BANGLADESH has been ranked 70th among 88 nations in the global hunger index (GHI) as reported by media recently. From January 2007 to June 2008, one-third of all the countries, for which GHI was calculated, suffered from a violent or non-violent protest, with multiple occurrences in Bangladesh, according to the report prepared by the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Water pervades all aspects of human development and human freedom. Water security is an integral part of this broader conception of human security.

Some 10 lakh people have been suffering from various kinds of cancer in the country while around two lakh is being added to the figure every year. Associate Professor Dr. Dayem Uddin of the Department of Radiotherapy of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital disclosed this and added, "Of the patients around 1.5 lakh die every year".

It cannot be denied that Bangladesh is fast acquiring desert conditions due to the wanton destruction of our trees. When we travel on the highways of Chittagong-Cox's Bazar the huge heaps of logs piled near timber depots, to be taken for sawing later, reminds us how fast we are destroying the work of nature by cutting down trees for the service of man.

ACCORDING to a recent study as reported by AFP, some endangered species may face extinction risk that is upto a hundred times greater than previously thought. By overlooking random differences between individuals in a given population, researchers may have badly underestimated the perils confronting threatened wildlife, the study says.

Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) has opened solid waste management offices in some targeted wards in the city to improve its waste collection system.

As solid waste management requires close cooperation of the citizens, they can make recommendations, comments or lodge complaints to the ward waste management offices so that the DCC can respond promptly, DCC sources told BSS on Wednesday.

Erosion by the river Brahmaputra has taken a serious turn at Ratanpur and Singria villages under Fulchari Upazila in the district recently.

Vast tracts of cropland and the homesteads of the villagers have been devoured by the erosion of the river causing at least 30 families of the villagers to become homeless, sources said.

During the last one decade, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has been witness to many climatic changes. Eastern Uttar Pradesh has faced severe floods, while Bundelkhand region has faced one of the worst famines of the last decade.

REPRESENTATIVES of some NGOs and civil society organisations have underscored the need for involvement of the people and political forces in the implementation of the climate change action plan.

On the occasion of tenth anniversary of its foundation, Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) held an all-day-long event at the University of Western Sydney (Parramatta Campus) on 1st November 2008 in Sydney. It was participated by Australians and Non- Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) in Australia.