Bangladesh, regarded as one of the countries extremely exposed to climatic threats, has made its leadership visible in the global climate change negotiating process highlighting its 'right to survival as a human being', in recently concluded climate change talks in Bonn.

Bangladesh, regarded as one of the countries extremely exposed to climatic threats, has made its leadership visible in the global climate change negotiating process highlighting its 'right to survival as a human being', in recently concluded climate change talks in Bonn.

Over 8 lakh city dwellers suffer from asthmatic problem due to various environmental pollutions, particularly dust and toxic metals in the air, experts said at a roundtable here yesterday.

They said the main causes of asthma are air pollution, unventilated living conditions, both at home and workplaces, unplanned industrialization, dense population and living in slums.

RE-EXCAVATION of derelict ponds and canals will bring economic and health benefits to the people making way for the utilisation of old wisdom and indigenous knowledge and technologies on water management. A recent study on the potentials of the water bodies in the Barind area of the country called for immediate reclamation of ponds and canals for conservation of surface water for diverse uses.

The European Commission (EC) has allocated an additional 4.2 million Euro (approximately 38 crore) to an agreement signed in 2008 to help ensure food and employment security for ultra poor women.

Bangladesh has two crore kidney patients and nearly 40,000 of them die annually due to renal failure, according to the Kidney Foundation.

Kidney Foundation secretary Prof Md Muhibur Rahman told BSS that the number of chronic kidney patients increased by 50 per cent over the last 10 years and currently 18 per cent of the country's total population is suffering from the disease.

Bangladesh has two crore kidney patients and nearly 40,000 of them die annually due to renal failure, according to the Kidney Foundation.

Kidney Foundation secretary Prof Md Muhibur Rahman told BSS that the number of chronic kidney patients increased by 50 per cent over the last 10 years and currently 18 per cent of the country's total population is suffering from the disease.

Tree plantation has been better in recent years compared to the past. But equal enthusiasm is not there to stop deforestation. Bangladesh has to stop deforestation to consolidate gains of its afforestation programmes. There is still a long way to go for this country to reach the environmentally safe goal of having at least 25 per cent of its land cover under vegetation.

The government is likely to allocate Tk 3,884 crore for power sector development, which includes installation of nine new power plants in the country.

It will be a component of the annual development programme (ADP) next fiscal year.

Soil scientists and agronomists revealed that salinity has started rising in the agriculture fields with indiscriminate and unwise using of salt in the country's northwestern region creating an apprehension of detrimental impact to soil nutrients and fertility.