The severely degraded river systems will be reverted to their past grandeur whatever the cost, the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, declared on Friday.
She pledged assistance of her administration to multidimensional researches into modes of combating environmental disasters.

Bangladesh has called upon the global community to support climate change strategies and adapt action plans of the least developed countries (LDCs) for facing the ever increasing adverse impacts of global warming and sea-rise.

Reserve forests in coastal areas of Patuakhali, especially in Kalapara and Galachipa upazilas, are gradually disappearing as organised gangs are stealing away timber allegedly in connivance with a section of forest department staff and law enforcers.

Besides, a large number of trees are dying due to unknown diseases allegedly caused by deposition of sand.

Green activists on Friday formed a human chain demanding that the government should immediately stop filling of a large area on Banani-Mohakhali Lake in Dhaka meant for building 3,360 flats.
The Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan organised the programme in front of the National Museum in the city to protest at the government

The International Development Association (IDA), World Bank's concessionary arm, will give Bangladesh US$ 62.20 million in credits under an agreement signed yesterday to help improve air quality and safe mobility in Dhaka City.

The World Bank board approved the credit on May 12, says a World Bank release.

The International Development Association, World Bank

Almost all the public toilets, run by the Dhaka City Corporation, are barely usable as they remain unhygienic due to lack of regular maintenance.
The DCC runs only 48 public toilets in the city, home to about 140 million people, according to official statistics.

Sale of seasonal summer fruits ripened with harmful chemical

Growth of Slums in Dhaka Metropolitan Area (DMA) in the last ten years has been nothing less than immense and spectacular. Using 1996 as the base year, the slum population in DMA was 1.5 million in 3007 clusters out of a total DMA population of 5.5 million. In 2005 the slum population has grown to 3.4 million in 4966 clusters out of a total DMA population of 9.13 million.

The government has been served with a legal notice to take immediate steps to stop encroachment, earth-filling and construction of illegal structures on Buriganga and Turag rivers around Dhaka and Shitalakkhya river in Narayanganj.