তিস্তা মহাপরিকল্পনা প্রকৃতিবিরোধী প্রকল্প

দীর্ঘ সময় ধরে তিস্তার পানি বণ্টন চুক্তির অপেক্ষায় থেকে বাংলাদেশের মানুষ, বিশেষ করে তিস্তাপাড়ের জনগণ ভারতের অনৈতিক আচরণে অনেক বেশি হতাশ ও ক্ষুব্ধ। শুকনা মৌসুমে প্রয়োজনের সময় ভারত প্রায় সব পানিই উজানে তৈরি গজলডোবা বাঁধ এবং একাধিক দীর্ঘ ক্যানেল তৈরি করে তিস্তা অববাহিকার বাইরে নিয়ে যায়। ফলে ভাটিতে অবস্থিত বাংলাদেশের কৃষি, সেচ, নৌ-চলাচল এবং মত্স্যসম্পদ … Read more…

Some Lessons from the Untimely Teesta Flood

An untimely flood wreaked havoc on the Teesta basin in Bangladesh, beginning on the night of Wednesday, October 20, 2021. A sudden onrush of Teesta water flooded the area to a level that has not been witnessed since 1968. Several people have died, while thousands of people have lost their crops, their houses have been … Read more…

An Overview of Flooding in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, in part due to its geographical positioning and low-lying land. The geography and other environmental elements have also made Bangladesh historically prone to flooding, especially during the monsoon season, from early July to late September. The regular flooding already often comes … Read more…

Extreme Weather Outcomes of Global Temperature Rise: IPCC AR6 Assessment

1. Introduction In the October Newsletter, we reported that the sixth assessment report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group I , published in August, reiterated the global temperature rise and noted that the scale of recent changes across the climate system due to the temperature rise are unprecedented over many … Read more…

Environmental Lectures at the EMK Center, Dhaka

The Edward M. Kennedy (EMK) Center, in collaboration with the Anushandhitshu Chokro Science Organization and Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), hosted an online lecture series consisting of three lectures on the impact of climate change on the environment of Bangladesh and related vulnerability issues. BEN/BAPA members were the speakers for this series. Created in 2012, the … Read more…

UK and India Announce “Green Grids” Initiative at COP26

           Use of renewable energy sources, especially solar, continues to grow worldwide as solar energy prices continue to drop relative to conventional sources. However, solar energy cannot be relied on at night, forcing a switch to other energy sources, including fossil fuels. The “Green Grids” initiative, developed originally by the International Solar Alliance, seeks to … Read more…

Online Panel on Teesta River by the River Saving Network, UK

Rivers Saving Network (RSN), UK, hosted a discussion panel with the title Teesta River: Facts and Future on September 25, 2021, on the occasion of the World Rivers Day, observed globally on the fourth Sunday of September. River experts and activists joined the online discussion from around the world. The session started with a brief … Read more…

BEN Reacts to DAP Final Draft

The Detailed Area Plan (DAP) proposed as a guideline for future constructions, land use and zonal demarcations in Dhaka City is about to be completed. On September 11, 2021, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), the GoB office charged with the development of the capital city Dhaka, invited local experts, professionals, and activists in a dialogue on … Read more…

Greenhouse Gases – Natural and Human-Caused – and Their Impacts

I. Introduction Greenhouse gases (GHGs) from human activity are blamed for global temperature rise that is beginning to cause climate change that may make the earth uninhabitable. However, it should be noted that natural GHGs, including carbon dioxide (CO2), normally present in the atmosphere before the dawn of the industrial age, made the earth habitable. … Read more…

Air Pollution in Bangladesh

Air pollution is a major problem in Bangladesh, with severe consequences on the health and wellbeing of residents. Currently, South Asia is one of the most polluted regions in the world, as the annual Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) update from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago points out. Bangladesh, alongside other … Read more…