The New Nation - Internet Edition

Inflation threatens attainment of MDGs

BANGLADESH'S attainment of the Millennium Development Goal to halve extreme poverty by 2015 may not be possible due to rising inflation along with soaring food prices both locally and globally as indicated by recent statistics and trends. According to media reports, the proportion of the population living below the national poverty line may have risen to around 50 per cent from the 2005 level of 40 per cent making it difficult to achieve its target of bringing down the proportion to 29 per cent within the time-frame.

Almost 50 per cent of the families have to borrow money to buy required food items, and 47 per cent of the families have to borrow food if guests come to their homes, as stated in a recent study carried out by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies. The percentage of extremely poor people has gone up to 50 per cent now because of the price-hike of food items along with others that has not been balanced by increase in real wages or sustainable employment. According to a research scholar, poverty has increased by 5-7 per cent and more alarmingly; the severity of poverty has been heightened as the nutritional status of the poorer segment has deteriorated in recent times. Similarly, some economists apprehend Bangladesh will not be able to achieve the goal of halving poverty and hunger unless domestic food prices could be offset by massive job creation for income generation for the poor. The government's safety net programmes have covered only 8-10 per cent of the population, whereas the percentage of the poor is much higher. In fact, there is no latest study on rural poverty, especially on the effects of the food price-hike on the poor. Food price index rose by nearly 40 per cent in 2007, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN.

Competitiveness of the textile sector

POSITIVE trends are noted in the export-oriented textile sector notwithstanding the many hurdles it had to confront and overcome in recent years. But the positive trends in the export of textile products will have to be consolidated and further improved upon with relentless efforts that have characterised entrepreneurial rearguard actions in recent years not to allow prospects of this burgeoning sector to be diminished.

The entrepreneurs have been proactive and taken initiatives to retain the competitiveness of their industries by replacing outdated machinery, restructuring of production systems, training and retraining of workers and many other measures. But these tasks have not been comprehensively completed throughout the sector and should be carried out within a short time-frame. The owners of the textile industries also should put the greatest stress on improving relations with workers. Implementing the enhanced minimum wages, monetary benefits, timely payment of salary and wages, plus improvement of working conditions, need to be concluded within a timeframe. These measures will help quell growing signs of labour trouble in these industries. The troubles pose both long and short-term serious threats to the sector.

Besides, overseas buyers of apparel are increasingly linking their imports from Bangladesh with the industries here complying with their expected standards of treatment of the workers. Thus, the textile industry's owners and operators will have to give very focused attention to this area both for the smooth functioning of their units and to keep the buyers dedicated to buying from Bangladesh.

The government should promote the industry through fiscal and monetary policies. Infrastructural facilities should be strengthened to help achievement of greater competitiveness for the textile sector.

Uncertainty looms large in Nepal

Shamsuddin Ahmed

Dark clouds are gathering over the sky of neighbouring Nepal. Major political parties have failed to reach consensus on formation of the government. They met twice on Wednesday without any result. April 10 election gave the Communist Party (Maoist) a surprise victory with comfortable majority in the Constituent Assembly. Its president Pushpa Komal Dahal popularly known as Prachanda has threatened to launch street movement if it is not called to form the government within Friday.

Prime Minister Girija Prashad Koirala of Congress Party that secured half the seats bagged by the Maoist in the Assembly would not allow the Maoist to form the government without agreeing to share the power. Koirala with support of UML is bargaining for the post either of President or Prime Minister. Another contentious issue is amendment of existing provision. Congress and UML want simple majority to dislodge the Prime Minister changing the existing requirement of two-thirds majority. Prachanda smelt a rat in the move and strongly opposed it. Claiming the Presidency Koirala argued that sharing of power among his party and the Maoist is essential for maintaining a balance. Prachanda dismissed his claim saying the party defeated in the election has no moral right to share the power.

As the political storm is gathering in Kathmandu, the leaders of neighbour India have predicted Nepal is heading towards political chaos. The country experienced decade of fighting between Maoist rebels and government forces until 2006 that left more than 13,000 people killed.

Reporting three-party meetings, daily Kantipur of Nepal on Wednesday said the Maoists have not budged an inch from their stand wanting the posts of both the President and the Prime Minister. But Congress and UML have decided not to give both the posts to the Maoists to maintain a power balance. Similarly, the former rebel party has stuck to its stand on the constitutional provision to form and oust the government with a two-thirds majority while Congress and UML ask for provision of simple majority for forming and ousting the government.

It is widely believed that Koirala is encouraged by external support, especially of India, in refusing to invite the Maoist to form the government. New Delhi's South Block is maintaining close contact with Koirala whose Nepali Congress Party is considered an extension of India's ruling Congress Party. Even the main opposition BJP of India is opposed to installation of Maoist government in Nepal.

It is no less interesting that Prachanda has despatched his trusted comrade Krishna Bahadur Mahara to Beijing. Mahara reportedly met with Chinese leaders on Monday and extended total support to Beijing's policy in Tibbet bordering Nepal. India allowed Dalai Lama to form government in exile in its soil and supporting his movement in separating Tibbet from China. Needless to say that Mahara has sought Chinese assistance in establishing and consolidating Maoist rule in Nepal.

A report from New Delhi said BJP in its foreign policy resolution adopted on June 2 expressed reservations over the newly elected Constituent Assembly of Nepal and predominance of Maoist. Asserting Maoism to be a direct threat to the national security BJP senior leader and former minister Jaswant Singh said recent political happenings in Nepal might have serious repercussions on India. "A communist Nepal is not in the favour of India's security concern … A secular Nepal is not welcomed in India as it is against the Hindu and Indian sentiment," he said and predicted "Nepal is heading towards political chaos." Singh cautioned the Indian government that "Indian Maoist of the red-corridor are known to have close contacts with Nepalese Maoist. A collusion of the Maoist of the two countries would pose greater security threat to India." In sharp contrast, ironically, Indian leaders are bent upon restoration of secularism in Bangladesh.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad in India went further demanding of the government to come out with action against the Maoist in Nepal in its own interest. It said Maoists are working under instruction of China. "Also there are reports that over 400 madrasas have mushroomed in the area bordering India," said VHP president Ashok Singhal in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Encouraged by Indian leaders, Tarun Dal, youth front of Nepali Congress, has urged Prime Minister Koirala not to give up power and open the doors for Maoist. Its president said on Tuesday that their goal was 'no monarchy, no communism'. Monarchy has been abolished on May 28. "We are now to fight the Maoist." The student front of Congress has cautioned what it said "emerging dictatorship of the Maoist". Its president also urged Koirala not to allow the Maoist to form the government. Communist Party (UML) has floated its youth front under the style of Defense Battalion with a vow to resist Maoist.

Strong Tarun Dal, Students Union and Defense Battalion are seemed poised to stand against Young Communist League (Maoist) and some 20,000 battle hardened Maoist rebels. Many in Nepal fear of the danger if and when all these militant groups come face to face.

As close neighbour and member of SAARC, the people of Bangladesh are keenly observing the developments in Nepal with a hope that political leaders of that country would concentrate more with utmost patience to resolve the differences for the sake of peace in Nepal and the region as a whole.

Proactive initiatives for a safer environment

Md. Aftabuzzaman

Environment is one of the most talked issues in the ecologically threatened habitat of today. Generally environment means conditions, circumstances and surrounding objects affecting a life. Environment means the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates- Oxford Dictionary. Though it is a matter of natural science, it also discussed in every year by environmentalist, scientist, politician and world leader, in an important mood. Global warming, green house effect, sea level rise, environment pollution all are related to the environment. In the academic point of view environment comes from physical science which deals with man-nature relationship in the context of time and space.

World Environment Day, celebrated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. Recognizing that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. The World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of UNEP.

The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

World Environment Day is also a popular event with colorful activities such as street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essay and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, as well as recycling and cleaning-up campaigns.

On that particular day, heads of State, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Environment deliver statements and commit themselves to care for the Earth. Pledges are made which lead to the establishment of permanent governmental structures dealing with environmental management. It also provides an opportunity to sign or ratify international environmental conventions.

Global warming has become, in the last 15 years or so, a major issue of international proportions. As documented in the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this phenomenon is real, and it has potentially serious consequences. We should expect (and we apparently observe already) regional changes in availability of water for agriculture, large-scale stress in the coral reef ecosystems, melting of permafrost in high latitudes, destruction of mountain glaciers in low latitudes, and expansion of tropical insects (including carriers of disease).

In 2001, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Third Assessment Report predicted that by 2100, global warming will lead to a sea level rise of 9 to 88 cm. At that time no significant acceleration in the rate of sea level rise during the 20th century had been detected. Subsequently, Church and White found acceleration of 0.013 ± 0.006 mm/yr².

These sea level rises could lead to difficulties for shore-based communities: for example, many major cities such as London and New Orleans already need storm-surge defenses, and would need more if sea level rose, though they also face issues such as sinking land.

Future sea level rise, like the recent rise, is not expected to be globally uniform. Some regions show a sea-level rise substantially more than the global average (in many cases of more than twice the average), and others a sea level fall. However, models disagree as to the likely pattern of sea level change.

Based on the projected increases stated above, the IPCC TAR WG II report notes that current and future climate change would be expected to have a number of impacts, particularly on coastal systems Such impacts may include increased coastal erosion, higher storm-surge flooding, inhibition of primary production processes, more extensive coastal inundation, changes in surface water quality and groundwater characteristics, increased loss of property and coastal habitats, increased flood risk and potential loss of life, loss of nonmonetary cultural resources and values, impacts on agriculture and aquaculture through decline in soil and water quality, and loss of tourism, recreation, and transportation functions.

Statistical data on the human impact of sea level rise is scarce. A study in the April, 2007 issue of Environment and Urbanization reports that 634 million people live in coastal areas within 30 feet (9.1 m) of sea level. The study also reported that about two thirds of the world's cities with over five million people are located in these low-lying coastal areas.

Bangladesh faces a number of environmental problems due to its geographical location and setting, high density of population, poor socio-economic development, inefficient resource management and institutional framework. Over the years, our environment has been facing a severe threat. The rivers are polluted with undesirable chemicals and toxicants, underground water is being depleted and getting polluted. Forests are being lost at an alarming rate resulting in environmental degradation. A balance in oxygen and water in the environment is being lost, which is so important to sustain and preserve the human civilization on the planet earth.

For the past century and a half enormous advances have taken place in science and technology to the benefit of mankind. But, these developments have also posed great problems and health hazards, threatening the existence of human life on earth.

The five key environmental issues of Bangladesh are land degradation, water pollution and scarcity, air pollution, biodiversity, natural disasters (like monsoon flood, cyclone, tornado etc.)

The government of Bangladesh has proved itself as an environment friendly one through undertaking various programs toward upholding and conserving the environment. The ban on the use, production and marketing of polyethylene shopping bags is considered as a historic step in this regard which has been implemented from 2002. The people from all walks of life have given over whelming support to implement this ground breaking steps. It was not possible without the massive support of mass media and people. It is considered to be a historic step of the then government. The world community has praised this success of the Bangladesh and now many countries are taking initiatives to ban the production and use of polythene shopping bags following the steps of Bangladesh.

The former government has also formulated some action plan discussing with the various stakeholders of the society to control vehicular air pollution and improvement of transport system. For example, The Environment Conservation Rules 1997 has been amended and under this amended rules, use of Catalytic Converter and Diesel Particulate Filter for Petrol and Diesel driven vehicles respectively has been made mandatory. Ministry of Communication has taken a step to a total ban on plying of two strokes three wheelers in Dhaka City from January 2003.

Moreover, a ban has been imposed on plying in Dhaka City from 1 January 2002 of Bus, Minibus, Microbus, Taxi older than 20 years and Truck, Mini truck, Tank lorry, Van older than 25 years. Moreover, introduction of four-stroke CNG run-auto-rickshaws, use of low sulfur content coal as fuel and installing chimney with the height of 120ft in the brick kilns and promoting the manufacture of concrete block brick prove the noble intention of present government. To preserve the ecological balance of hilly areas of the country, the government has taken various regulatory and non-regulatory measures to curb indiscriminate hill cutting. Besides all these, the government is considering some other important issues like wetland conservation, electricity generation and manure production from municipal wastes, making rivers pollution free, making ship breaking activities environment friendly, etc. Some of these issues are already in implementation.

Present government strongly believes that environmental pollution of the country can be reduced greatly if the programs are supported by the mass people. In true sense, common people are very much aware of environmental issues. So, people are extending their whole hearted support towards people oriented environmental initiatives undertaken by this government.

The impact of global warming on environment will happen we never stay away from it but we can take initiatives for manage the situation or make less loss.

Major underlying reasons includes lack of institutional capabilities, inexperienced human resources, lack of awareness, low community participation in resource management and a dearth of research for enabling policy makers to take proper environmental decisions. Addressing these deficiencies only will make possible these countries most specially Bangladesh in its progress towards attaining sustainable environment and development. So we should observe the world environment day not only for celebrate but also we should take a proactive initiative through which we can get early result and make our earth live for all lives.

Opinion: Ecotourism in Bangladesh

Dipa Paul Chowdhury

Student of Environmental Science and Resource Management Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University

Ecotourism means ecological ecotravel, where ecological has both environmental and social connotations. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the wel1 being of local people". Ecotourism mainly focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet. It is typically defined as travel to destinations where the flora, fauna and cultural heritage are the primary attraction.

Bangladesh is a country of vast, largely unknown and unspoiled natural beauty and reserves which are simply unique and fascinating. These natural phenomena are composed of hills and vales forests, rivers, lakes, sea and beaches and the evergreen landscape embracing the country is situated in the northeastern side of the South Asia subcontinent.

The topography is mainly flat alluvial plain, criss-crossed by the world's three mighty river system the Padma (Ganges), the Jamuna, the meghna and their tributaries. The east and the northeast of the country join India and the Southeastern part adjoining Myanmer is mainly hilly with dense forest. This area comprises Chittagong and the three Hilly Districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari, with an average elevation of 61 Om. These folded ranges run parallel to each other in the north -south direction and the hil1 slopes are general1y enveloped by dense virgin forest.

In the South and southeast, alongside the coast of the Bay of Bengal, lies the Sundarban, known as a swampy tropical mangrove forest, the home of Royal Bengal Tiger. These areas are all ideal for the expansion of ecotourism in the country. The splendour of Bangladesh's six seasons represents a diverse ecosystem. The climate of Bangladesh is subtropical with a hot and humid summer and cool and dry winter. Annual rainfall ranges from 160 to 400cm.

The best period to visit Bangladesh is November to March, when the temperature ranges between 13.3 and 26.5 Celsius.

Ecotourism is a new concept in Bangladesh though it has developed in the last 15 yeas in different countries of the world.

By and large Bangladesh has tremendous potentialities of development of ecotourism opportunities in the country, as there are numerous sites for the same.