Environment

Vulnerable porpoise, dolphin found dead in Cox’s Bazar in the span of 2 days

On regular days, you will be hard-pressed to find much biodiversity...
12 vultures being released from Singra National Forest

Authorities have begun releasing 12 migratory vultures -- including...
Bonayan: Largest private sector-driven afforestation programme celebrating 40 years

Around two decades ago, Joynal Abedin would not have thought of...

Star report prompts conservation action along the beaches of Cox’s Bazar

News is considered to be the first draft of history; it also...
Kuakata's red crabs return to the beach

A shut-down is being enforced across the country to prevent the...
The million promises and little perils of bird-watching by the coast of Bangladesh

It is years ago now. The day I took a bus to the southernmost tip...

Pangolin injured by locals in Moulvibazar rescued

Despite its endangered status and international efforts to conserve...
Air pollution shortens lives by 3 years: study

A 'pandemic' of air pollution shortens lives worldwide by...
Injured bearcat finds its way to hospital in Khagrachari

An injured Binturong, also known as a bearcat, was found injured...

Development work leading to frequent elephant attacks in Ctg villages

Parveen Akther (45), a resident of Joistopura village under...
Young tourists collect 500 kg trash from St Martin’s Island

A group of young tourists visiting Saint Martin’s Island collected...
Every child under 'immediate threat' from climate, poor diet: UN

The world is failing to protect children from the health dangers...

Stubble burning, forest fire may melt Gangotri glacier: Study

Stubble burning and forest fire along the Himalayas can trigger...
Rare Nilgai rescued in Chapainawabganj

A rare Nilgai, once believed to be extinct, was rescued by Border...
Inter-ministerial body rejects proposed road through 2 Chattogram reserve forests

An inter-ministerial body formed to resolve the dispute between the...

‘Take prompt steps to save St Martin’s island from pollution’

An environmental organisation in Cox’s Bazar submits a memorandum...
Masterplan drafted to curb river pollution: Water resources state minister

State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruque tells parliament...
Malaysia sending back plastic waste to Bangladesh

Malaysia is sending back a container full of plastic waste to...

Global cost of air pollution $2.9 trillion a year: NGO report

The global cost of air pollution caused by fossil fuels is USD 8...
Two-day census finds nearly 40,000 water birds at Hakaluki haor

A bird census conducted for two days at Hakaluki haor in Srimangal...
Risking lives to rescue horses in Philippine

The horses were still caked in grey ash as they stepped off the...

SC clears way for government to recover Turag river land

The Supreme Court clears the way for the government to recover the...
PM urges dev partners to limit conditions when providing support

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeks more support from development...
Legal notice seeks livewire removal to protect monkeys

People for Animal Welfare (PAW), an organisation dedicated to...

Of bushfires, Bangladesh and climate change

Every Bangladeshi living overseas is used to having their motherland associated with natural disasters, namely floods and cyclones. This can feel humiliating at times. It is the expatriates’ burden to perpetually challenge the sometimes negative, international image of Bangladesh.
Cold wave to continue for 3-4 days

The cold wave coursing through the country is likely to continue for another three to four days especially over the northwestern districts extending up to Dhaka, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s latest forecast.
Govt shuts down illegal brick kilns in 5 districts: DoE

The government shuts down all illegal brick kilns in five districts -- Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj, and Manikganj in line with a High Court directive.
Military moves in to help evacuation from Australian bushfires

Tens of thousands of holiday makers raced to evacuate popular seaside towns on Australia's east coast on Wednesday, fleeing ahead of advancing bushfires, as military ships and helicopters planned missions to rescue thousands more trapped by the blazes.
Rain likely across country on Thursday, Friday

Rain is likely to occur across the country, including the capital, on Thursday and Friday, says Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Air pollution: Tanneries burning leather wastes at Dhaleshwari

For last two years the authorities of Tannery Industrial Estate are polluting the Dhaleshwari river dumping liquid waste as their effluent treatment plant is not ready yet, now they are also polluting air by burning leather wastes in the bank of the Dhaleshwari.
Nights to become more chilly: Met office

A mild cold wave is sweeping over parts of the country with a forecast of a slight fall in temperatures in the night.
Climate Change tops list of global worries for young people: Amnesty

Four out of 10 young people view climate change as one of the most important issues facing the world, an Amnesty International survey on the state of human rights shows.
Mobile court demolishes illegal brick kiln in Savar

A team of Department of Environment (DoE) demolishes one illegal brick kiln and detained its staff in a drive in Savar.
Floods predicted to uproot 50m yearly as climate heats up

The number of people at risk of being forced from their homes by river flooding could surge to as many as 50 million a year by the end of the century if governments do not step up action to tackle climate change, researchers warn.
Buriganga River pollution must be stopped: HC

The High Court today observes that the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) is the concerned authority to control and stop 68 underground drains and sewerage lines connected to Buriganga River.
PM urges int’l community to adopt appropriate climate action plan

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina calls upon the international community to adopt a time-befitting climate action plan and implement all provisions of Paris Agreement and other relevant global instruments and mechanisms to stop further degradation of environment.
Poor nations pay price as millions flee 'climate chaos', Oxfam says

Fiercer weather and worsening wildfires drove more than 20 million people from their homes over the last decade - a problem set to worsen unless leaders act swiftly to head off surging climate threats, anti-poverty charity Oxfam says.
Fossil fuel polluters from US to China far off climate targets: UN

The world's major fossil fuel producers are set to bust global environmental goals with excessive coal, oil and gas extraction in the next decade, the United Nations and research groups said on Wednesday in the latest warning over climate crisis.
Nat Geo female-led team back for ‘Sea to Source: Ganges’ expedition

In late October this year, a team of scientists and engineers, co-led by National Geographic Fellows Jenna Jambeck and Heather Koldewey, began a two-month long expedition, traveling the full 2,575 kilometers of the mainstream Padma river — from the Bay of Bengal to the river’s source in the Himalayas.
Shut 27 factories, pvt hospitals on Buriganga bank: HC to DoE

The High Court (HC) has directed Department of Environment (DoE) to shut 27 dying factories and private hospitals, which have no environmental clearance certificates, near Shyampur and Postogola on the bank of Buriganga river in 15 days.
Cyclone Bulbul: 4,589 trees damaged in Sundarbans

At least 4,589 trees were damaged under the influence of Cyclone Bulbul in Sundarbans, according to a report prepared by Bangladesh Forest Department.
Sundarbans’ infrastructure badly damaged by Cyclone Bulbul

Cyclone Bulbul that raged through the country’s southwest region on Saturday and Sunday damaged a lot of structures inside the largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans.
Forest dept bans tourists in Sundarbans, starts work to assess damage

Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) bars tourists from visiting the largest mangrove in the world temporarily to assess the damage to the forest.
Dolphin Day: Art meets wildlife conservation

It could be seen from a few yards away. The long, dried leaves of Golpata -- a plant native to the Sundarbans -- wayed in the late autumn breeze revealing cut outs of Irrawaddy and Ganges River Dolphins at the Liberation War Museum. These species, both considered globally endangered, are the last two remaining freshwater dolphin species in Asia that call the Sundarbans their home.
‘Over 19m Bangladeshi children at frontline of climate crisis’

Over 19 million children -- a quarter of them under 5 -- spread across Bangladesh are at the front line of climate change disasters, a UN report says mentioning that climate change threatens child nutrition here.
Kiswa, the small dabbling duck completes round migration trip, returns to Bangladesh

Kiswa, the wild duck was named and fitted with a Global Positioning System (GPS)/ Global System for Mobile (GSM) tag on a cold February morning this year in the middle of Tanguar Haor.
Bangkok enshrouded in toxic air

An unhealthy level of air pollution covers 14 areas of Greater Bangkok, according to the country's Pollution Control Department due to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5).
Bangladesh rural poor bear financial burden of climate change: Study

Poor, rural Bangladeshis are spending far more than the government and aid agencies to combat the impacts of climate change, diverting what little money they have away from basic needs, a study says.
Healthy ozone layer, climate essential to meeting all SDGs: UN chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says a healthy ozone layer and climate are essential to meeting all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr Mahathir goes horse riding

The haze blanketing much of the Klang Valley did not stop Dr Mahathir Mohamad from taking part in one of his favourite leisure activities -- horse riding.
Plan underway to monitor Sundarbans with drones

The Forest Department has planned to monitor the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest and a Unesco world heritage site, with drones to check crimes like poaching of tigers and deer.
7 Amazon countries sign forest pact

Seven Amazonian countries sign a pact to protect the world's largest tropical forest via disaster response coordination and satellite monitoring, amid recent fires that torched thousands of square miles of the jungle.
Amazon crisis: Brazil bans burning for 2 months

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro signs a decree to ban burning throughout the country for two months, as the authorities scramble to defuse the Amazon fires which have triggered a global outcry.
Bolsonaro weakens environment agency as fires ravage Amazon

As the world recoils at the sight of fires ravaging Brazil’s Amazon jungle, the nation’s far-right government is undermining the agency charged with protecting the rainforest,