Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant - Japan nuclear explosion not to affect Bangladesh

Experts in Bangladesh Saturday opined the country would not be affected from the recent nuclear disaster in Japan, which crippled at least four reactors in Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant and threw hundreds of people into radiation danger.

The nuclear experts came up with such assurance at a seminar titled ‘Fukushima Nuclear Disaster and its Effect in Bangladesh’ at the National Press Club, organized by Bangladesh Science Writers and Journalists Forum.

They informed that the radiation has spread in Japan following Fukushima nuclear reactor explosion on March 11 under the impact of earthquake and tsunami.

The detrimental effects from the explosions will last for decades. But Japan has been trying to overcome damages.

The nuclear experts also told the seminar that the radiation from the explosion would not reach Bangladesh or Indian Subcontinent as those are not neighbours of Japan.

Besides, food items are not directly imported to Bangladesh from Japan. But, speakers at the seminar cautioned, the government has to be alert to avert radiation risks.

The speakers, however, told the seminar that it is necessary to set up nuclear power plant to face power crisis.

A written speech of Hajime Hikino, secretary-general of the Japanese Association of Science and Technology, was also read out at the seminar.

He suggested in writing that Bangladeshi journalists take training in science and media to create separate cell in this regard.

Former director of the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission Dr Jasim Uddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences chairman Dr M Shamsher Ali, former chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Professor M A Qayum, atomic experts Dr Abdul Matin, Dr Ashraful Islam, Dr Quazi Obaidul and Dr Salauddin and writer-journalist Golap Munir were also present at the seminar, among others.

News Source:  BanglaNews24

Pahela Baishakh Celebration in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The nation welcomed 'Pahela Baishakh', the first day of the Bangla year 1418, on Thrusday amidst vibrant pageantry, leaving behind the gloom of the past and pledging to uphold the nation's opulent cultural heritage.

Tens of thousands of people from all walks of life, in traditional clothes, poured into the streets, parks and open spaces across the capital and elsewhere in the country from early morning to welcome the Bangla New Year.

The tradition of celebrating the Bangla New Year -- in relation to closing of the annual tax collection -- started in the Mughal era. Traders and shopkeepers open 'haal khata' (new account books) on this day and offer sweets to clients.

In the course of time, it evolved into a day of celebration and an integral part of the Bengali culture, now considered the biggest secular festival as people irrespective of religion and class commemorate the day.

Chhayanaut, one of the leading cultural organisations of the country, has been holding their 'barsho boron' (New Year celebration) since 1967. On April 14, the New Year celebration at Ramna Botomul began with an instrumental recital on violin by Sheuli Bhattacharya. Sheuli played Raga Ramkeli. The melody stirred the senses as the sun slowly emerged and gleamed behind soft clouds.

Teachers, alumni and students of Chhayanaut presented solo, duet and group renditions and recitations at the event. Aside from renditions of morning raga-based songs of 'Pancho-kobi' (Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, DL Roy, Atul Prasad and Rajanikant), the artistes also rendered several folk numbers on the occasion.

Secretary General of Chhayanaut, Khairul Anam Shakil, performed "Aaji Gao Mohageet". Noted singers Mita Haque, Chandana Majumdar and Bizon Chandra Mistry rendered "Ondhojon-e Deho Aalo", "Ke Banailo Emon Rong Mohol Khana" and "Oi Moha Sindhur Opar Thekey" respectively. A duet number, "Aaji Nutan-o Raton-e Bhushon-o Joton-e", by Rezaul Karim and Nabanita Chakrabarti followed. "Probhat-o Beena Tabo Bajey", "Trishit-o Akash Kanpey Re", "Bhorer Hawaye" and more were the choruses performed by artistes.

Veteran singer Sushoma Das performed a Radharaman number while Elora Ahmed Shukla, Laisa Ahmed Lisa, Nasima Shaheen, Azizur Rahman Tuhin, Sejuti Barua and others also sang at the programme.

In her speech, President of Chhayanaut, Dr. Sanjida Khatun emphasised on fortifying our identity through ceaseless cultural practice and passion.

BTV, BTV World and Bangladesh Betar aired Chhayanaut's 'barsho boron' programme live. This year Chhayanaut also celebrated its golden jubilee.

A festive spirit took over the capital and other parts of the country. Women in white saris with red borders and men in panjabi -- decorated with Baishakhi motifs -- ushered in the New Year.

Many had 'panta bhat' with fried hilsa, daal, green chilli and onion at home, restaurants and fairs. Youngsters had their cheeks painted with folk-themed emblems that added further colours to the celebration.

They thronged the main venue in Ramna. The festivities stretched over to Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University and Dhanmondi Lake areas, bringing the city traffic system to a standstill. Many foreigners clad in traditional Bengali clothes were also seen in and around the venues of celebration.

The crowd turned into a human sea in the afternoon when the temperature came down slightly.

Another major attraction was the decorated procession called 'Mongol Shobhajatra', brought out by the students and teachers of Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University. Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique with DU teachers and cultural personalities led the procession.

The 'Shobhajatra', featuring the giant replica of a crocodile (40 feet long) with three human figures riding on it, trying to kill it, symbolised wiping out the war criminals forever from Bangladesh. Replicas of two tigers also signified the embolden spirit of the nation. Thousands of people joined the procession, dancing along to the beats of dhol and other musical instruments.

There were scores of cultural shows arranged by different organisations, keeping the university area alive with heavy rush of people. It was a day of pure, unadulterated fun and merriment.

News Source:  The Daily Star

IBM plans to go big in Bangladesh

IBM, the world's largest provider of enterprise business software, is set to run free training programmes over the next three months for engineering students in Bangladesh to nurture batches of software developers in universities and research institutes. “We will train the engineering students in IBM software at absolutely no cost in collaboration with the country's engineering colleges and universities to enhance their knowledge,” said Pradeep Nair, director of IBM Software Group for South Asia region.

 

Pradeep Nair, director of IBM Software Group for South Asia region Nair spoke at the Software Universe, the first ever IBM software conclave in Bangladesh, called “Smarter Software for Smarter Planet” at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

 

The company has planned to start the training programme for the engineering students of Bangladesh over the next three months to build a community of software experts and thought leaders in Bangladesh, said Nair.

“The country has a huge prospect for software industry because Gartner has recently listed Bangladesh as one of the top 30 software outsourcing destinations in the world,” said Gaurav Agarwal, a regional general manager of IBM Software. Agarwal said IBM wants to invest in the IT sector of Bangladesh due to its rising economy and booming exports.

Besides, the country has around 70 million phone subscribers, with the numbers growing every month, he added. Today, businesses across the world are going digital, infusing intelligence into everything from cars and roadways to agriculture, power grids and even clothes. However, this digitisation brings with it a number of challenges that can only be handled with the help of smarter software which are quick and easy to implement, flexible, scalable, robust and cost-effective in the long run, said Nair.

IBM, which operates in more than 170 countries, has a plan to work with the governmental agencies of Bangladesh to implement cutting edge e-governance programmes. They also want to partner with the country's banking industry to help implement BASEL guidelines, said 

Agarwal.

Agarwal said, “IBM also plans to replicate the success stories like Bharti and Idea to propel the Bangladesh telecom industry to newer heights.

At Software Universe, the company discussed IBM's portfolio of ready-to-work solutions. Business Partners also joined the conclave to gain insight into how to increase profit margins.

IBM that boasts $21 billion in annual software sales showcased its different software solutions such as Lotus, Tivoli, Web Sphere, Information Management, Rational, Business Analytics, and Industry Solutions to the business partners at the daylong conclave.

They also launched its smarter software portfolio which is completely integrated with its hardware and services offerings, giving customers flexibility and efficiency in business processes, empowering better decision making and enabling to work smart.

IBM has been doing business in Bangladesh in partnership with Thakral Information Systems since 1998.

News Source:  The Daily Star

Govt wants Bangladeshis in Arab countries to stay away from agitation

The government has asked its missions in West Asian and African countries to remain in touch with Bangladesh nationals to pursue them for remaining away from political programmes in the countries they work, a top official of the foreign ministry said.

‘We have asked our missions abroad to keep in touch with expatriate Bangladeshis so that they remain away from political programmes in general and anti-government agitations in particular,’ said the official.

The foreign ministry conveyed the government’s intent to the missions in the Arabic speaking countries as unrest kept raging across the region, another senior foreign ministry official said on Monday.

The mission staff are advising Bangladesh nationals to maintain safety and security during the evolving situations in the respective host countries. The government is concerned about the unrest

in the Middle East and North Africa as several million Bangladesh nationals work in the region, foreign minister Dipu Moni said at a press conference on Friday. About seven million Bangladeshis work abroad and most of them work in Arabic speaking West Asian and African countries.

A large number of foreign workers had fled strife-torn Libya in last two weeks. At least 35,000 Bangladeshis were in the process of evacuation till Monday as Libya is passing through a civil war for a couple of weeks. A total of 5498 Bangladesh citizens were repatriated from the North African country. Of them, 521 returned home on Monday.

International Organization for Migration—UNHCR estimates that there are 44,232 third country nationals along the Egyptian and Tunisian borders with Libya [for evacuation]. Of them, about ‘80 percent are believed to be Bangladeshis’, IOM said in a release on Monday.

Those managing to get out ‘are recounting to us terrible stories of targeting, physical violence and of being held back from leaving,’ IOM director general William Lacy Swing said in a statement.

He urged Libya to allow all those wanting to leave the country safe passage out. Among other countries in the region, Saudi Arabian government imposed restrictions on agitation programmes as activists held protest rallies in Southern Saudi Arabia with a call for a ‘day of rage’.

In Bahrain, activists demonstrated in front of the US embassy in Manama on Monday calling for Washington to press Bahraini authorities for democratic reforms after weeks of political unrest. In Yemen, the opposition vowed to intensify protests against the regime of President Ali Abdullah Saleh after the embattled leader refused to resign by the end of the year.

Omani protesters demanding a clamp down on corruption in the Gulf state maintained vigils on Monday despite the sacking of two ministers and pledges to create jobs. Around 300 Jordanian relatives of Salafist Islamist prisoners, including Abu Mohammed al-Maqdessi, the onetime mentor of slain Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, demonstrated to demand their release.

Meanwhile, three Bangladesh nationals died after jumping from ship in Greece on Saturday night. Eleven, out of 47, who joined the whimsical ship jumping, are still missing, foreign ministry said in a release on Monday. Salim Chowdhury of Noakhali Sadar died in Tunisia of heart attack. His body will be flown to Dhaka by a Kuwait Airlines flight today [Tuesday]. The body of Jahangir Afrad, who died in Egypt, will be reaching Dhaka on Wednesday. They were trying to return home from strife-torn Libya.

News Source:  The New Age

Bangladesh Make CNG-Three-wheelers

The Bangladesh government is planning set to manufacture CNG  three-wheelers through state-run Atlas Bangladesh, Industries Minister Dilip Barua disclosed this in his ministry’s annual  performance report saying that “We are looking for prospective investors from  India and China.” “We will implement the plan within the shortest possible time, because we got offers to make three-wheelers locally from leading manufacturers of these two  countries,” he said.

The government started a project to assemble sedan car Lancer Ex and Pajero sports vehicle in Bangladesh under a joint venture with Progoti Industries Ltd  and Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors. Mitsubishi will assemble the cars at Progoti’s Chittagong plant and already  arried out a feasibility study. The Japanese carmaker is currently assembling Pajero Jeep V6 for Bangladesh in a deal with Progoti. Barua said the adoption of a new industrial policy was a big success of his ministry, which envisions turning the country into a middle-income nation by  2021. The new policy sets a target to increase the contribution of the industrial sector in GDP to 40 percent, from 28 percent now. “We hope to increase the contribution of the industrial sector to employment generation to be 25 percent from 16 percent,” he said.

Govt set up Solar Panels at Border Outposts : Bangladesh 2011

Dhaka: The Bangladesh government will set up solar panels at the remote outposts of the country's border security forces across the frontier to strengthen the vigilance and check illegal migration and smuggling.

The home ministry officials said the Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) would install 350 solar systems in the first phase in the remote border areas at a cost of Tk 300 million where power supply from the national grid is unavailable.

The solar power will strengthen the capacity of the border forces to ensure strict security and check smuggling and any untoward incidents, he added.

The official said each of the solar systems would have a capacity of 180 kilowatt hours (kwh) of generation.

A planning ministry official said the BGB has sent a proposal on the solar system installation project.

Bangladesh has still limited power coverage as it has so far been able to supply electricity to 52 per cent of the population due to shortage of adequate generation against the growing demand.

Most of the border areas of Bangladesh are along neighbouring India with a total length of 4,095 kms. Besides, the country has a 270-km-long land border with  Myanmar.

Challenges of Year 2011 : Bangladesh

With two of its five years of present term already gone Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led Grand Alliance Government has several challenges that it must confront and overcome some visible and invisible crisis to lead the nation out of uncertainties. Prices of essential continues to remain well above common citizens reach, parliament is virtually nonfunctional, power and energy crisis continues to haunt civic life and impede economic growth, excesses of party cadre remains uncontrolled, serious grid locks in major cities makes life miserable. Government of pro liberation force installed in power with massive popular mandate failed to live up to its election pledges in many different areas.

Visible failures overshadowed some notable success in some areas. Law and order situation in general has improved. Framers getting power, diesel, and fertilizer in a much simpler way. They are reciprocating with bumper crops. Government could complete first phase of implementation of court verdict about gruesome murder of the father of the nation and could start the trial process of liberation war criminals. Government could break the ice of uneasy relation with major neighbor. But the implementation process of several milestone understanding reached during summit meeting between leaders of India and Bangladesh is proceeding at snail’s pace. Government initiated several projects to improve power supply and fuel supply situation. Government initiated some actions to confront grid lock sin major cities. 

Some mega projects are in the offing.Government has commited to provide transit to neighbors through Bangladesh and earn transit through India for trade with Nepal and Bhutan. People must be clearly told about the benefit nation would get from these. Government vowed to clear rivers and waterways from unauthorized occupation.But the progress is minimum. Bangladeshi wage earners are largest contributors to national economy .But wage earners in different countries are getting harassed due to negligence of Bangladeshi diplomats.

Bangladesh is losing access to foreign labor market for lack of appropriate diplomacy. RMG sector is on the verge of collapse for energy insecurity and aggressive labor politics triggered from conspiracy of an identied quarter. Business and trade also suffers from uncontrolled excesses of student, youth and labor front of the ruling party. Some talk shop ministers and incompetent advisors are continuously making laughable statements . Prime Minter is trying her level best .But her inexperienced failed cabinet colleagues cannot control smart beauracracy. Moreover due to continued politicization administration has become almost nonfunctional.

People of Bangladesh are mostly peace loving. Most of the people are happy with two square meal and sleep in secured environment. But despite success of Agriculture and food ministries failure of Commerce ministry could not control market syndicate. TCB is still not active. Dishonest traders, middle men creates artificial crisis of various commodities very often. There is no reason why price of Rice, pulses, onion and edible oil should reamin sky high. Why Government’s market intelligence is not working well. There are very few political programs, hartals. But hoarders and transport mafia syndicates are still making hay under the active patronage of ruling party cadres. Government’s popularity will drastically go down if it fails to arrest price spirals of essential with appropriate market actions in 2011.Government must be relentless in crashing market syndicate even if these are party cadres.

Next in priority must be taking more focused and proactive actions on power and energy sector. The over ambitious mega plans of power sector is on the verge of failure. The initiative of liquid fuel based contingency power plants and peaking plants failed to improve situation in two years. Most of the ruling party leaning entrepreneurs has failed to set up and commission plants in time. The hyperactive initiatives of coal and LNG import are also destined to fail. Government failed to initiate mining of own coal and conclude PSC for offshore exploration of Petroleum. Some blessed desk officers getting opportunity to lead the power and energy sector danced to the tune of opportunist sector leader and misguided policy makers. With only thre years left power and energy situation is unlikely to see major improvement before 2015.Government without delay must give green signal to explore own coal and set up mine mouth coal power plants. Government must instruct Petrobangla to go for fresh bidding round at offshore and onshore for petroleum exploration.

Dhaka and City are suffering from major gas crisis. Every year in Winter Citizens of Dhaka Metropolis suffer from acute gas crisis. Lower diameter distribution pipelines and condensation of gas liquids in low temperature are blamed. This year inadequate gas transportation capacity added new dimension. TGTDCL is believed to have refurbished its Dhaka City Network with higher diameter feeder mains. New Gas connections are stopped for a while. Situation must not deteriorate as being seen on media if there have not been massive illegal connections and unauthorized use of gas. Why not transmission system regularly pigged? Why not distribution system regularly purged to keep them clean of liquid deposition? Present Government placed its trusted persons in Petrobangla management. Their failure must be treated as government failure.

Petro Bangla in two years failed to explore and develop any new gas field. The so called increase came from Bibiyana and Bhagura fields where present regime has no credit. Bringing back Meghna , and two wells at Titas and Habiganj were not outstanding. BAPEX has strated some works .These may give some relief. But continued failure of GTCL in implementing Gas Transmission infrastructures implementation will prolong gas crisis. Under present top management GTCL has almost lost its past dynamism. GTCL must be made to implement HGas Pipeline compressor project and other gas infrastructures expeditiously.PM Hasina must ask Petrobangla what the nation gained in expanding gas transmission network to Rajshahi? Why this moneyt and efforts could not be utilized for upstream transmission infrastructures/ Why GTCL failed to operate and maintain SCADA professionally? Why it could not carry out on stream pigging? Why professionals expreinced in Gas Transmission were removed from GTCL to other companies? Whhat useful purpose the senior most gas professional is serving being OSD in EMRD?

Chittagong is suffering from chronic gas crisis and induced power crisis. Some opportunists misguided policy makers about LNG import. It could be an option if floating LNG terminal could be anchored beside Shangu offshore platform and use Shangu offshore pipeline > But draft and other issues did not make it feasible> Now government is proceeding with a plan to set up LNG plant at Maheskhali , build 90 KM transmission pipeline. This multi billion dollar investment will soon prove unworkable. Government failed in striking a deal with Qatar for LNG import. It will soon prove a futile exercise. Chittagong market demand could be better addressed approving Santos proposal in time facilitating them further develop Shangu and Shangu South. 

Ill motivated misguided Petrobangla and EMRD delayed actions rendering Santos works in current dry season impossible. Chittagong is deprived of possible 40MMCFD additional gas from April 2011. We do not consider that awarding Offshore PSC to Conocco Philips in present circumstance will be smart move. It can not finally carry out meaningful exploration on the basis of current proposal and will find excuse not to proceed after some initial works. Government must explore what led to major IOCs not to participate in Offshore bidding round. Negative propaganda of Myanmar and India are not only reasons. Offshore Model PSC 2008 does not have required incentives for IOCs to risk massive investment . Under this model PSC if bidding is invited again it will meet same fate of poor response. In 2011 government must take the following actions in Energy Sector on Priority Basis.

# Approve Coal policy and initiate mining of own coal without delay. Would be affected community must be adequately compensated, properly rehabilitated. The works of mining companies must be intensively monitored ensuing its environmental, social impacts management and water management.

# Start setting up mine mouth coal plant.

# Set up a committee to review Model PSC #2008 and within June 2011 go for fresh bidding round on the basis amended PSC document both for offshore and onshore.

# Open downstream segments of Gas value chain for private sector and monitor the ongoing gas infrastructure projects implementation intensively. In the present situation Public sector alone cannot successfully confront the challenges of gas transmission and distribution. Without proper transmission infrastructure professionally planned and skillfully operated the present gas supply crisis cannot be overcome. Stranded gas at source will mean nothing.

# Assess objectively the performance of Gas sector top management and make changes wherever necessary before more damages are done.

#Reconstitute Board of Directors of Petrobangla and Gas Companies with experienced line professionals.

Power sector is seriously handicapped with lack of fuel supply , existence of poor performing old aged power units and fund crisis. The mega plan for over ambitious general plan was not well conceived. We are not sure that required home works were done about fuel availability. Coal import in short term and LNG import as envisaged are impossible. Required gas supply may not be also available. Two plants commissioned at Siddhirganj and Shikalbaha can not operate property. Shiddhirganj and Shikalbaha may not get required gas supply soon. Plan to set up large coal based power plants at Chittagong and Mongla may not see day light soon. In this situation Government musyt take the following priority actions.

# Replace the averaged plants at Ghorashal, Ashuganj, Shilkalbaha, Siddhirganj with modern fuel efficient plants.Power sector is getting about 800MMCFD gas supply. With this supply modern power plants should generate 6000MW without any problem.

# Set up some large coal fired mine mouth power plants at Phulbari and Barapukuria contingent upon commencement of mining. A large enough power plant may be set up at Ishwardi as well.

# Support selected investor in all possible ways in Bibiyana 1 & 2 and Meghna ghat 2 power plant implementation.

If only the above actions are correctly taken present government can find meaningful improvement of power and energy crisis by 2015.

Helpless citizen will suffer seriously from gas, power crisis in January, February and from March water crisis will be added to this making life miserable. Government without blaming predecessors must try to bring people with them and listen to what patriotic professionals of proven track record as energy professionals suggest.

Law & Order Situation:

Government must dissociate itself from party and alliance.Garnd alliance government will definitely implement its election pledge. But in running government affairs all citizen irrespective of political belief must be treated equally. Campus excesses of ruling party student front and excess of youth front must be curved. Criminals and anti-social elements must not get safe cover of ruling party. Government must not try to gain political mileage from war criminals trial or in delaing with some major criminal acts of the past.Police and civil administration must be allowed to work for the nation .If trail of war criminals and other crimes are conducted fairly and neutrally people will stand behind these. It is very natural that anti-Bangladesh elements will create crisis. The crisis in RMG sector definitely has indulgence of anti-state elements. Governmenyts intelligence agencies are continuously failing to comprehend in time or abetting those elements. Government must deal with RMG sector crisis judiciously.All dealings with India must be discussed openly in parliament. Opposition must also return to parliament and through debates and discussions keep government honest. Government must clearly tell people how Bangladesh is going to be benefitted from transit and letting India, Nepal, Bhutan, China use our port facilities. No country must get transit without following international norms .Host country must get transit tariif of whatever is transitted Government must also engage more professionally with neighbors to resolve maritime and land boundary disputes.

Government has initiated some milestone projects in the communication sector. Pallasy Jatrabari elevated expressway implementation is proceeding smoothly. Works on 4 lane Dhaka-Chittagong Highway has also commenced. Elevated Express Highway from Shahjalal Airport to Narayanganj may start soon. Government failed to start implementation of Historic Padma Multipurpose bridge as promised by December 2010. People are wasting several work hours being stuck in serious grid locks in Dhaka City. There are some serious allegations against Communication minister in some project implementations. Government must take some bitter decisions to improve traffic congestions in the city.BBG [Bangladesh Border Guards] Headquarter from Peelkahana, Army Head Quarter must be moved out of the city, all RMG factories must be relocated from City Centre. Various n ministry must be spread across Dhaka City suburbs in Naryanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Gazipoor . In this age of digitization why we need a centralized government secretariat?Central Office of BAL from Gullistan and BNP from where it is must be moved out .These offices create traffic congestions whenever they have any program. Whatever is done unless these actions are taken go to Dhaka Stream cannot be stopped. Grid locks cannot be solved. Utility services will fail to improve supply.

If politicians have minimum respect to democracy they must develop democratic culture of patience anfd mutual respect .Parliament must be the palce of all decisions. Opposition is shadow government. Highest court has declared 5th and 7th amendm,ent to constitution null and void. Nation must return to original consititution of 1972 based on idealks of liberation war. Keep the fundamentals intact parliament may make it time tested. But any major change of constitution must be offered to voters for their approval.

All patriotic citizen must realize that Bangladesh still has huge potential to turn into an emerging tiger if our actions are transparent and democracy survives. We can expect anti liberation forces and war criminals get due punishment by end 2011. But nation will definitely like to witness visible improvement in energy& power crisis, strong actions against eve teasing, better control of prices of essentials, improvement of traffic congestions, participatory democracy with active parliament, better control of corruptions in year 2011.If not government of Grand Alliance may again be blown away through mass upsurge or democracy may again be thrown in serious challenge.

Deshi Dosh - promoting the local fabrics and products

  

Deshi Dosh the very name attracts me much. I could understood from the name that it’s a combined effort of 10 local companies to promote the local culture in cloths and fashion. This Deshi Dosh are Deshal, Nipun, Angans, Prortana, Bibiana, Sadakalo, Nagardola, Rang, Banglar Mela and Kay Craft. When I made a visit to their stalls at Ctg I was pleased with design and decorations of the stalls. Modern materials and technologies are used to build the physical structures. Each stall is unique in its decoration , still maintains a harmony with others.

Each stall is displayed with their own products- unique in their design and supplementing each other.I was most impressed by Sada Kalo- by their ideas and beautiful play of only of two colours.

In addition to the dresses, one stall has the display of beautiful toys for children and Prabartana has a rack full of books on local issues. Deshi Dosh is a collective endevour of ten local design houses to promote local fabrics and design.The move will protect from Indian invasion of our market. Our weavers will also be benefited from the connection with these local design houses.Deshi Dosh has started from Dhaka, the first site being at the Bashundhara City Mall, then it opens it second site at Hoten Sheraton, now it is at Chittagong.

Hope that it will gradually spread to other cities and outside the country and would be a brand name to represent Bangladeshi fabrics and dresses.

An ordinary citizen

BDs 5th population, housing census to be held 15 - 19 March

The next Bangladesh's Population and Housing Census will be held from 15-19 March this year with the focus on accuracy to enumerate the households, families and population across the country.

This will be the 5th census in the country after the last census was held in 2001. The population census is held every ten years.
Bangladesh has a long history of census. The first one conducted in this territory was in 1872 under the British. After Independence, the four Population and Housing Census were held in 1974, 1981, 1991 and 2001. The country’s population was 7,63,98,000 in 1974; the number was 8,99,12,000 in 1981; it was 11,14,55,185 in 1991 while the population rose to 13,05,22,598 in 2001.

Digital enumeration map and computerized geo-coding system would be used to process the data in the shortest possible time and disseminate results simultaneously in hard and soft formats, as well as on the web page.
“The preparations are going on in full swing for successfully holding the census,” said Statistics Division Secretary Riti Ibrahim while recently talking to UNB correspondent Golam Moin Uddin.

The Statistics Division Secretary said that there would be around 2,800 zones across the country for the supervision of the census process with the BBS officers and staffs acting as zonal officers. The zonal officers will look after the supervisors while some 6-7 enumerators will work under a supervisor.
The number of supervisors will be around 57,000 while the enumerators will number around 3,10,000. Each of the enumerators will collect data from 120 households. The zonal officers would recruit the enumerators and supervisors from the local youths prioritizing the females.
To conduct the census, Riti Ibrahim said, the country would be divided into 130 census districts.

She said that only the floating people would be brought under enumeration from 14 March midnight (12:00 am) to 15 March (6:00 am) following the modified Defacto method. This will also be used as reference night.

Riti Ibrahim said that there will be 25 questions for the enumeration including 11 household related and 14 individual related. The question of disability will be included in the individual category while questions on ethnicity will fall in the household category. Some 18 specific ethnic communities will be mentioned in the questionnaire.

bangladeshi all women suffer violence

All women, whether rich or poor, in Bangladesh are victims of one or other kind of violence and repression, women rights activists and businessmen observed on Sunday. 

Women should be brave and fight against such violence and repression, they told a programme organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad at its office in the city to mark the 25th founding anniversary of Rokeya Sadan.

Parishad president Ayesha Khanam said women’s rights, including the political ones, were still being seriously violated in the country.

‘It does not matter what dresses we wear or what our social statuses are, the fact is our rights are violated many times in our life,’ she said.

Ayesha Khanam said the Parishad provided temporary shelter to some women victims of violence in the Rokeya Sadan as a stepping stone for reintegration into society.

‘You have to understand that we built this Sadan from the idealism of persons like Begum Rokeya, Sufia Kamal, and Hena Das,’ she told the members of the Sadan, adding, ‘So, you have to be strong.’

Parishad vice-president and acting president of the Rokeya Sadan said the shelter home was established in 1985 and to date it had provided shelter and training to more than 1,000 women.

She said at present the Sadan was providing 21 women with training in tailoring and educational support.

Parishad general secretary Maleka Banu urged ever individual and organisation concerned to come forward and help these women to return to a normal life.

Former president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry MA Momen also spoke on the occasion.

Certificates were distributed to eight members of the Sadan and a cultural programme followed the discussion.

news source : New Age

700 Bangladeshs nationals stranded at Tripoli airport

Despite the stepped up efforts of the government to help the hapless Bangladeshis trapped in Libya, hundreds of workers are stranded at Tripoli International Airport.A number of workers from the airport telephoned UNB Sunday and told the tales of their misery and distress. They are passing days without any food and water.

“We’re hungry for seven days, we’re dying…. Please do something for us,” Habibur Rahman of Kishoreganj said from Tripoli airport.

He said 600-700 workers are stranded at the airport. One official from the Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli came to see them yesterday (Saturday) and disappeared without doing anything for them. Habib works in a Korean company named ISU but the company officials did not take any responsibility for them.

Yasin who works in a Chinese construction farm said mercenaries looted their money, mobile phones everything. Now, they have become pauper. They are simply starving. Yasin said since all roads are closed and no buses or trucks are on the streets, they cannot move towards Egyptian or Tunisian borders which are far away from where they are. Habib who hails from Munshiganj and works in a Chinese company told the same story of their distresses.

News Source: The Independent

Dhaka 2nd worst city for living

Dhaka has been identified as the second worst city to live for the second consecutive time, according to a survey of Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) affiliated with the UK-based weekly Economist.

Zimbabwe's capital Harare scored the least, making it the worst city to live for the second consecutive year.

The listing was based on 30 factors across five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

The result of the survey titled “The Liveabililty Ranking and Overview, February 2011” was released on Monday.

Canadian city of Vancouver scored 98 points out of 100 to secure the top position as most liveable city in the world.

Melbourne has been voted as second most liveable city.

The survey factor were rated as accepted, tolerable, uncomfortable, undesirable or intolerable in a system that "allows for direct comparison between locations," according to the report

Water Security And Regional Disputes - South Asia

The Himalayan River Basins (Ganges, Bramhaputra, Indus, Yangtze) in China, Nepal, India and Bangladesh are inhabited by around 1.3 billion people. Yes, we are talking about almost 20% of the world’s population and almost 50% of the total population of these countries. These rivers were the lifelines of the ancient civilizations formed in this region. And these civilizations of present day are under threat.

In a recent report by Strategic Foresight Group, a Mumbai-based think tank, titled "The Himalayan Challenge - Water Security in Emerging Asia" some alarming statistics were presented. In the next two decades, the four countries in the Himalayan sub-region will face the depletion of almost 275 billion cubic meters (BCM) of annual renewable water, more than the total amount of water available in Nepal in present day.

Water availability is estimated to decline in 2030 comparing to present level by 13.50% in case of China, by 28% in case of India, by 22% in case of Bangladesh and by 35% in case of Nepal. The factors contributing to this decline are:

1. About 10% to 20% of the Himalayan Rivers are fed by Himalayan Glaciers and studies say 70% of these glaciers will be melted by the next century as a result of accelerating global climate change.
2. Glacial melting will eventually reduce river flow in the low season and increase in temperature in some areas leading to deforestation.
3. Disappearance of thousands of lakes.
4. Depletion of water resources due to pollution and natural reasons
5. The reduced riverflow induces more deposit of silt in river bed narrows the depth of river thus causing flooding.

(Narrowing of depth of river caused by silt deposit, is the reason for floods in Bangladesh. Image taken by the author last month from an airplane)
The implications of depletion of water resources are:

1. The agricultural sector is the major consumer of fresh water. However this sector will be using less water due to non-availability of water leading to less productivity.
2. The cumulative effect of water scarcity, glacial melting, disruptive precipitation patterns, flooding, desertification, pollution, and soil erosion will be a massive reduction in the production of rice, wheat, maize and fish.

The consequences of the scarcity of water has prompted many countries to train rivers and manage water flow by building dams. But dams effect the river basins downstream. So it has become an issue for regional disputes. China alone has developed plans to build over 200 dams which will effect the downstream flows of the river in several countries.

India vs. China:

The 2,900 km long Brahmaputra River flows through China, India, and Bangladesh, and its watershed includes Nepal, Bhutan, and Burma as well. In 2000, India accused China of not sharing flood data of the flows of Brahmaputra River through the Chinese territory. This resulted in widespread devastation and floods in India killing many people. In 2002 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the countries to coordinate water related data sharing.

In early 2003, China conducted a feasibility study for a major hydropower project along the China section of the Brahmaputra River. This project was supposed to divert 200 billion cubic meters of water annually to the Yellow River. This would result in 60% reduction of water flow downstream in India and Bangladesh. In 2006, the Chinese government denied the existence of the plan however this remained a reason for the strained relationship between the two countries. However it was found later that China was building a dam on Brahmaputra.

In April 2010, China assured that the dam on river Brahmaputra will have no impact on the downstream flow of the river into India Bangladesh.

India vs. Bangladesh:

The Indian government has plans to get India’s 37 major river interlinked by 2016 implementing its interlinking of rivers (ILR) project. 25 new dams are planned for the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. According to experts the impacts of the ILR on Bangladesh will be the function of many variables, including the alteration of hydrology, river dynamics, ecosystem changes, agricultural productivity, intrusion of salinity and public health. The reason for dispute between both the countries is that Bangladesh have not been officially notified of plans for the ILR project.

India vs. Pakistan:

Pakistan is worried about six rivers (Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi) that flow into Pakistan through northern India, including the disputed state of Jammu & Kashmir and the state of Punjab. Their disagreements lead to the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which has come under an increasing strain in recent days. India completed a hydroelectric power project on the Chenab River in the Doda district of Jammu & Kashmir by building a dam on 2008. Pakistan is wary of facts that the shortage of flow of water in rivers could cause rapid desertification.

Water issues are not only raising the political temperature between countries but also between states within a country like the river Kaveri is the reason for serious contention between Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Karnataka states.

The Solution:

One thing is for sure if India and China race for building dams to control flow of river within their boundaries without consulting their downstream neighbors then the situation will be volatile leading to unnecessary confrontation and war. The threats cannot be addressed by the unilateral efforts of nations, only regional cooperation can mitigate such tensions.

The Dhaka Declaration on Water Security has proposed an expert committee to prepare a road map for data-sharing and scientific exchange and to prepare guidelines for introducing transparency regarding relevant data.The declaration urges "greater political commitment and data exchange among Himalaya basin countries for collective approaches to the region's water challenges".

Dialogues between the citizens of the countries concerned are needed so that unnecessary escalations can be avoided.The region has to commit to agreements like the Dhaka declaration so that a Regional Information Sharing Network on water resources can be achieved.

Traffic jam in Dhaka City

problem in our daily life

Photo: Internet

Traffic jam in Dhaka is vary common problem. Every day we are facing jam. Government take some positive step .Otherwise we are going big problem in our daily life.

Farmgate Bus Stand

Pick time in Farmgate area and people are faceing lots of problem walking in the VIP road.It is bus stand whole inter Dhaka city.Most of the time bus driver can not follow the rule.Awareness is a big problem in our city life.

Most common and popular ride

Rickshaw is vary popular ride in our country. Most of the people riding in the rickshaw. our low income group people ride this because our road is too narrow. Most of the rickshaw puller do not follow the traffic rule.That is why we are facing lots of problem.


Illegal parking

Another reason of traffic jam illegal parking. Most of the rickshaw puller are do not knowledge how to park rickshaw in the narrow road. They do not have any legal license .

Rickshaw Causing Trafic Jam

The whole road is blocked by rickshaw . Other vehicles have hardly any chance to get a side from the rickshaws . Government should take some possitive step to controlled this traffic jam.

Rickshaw ride the wrong road

Rickshaw puller ride the rickshaw wrong side in the main road. Because he do not know what is right or wrong. They know just ride .Another reason of traffic jam wrong side ride.

Wating for the signal

Malibagh bus stand most of the bus driver illegal parking in the road. They can not follow the traffic rule.Bus driver do not have driving license and vehicle paper.

Pick our in farmgate area

Dhaka is metropolitan city.Most of the outside people come Dhaka to his work. They are day labor like rickshaw puller. Farmgate area most of the road is narrow. So it gather traffic jam every moment in our daily life.

VIP Road senario not acceptable

Unplanned traffic system is big problem in our country.when VIP person go to his /her office traffic police stopped the signal at least 20 minutes ago.so every signal point has too rush in our city. Awareness is a main factor .

Trapped in tailback

Return of a huge number of unfit buses and illegal rickshaws on the streets is the main reason for worsening traffic congestion in the city, say traffic cops and public transport employees.They also blame the tailbacks on a rapid rise in the number of new cars with little expansion of the road network.Special measures to ensure smooth movement of the VVIPs’ vehicles only add to the sufferings of commuters. And to make matters still worse, protest rallies blocking roads have intensified in the last three days.Speaking in return for anonymity, a traffic sergeant said the out-of-condition buses that were banned from the city streets have got back to business with changes on the exterior to look new .

Many factors work behind traffic jams

Faulty traffic signaling systems, inadequate manpower and narrow road spaces and overtaking tendency of drivers create pro-longed traffic congestions and intensify sufferings of commuters keeping people motionless as well as creating suffocating condition in the streets.VIP protocol maintaining is another reason for frequent traffic jams in the streets and divider problem in the city’s different important roads also causes congestion. Besides, illegal car parking, and unplanned road excavating on the same road by WASA, DESA, and telephone and telegraph agencies without any integration among them, are responsible for intolerable traffic jams.

Suitable time for washing glasses

Traffic Jam kills time. So often drivers of the tempo’s and four stock three wheeler vehicles are seen washing their glasses while waiting for a release from the suffocating boring and time killing traffic jam.

Common scenario of Dhaka City

Driver do not go by traffic rules. And there are bus terminals not authorized by the traffic department. The traffic police have failed to do anything about this problem and the situation is going from bad to worse day by day.

Fulbaria

Traffic anomalies in front of Fulbaria bus stand .It is the common scenario in the Dhaka city .Fulbaria bus stand is the busyest bus stop in our city.we need to solve our problem otherwise we lost our time

Buses and trucks NOT allowed on the flyover

When the Mohakhali Flyover was inaugurated, the civilians of Dhaka city assumed that this would prove to be a drastic convinience as far as reducing traffic is concerned. Once again, we were proved wrong. It was CLEARLY mentioned on the signboard when going into the flyover that buses and trucks were NOT allowed on the flyover. At the begining, this rule was followed quite efficiently. But nowadays, similar to all the traffic rules in Dhaka, it is not being followed as much. We frequently see buses or trucks on the flyover, instead of being under it, where , according to the system, they are actually supposed to be.The road under the flyover is where all the bus stands are, and 95% of the time there is heavy traffic due to the congestion of all these buses. But does that imply that the rules are clearly meant to be broken? Buses and trucks, especially here in Dhaka, have the perenial tendancy to travel at menacing speed, completely oblivious of its passenger s safety and also of the other vehicles and civilians on the street. Now the flyover is where a lot of speeding take place, and on top of that, when these mammoth vehicles travel on that road with dangerous speed, it increases the risk of accidents. They often stop when they are not supposed to on the slope going down the flyover to pick up passengers, which, of course, yours truly has mentioned in one of his other posts. Once again, the lack of authoritarian evaluation and the sheer lack of traffic authorities open the door to break the rules so easily.

Road construction and traffic

As if the traffic situation on the roads of Dhaka were not bad enough, road construction on a busy road at a busy time makes situations inequivocally a lot worse. I am quite positive that this is a sight that many have witnessed while travelling on the road. All of a sudden the traffic increases, there is bumper to bumper traffic or hardly any movement at all. The reason? Construcion is being undertaken on a side of the road which usually provides the space for vehicles to move about. The roads or the side of the road that is being constructed takes up a large segment of space, which would be used for the cars and other vehicles. Completely blocking or eliminating that road, that too at a busy time, makes the already volatile traffic situation a lot worse. Let us also not forget the ever so patient attitude of our drivers and rikshawpullers. The picture shows a sign which clearly states “Probesh Nished” (No Entry), yet rickshaws and cars will somehow try and find a magical space through which they can pass through, despite witnessing quite clearly that the construction is being made. Yes, Dhaka needs improvements in the quality of their roads and of course, without a doubt, road construction should be undertaken to improvise the situation. But why at a regular traffic hour? The authorities who regulate such activities can just make sure all this can be done quite late at night, at the late hours when there are hardly any vehicles on the roads. Not only can the workers work to their optimum abilities without being hassled by the drivers and commuters, mind numbing traffic situations will not arise.

Separate lanes for cars and rickshaws

Ask any driver or a commuter here in Dhaka city,the main catalyst for traffic congestion and traffic hazards are rickshaws. There are innumerable rickshaws that can be seen on almost all the roads in Dhaka. Small roads, narrow streets, busy lanes and main roads, you mention it, and the sight of rickshaws will always be present. My main concern is not to make suggestions to completely ban rickshaws, as all of them undertook this tedious profession just to feed their families and live on a daily basis. Rather my suggestion would prove to make life easier for both th rickshawpullers, the vehicle drivers and of course the commuters. Seperate lanes would be the answer. In most busy roads, why not make seperate lanes , one for cars and auto run vehicles, and another, for rickshaws and cycles. With seperate lanes , rickshaws can move about at their own pace, and not be worried about being smashed over by a speeding vehicle, and vice versa, the cars can also benefit from not breaking constantly to avoid hitting rickshaws and can move about with some decent speed. Chances of accidents, although, can happen anytime anywhere, are reduced by a considerable margin, and the commuters on cars and also on rickshaws can have a peace of mind. Managing and controlling traffic will also prove to be much easier for the traffic authorities.