Sylhet Division Development Student Action Council, Dhaka University yesterday organised a human chain programme at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla of Dhaka University protesting cutting of trees at Khasia Palli at Srimangal in Moulvibazar district.

Normal life in Barisal region became paralyzed as mid to heavy downpour without intervals and gusty winds continued until this report due to stormy weather prevailing over the region since early Saturday night.

Barisal weather office recorded 80 millimeters rainfall in 10 hours since 6:00 am Saturday morning with 10 to 15 nautical mile wind speed per hour and 95%-100% humidity.

The Union government of India has drafted the Compensatory Afforestation Bill, 2008 to establish a compensatory afforestation fund. Revenues collected from agencies that divert forests (even protected ones) for non-forest use will be pooled into this corpus. Net present value (NPV) has been adopted as an economic tool to calculate the compensatory fiscal value of diverted forests.

Bangladesh is a deltaic land. It is surrounded by Bay of Bengal on one side. It is also within the reach of Himalayan range. Three big and mighty rivers such as the Padma, the Jamuna and the Meghna flow through this plain land. So its geographical location has made Bangladesh too much vulnerable to natural calamities like flood, cyclone, earthquake, drought, erosion, etc.

In a latest development the High Court yesterday ordered the government to ban display and sale of eight foreign milk powder brands, which were found contaminated with melamine in a Dhaka University laboratory test.

THE government has taken up a scheme of cultivating a short duration variety of Aman paddy on 40,000 hectares of land in the five monga-stricken districts of the northern region to generate employment opportunities. This scheme is expected to generate income for the day-labourers and other poor people during the lean period of October and November.

Joinal Miah, in his mid-50s, enjoyed a good health until he was a farmer. Things have changed fast when he started working in a brick kiln. Now he is undergoing treatment at a city hospital.

"Doctors say he is suffering from by asthma," says Joinal's wife Rahima.

The United Kingdom will provide Bangladesh with an additional grant of 70 million pounds, equivalent to Tk 900 crore, for implementing an extended phase of the Chars Livelihood Programme (CLP) in aid to poor people living in riverside areas.

Water is the most vital element among the natural resources, and is crucial for the survival of all living organisms. The environment, economic growth and development of Bangladesh are all highly influenced by water - its regional and seasonal availability, and the quality of surface and groundwater.

A day-long workshop on Anti-Tuberculosis (T.B) for journalists, government officers, social workers was held at Chuadanga Press Club auditorium hall on Tuesday.