Meteorological scientists began a two-day seminar here on Wednesday emphasising the need for more research-based climate modelling through the SAARC Meteorological Research Centre (SMRC) to cope with climate change.

SAARC member states are incurring losses of millions of dollars every year due to frequent meteorological catastrophes such as tropical cyclones, storm surges, severe thunderstorms and nor'westers, they said.

They observed that regional cooperation among the SAARC member states must be strengthened utilising respective resources to face the climate change.

Environmentalists and city dwellers yesterday urged the government to take initiatives for the development of Narayanganj in a planned manner.

They also called upon the government not to sell the acquired government land and establish playground and park for ensuring a healthy environment.

Narayanganj, which is called the Dundee of the east, is facing severe shortage of civic amenities, said ATM Kamal, president, Narayanganj City Development Committee at a press briefing at the VIP auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity.

Bangladesh's high economic growth during the last decade has resulted in significant reductions in poverty. However, 36 million people--about one quarter of the country's population--still face acute poverty and hunger.

Clinical waste management in Barisal is going on without any scientific management, proper license and training and often piled on city roadsides posing risks of environmental and health hazards. More than 800 Kg. clinical wastages per day created from two public hospitals and more than 50 private hospital, clinics, laboratories, health care and diagnostic centers of Barisal city.

Standard Chartered Bank and UNAIDS Bangladesh have recently signed an agreement to form 'Bangladesh Business Coalition on AIDS' (BBCA) with a view to contributing to the national response to AIDS in the country.

Shah Masud Imam, Regional Head, Corporate Affairs, South Asia of Standard Chartered Bank and Dan Odallo, Line Director, National AIDS/STI Progamme and UNAIDS Country Coordinator, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations in the city recently.

It will be a major problem, if the lion vanishes-goes a popular saying in Moli Haoussa-Gorma village in Niger. Beliefs such as this are significant in making the W National Park amongst the rare strongholds of the African lion. At a time when the lion population is declining alarmingly in Africa, W National Park is haven to 200 lions, according to a 2001 estimation by the ecologist Mossa Alou.

Moli Haoussa, among the few African villages where human beings co-exist with the carnivore, is located 15 km from the park's boundary in Tamou Wildlife Reserve.

The ongoing comprehensive initiatives under the guidance of Bangladesh army have ushered in a fresh hope to eradicate the century-old seasonal Monga by making the distressed people economically self-reliant in greater Rangpur.

The initiatives include short-duration BRRI Dhan-33 variety T-Aman paddy farming, pisciculture in the canal of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP), providing training and employment to the unemployed youths in the garments sector, tree plantation and dairy projects.

THE main challenge facing the agriculture sector of Bangladesh today is higher productivity. The population is projected to nearly double at its present rate a few decades from now. Thus, food production must also double progressively in this period to keep on maintaining a balance between the food output and the greater demands for food by the burgeoning population in the backdrop of the global environment where food prices are climbing amid scarcity.

Rising food prices and shortages have joined the energy and climate crisis, economic recession, and the war in Iraq, as headline news. While consumers struggle to pay their bills and put food on the table, Monsanto, Cargill, and Archer Daniels Midland rake in billions from taxpayer-subsidized biofuels. Monopolizing markets, polluting the environment with genetically modified organisms, and hoarding future reserves of crop seeds, wheat, rice, soy, corn, and other grains, the food and gene giants profit from global crisis and misery.