claims that climate change has made heat wave 30 times more likely, indicating a growing threat of compounding climate disasters.

Drought is increasingly becoming more and more damaging due to declining rainfall ? for example, 66 per cent in April, 44 per cent in May and as low as 16 per cent in June in 2023. But the most devastating impact of climate change on this low lying country is that some 17 per cent of the country's total area along the coastal belt is likely to be permanently submerged under seawater due to rise of the sea level by only one metre at the end of the century. This will lead to a complete destruction of the flora and fauna of the affected areas, forcing millions to migrate to other areas.

The combined effect of all these climate calamities will lead to a human catastrophe in this most densely populated country. Poverty of about 21 per cent of the population is a harsh reality, only to be aggravated by almost every disaster. Poverty scenario follows a cyclic pattern in this country due in part to climate catastrophe: as a section of the poor people somehow pulls itself out of poverty, another section slides down to it following a disaster. Climate catastrophes make poverty eradication a difficult task in this country.

Germanwatch underscores the need for urgent action as climate crisis is increasingly becoming a worldwide security risk with the intensification of global warming. It also called for increased climate finance for vulnerable countries to keep global warming near the set target of 1.5 degree Celsius above the pre-industrial level. Though some of the wealthy nations like Spain, Italy and Greece are exposed to Nature's fury, coastal countries such as Bangladesh are most vulnerable to it. Since these countries have to suffer the impact of global warming despite no or negligible contribution to greenhouse gas emission, they deserve due compensation from the worst polluters to tide over the crisis. Experts suggest, as the global climate change is taking place due to GHG emission by developed countries, they are obligated to provide for the loss-and-damage fund as adopted by the UN at the Dubai climate conference in 2023. Bangladesh must strive hard to get its legitimate share of the global climate fund and at the same time go on with its own mitigation and adaptation programme.​

 

[Saif]

Wealthy nations owe Bangladesh $5.8 trillion in climate debt

ActionAid says

www.thedailystar.net

Wealthy nations owe Bangladesh $5.8 trillion in climate debt
ActionAid says

Bangladesh, a country grappling with an increasing external debt burden, is owed a staggering $5.8 trillion in climate debt by rich, high-polluting nations, according to a report by ActionAid released this month.

The report, titled "Who Owes Who?", highlights the urgent need for debt cancellation and global financial justice.

Based on historic and projected atmospheric appropriation using low-range estimates since 1992, wealthy nations owe Bangladesh $5.8 trillion in climate debt, the report said.

It also underscored the stark imbalance between the debts that low- and lower-middle-income countries owe and the obligations that high-income countries continue to evade.

The report said that as we enter 2025, 54 countries are in a debt crisis and are being forced to cut spending on basic public services and climate action in order to pay external debts.

Bangladesh, whose external public sector debt stood at $84.44 billion as of September 2024, made debt repayments totalling $4.77 billion to its creditors in 2023.

The country on the Bay of Bengal, one of the most vulnerable to climate change, has to divert its resources towards debt repayment rather than essential public services, while wealthier nations fail to meet their own financial obligations relating to climate justice and reparations.

In 2024, Bangladesh spent 16.9 per cent of its national revenue on external debt repayments, while only 3.08 per cent was allocated to health and 11.73 per cent to education.

"Bangladesh needs debt cancellation and freedom from colonial debt structures to address both the debt crisis and climate change," ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir said.

The new report highlights the debt burden of low- and lower-middle-income countries versus the financial obligations of rich nations regarding climate damages, compensations, and unmet commitments, she added.

The Global South, which broadly represents countries mostly in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, must secure debt cancellation and push for the establishment of a new UN Framework Convention on debt this year.

She emphasised the impact of the climate crisis, especially on women and girls.

"We have seen time and again how women are at the forefront of the climate crisis. The failure by the rich polluting countries to pay their climate debt is standing in the way of mitigation and adaptation."

The ActionAid report said that lower-income countries collectively paid $138 billion just to service their debts last year, sacrificing health, education, people's rights, and sustainable national development to satisfy wealthy creditors.

It said that, based on the most systematic studies, the climate debt that rich polluting countries owe low- and lower-middle-income countries is $107 trillion.

This is more than 70 times greater than the total external debt of $1.45 trillion that these countries collectively owe.

The report urges global leaders to unite in demanding debt cancellation as part of payment of the climate debt and other reparations owed by high-income countries.

"As Bangladesh and other vulnerable nations continue to struggle under the weight of an unjust financial system, the findings of this report reinforce the need for urgent global action to address both debt injustice and the climate crisis."​