Bangladesh National Anthem- Amar Sonar Bangla Ami Tomay Valobashi......
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The Sundarbans (Bengali: {{{1}}} Shundorbôn) is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.[1] The name Sundarban can be literally translated as "beautiful jungle" or "beautiful forest" in the Bengali language (Sundar, "beautiful" and ban, "forest" or "jungle"). The name may have been derived from the Sundari trees that are found in Sundarbans in large numbers. Alternatively, it has been proposed that the name is a corruption of Samudraban (Bengali: সমুদ্রবন Shomudrobôn "Sea Forest") or Chandra-bandhe (name of a primitive tribe). But the generally accepted view is the one associated with Sundari trees.[1]
The forest lies in the vast delta on the Bay of Bengal formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers across southern Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. The seasonally-flooded Sundarbans freshwater swamp forests lie inland from the mangrove forests on the coastal fringe. The forest covers 10,000 km2 of which about 6,000 are in Bangladesh.[2] It became inscribed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997, but while the Bangladeshi and Indian portions constitute the same continuous ecotope, these are separately listed in the UNESCO world heritage list as the Sundarbans and Sundarbans National Park, respectively. The Sundarbans is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests. The area is known for the eponymous Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), as well as numerous fauna including species of birds, spotted deer, crocodiles and snakes.
The fertile soils of the delta have been subject to intensive human use
for centuries, and the ecoregion has been mostly converted to intensive
agriculture, with few enclaves of forest remaining. The remaining
forests, together with the Sundarbans mangroves, are important habitat
for the endangered tiger.
Additionally, the Sundarbans serves a crucial function as a
protective barrier for the millions of inhabitants in and around
Kolkata (Calcutta) against the floods that result from the cyclones that are a regular occurrence on this coast.
|    Dhaka (Bangla: ঢাকা, pronounced [ˈɖʱaka]; formerly known as Dacca and Jahangir Nagar, under Mughal rule), is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka District. Dhaka is a megacityBuriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, has a population of over 15 million, making it the largest city in Bangladesh.[2] It is the 8th largest city in the world[4] and also among the most densely populated cities in the world. Dhaka is known as the City of Mosques[5] and renowned for producing the world's finest muslin. Dhaka is also known as the Rickshaw Capital of the World. Approximately 400,000 cycle rickshaws run each day.[6] and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Today it serves as one of the prime centres for culture, education and business in the region.
Under Mughal rule in the 17th century, the city was known as Jahangir Nagar. It was a provincial capital and a center of the worldwide muslin trade. The modern city, however, was developed chiefly under British ruleBengal after Calcutta (presently Kolkata). After the Partition of Bengal in 1905, Dhaka became the capital of the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam but lost its status as a provincial capital again after the partition was annulled in 1911. After the partition of India in 1947, Dhaka became the administrative capital of East Pakistan,
and later, in 1971, the capital of an independent Bangladesh. During
the intervening period, the city witnessed widespread turmoil; this
included many impositions of martial law, the declaration of Bangladesh's independence, military suppression, devastation during war, and natural calamities. in the 19th century, and became the second-largest city in
Modern Dhaka is the center of political, cultural and economic life in Bangladesh.[7] Although its urban infrastructure is the most developed in the country, Dhaka suffers from urban problems such as pollution, congestion, and lack of adequate services due to the rising population. In recent decades, Dhaka has seen modernization of transport,
communications and public works. The city is attracting large foreign
investments and greater volumes of commerce and trade. It is also
experiencing an increasing influx of people from across the nation,
this has made Dhaka the fastest growing city in the world.[8][9] |
“Climate Refugees” in Bangladesh – Answering the Basics: The Where, How, Who and How Many
Posted by Ahmed Bin Musa on October 20th, 2010
(Displacement Solutions)
June 10, 2010 – Extreme climate events – be it the result of
environmental destruction by people, or naturally occurring changes in
climate – are forcing people to flee their traditional place of
residence with enormous sufferings in points of transit and the points
of destination without any support from aid agencies or Government
authorities. ACR (Association for Climate Refugees), a network of NGOs
have been making some efforts in seeking answers to basic questions,
like how and where the people have been made refugees*, who the
refugees are, and how many there are.
Where and how: Mass scale forced displacement has been
caused by tidal floods in the exposed coastal area and loss of land due
to erosion in the main land river basins
The population living in South and South-East Asia on the coastline
extending from the east coast of India to Myanmar have been buffeting
by annual cyclones from the Bay of Bengal and ever increasing tidal
floods. Due to its extensive coastal geography, Bangladesh is
undoubtedly one of the most affected countries. Cyclones not only
result in human casualties and destruction of property, but also leave
behind perpetual tidal floods. Notably, over the last few years deadly
cyclones have been commonplace: Cyclone Sidr of 2007, Nargis of 2008,
Aila of 2009, and Laila of 2010. Bangladesh was hit directly by Sidr
while Nargis, Aila, and Laila also wreaked havoc in Myanmar and India,
respectively. Research in Dakshin Bedkashi (Koyra Upazila) reveals that
the tidal flood water level has risen by 1 meter over 5 years (2004 to
2008) and it rose by an additional meter in 2009 and in 2010 it
continues to rise further. Twelve coastal districts in the south of
Bangladesh are particularly at risk: Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat,
Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Laxmipur, Feni, Noakhali,
Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar.
Around one million people have been rendered homeless due to river
erosion in the mainland river basins over the last three decades, as
the Brahmaputra-Jamuna continues to widen because of obstruction from
upstream sediment and poor downstream erosion management. Official
statistics show that the Brahmaputra-Jamuna, a major river system in
Bangladesh, has widened by 11.8 km and from 8.3 km in the early ’70s,
eroding about 87,790 hectares of land. (CEGIS, 2006). NGOs affiliated
with ACR working in the mainland river basin report observing people
forced to flee their traditional place of residence due to increasing
river erosion. Ten districts are hotspots, namely Kurigram, Gaibandha,
Jamalpur, Bogra, Sirajganj, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari,
Mymensingh, and Netrakona.
Bangladesh is comprised of 64 districts, out of which 22 are at risk of climate-induced displacement.
Who and how many: The poorer
people who used to live in exposed locations are the climate refugees
and they are 6 million in number
The poorest people who live in the extremely exposed locations in
the coastal belt and the mainland river basins of Bangladesh will be
the first to become climate refugees in upcoming years.
Tidal floods have already badly affected 56% of the 422 unions (lowest unit in the local government) of the 48 upazilas
(sub-districts) in the exposed coastal zone of Bangladesh. Most of the
villages in the badly affected 236 unions are flooded by tidal saline
water twice a day over the last 3 years. The Houses, Land, and
Properties (HLP) of 2,462,789 people (32%) of 7,693,331 inhabitants (in
the affected unions alone) have been destroyed by repeated cyclones and
rising tides. Of them, 1,568,980 (64%) are languishing as Local Climate
Refugees (LCR) on remaining embankments or higher ground in exposed
zones; 675,113 (27%) are squatters, or Internal Climate Refugees (ICR),
in cities including Dhaka; and 218,656 (9%) are have crossed
international borders, as Global Climate Refugees (GCR), in order to
earn an income. The situation on the exposed coast is worsening and it
is predicted that the number of climate refugees will increase to 3
million people by the end of 2010.
River bank erosions have already badly affected 44% of the 407 unionsupazilas
(sub-districts) in the exposed mainland river basins of Bangladesh.
Most of the villages in the badly affected 179 unions are being eroded
by flash flood waters every year over the last 3 decades. Houses, Land,
and Properties (HLP) of 1,452,588 people (42%) of the 3,490,500
inhabitants (in the affected unions alone) have been destroyed by
annual river erosion often coupled with devastating floods. Of them,
951,531 (66%) are languishing as Local Climate Refugees (LCR) on
neighboring embankments or higher ground in exposed zones; 375,793
(26%) are urban squatters, or Internal Climate Refugees (ICR), in
internal cities, like Dhaka; 125,264 (8%) have crossed international
borders and are Global Climate Refugees (GCR). The situation in the
river basin is worsening and it is predicted that the number of climate
refugees from the river basin will increase to 2 million by the end of
2010. (lowest unit in the local government) of the 36
The remaining 397 upazilas, which are not dangerously exposed on the
coastline, still are at sea-level and will perhaps generate another 2.1
million climate refugees. Thus, the total number of climate refugees in
Bangladesh as of May 2010 stands at 6 million, out of which at least 1
million are living in Dhaka. The total number of climate refugees in
Bangladesh is expected to increase to 7.5 million by the end of 2010.
Hotspots of climate refugees at the point of origin: Island
upazilas of Koyra, Shyamnagar and Dacope in the west, and Kutubdia,
Hatiya and Swandip in the east of the coastal belt of Bangladesh
In one way or another, all exposed upazilas are generating climate
refugees, but some are more immediately and particularly exposed. The
middle coast (Barisal Division) enjoys the comparative advantage of
being an active delta with land formation in progress as well as a
freshwater ecosystem, but the west (Khulna Division) and east
(Chittagong Division) coast have been unlawfully deprived of that
active delta privilege by India’s unilateral interception in the river
course originating from the Himalayas. Hence the west coast has 3
hotspots i.e. Koyra and Dacope in Khulna district, and Shyamnagar in
Satkhira district. The east coast also has 3 hotspots i.e. Kutubdia in
Cox’s Bazar district, Swandip in Chittagong district and Hatiya in
Noakhali district.
Response to the plight of the Climate Refugees
The Finance Minister of Bangladesh Government has said, “We are
asking all our development partners to honour the natural right of
persons to migrate. We can’t accommodate all these people – this is
already the densest [populated] country in the world,” in a video
interview with the Guardian. Repeated cyclones and tidal floods have
substantially destroyed the life line of coastal dwellers.
More than 200 NGOs in Bangladesh are working for the resettlement of
the climate refugees. They have participated, as a finalist, in the
World Bank’s Global Competition on Climate Adaptation held on 10-13
November 2009 in Washington, D.C. but could not win a grant. However,
the World Bank ’s Innovation Practice Manager wrote “We are indeed
working on a range of ideas in which we can communicate with your host
governments, other funders in the space, and like-minded partners who
can support your projects and perhaps find ways to work with you” in a
post of the NGOs’ Team Leader in World Bank’s DM Blog. NGOs are
continuing to negotiate projects with potential donors on climate
refugee issues.
Conclusion
Climate change is likely to lead to increase the number of climate
refugees, and it is vital that evolving frameworks for climate change
adaptation address this issue so that national and international
communities can peacefully resettle climate refugees. Climate change
ignores country borders making it a global problem; however, we cannot
ignore country borders and have to begin to work regionally and
globally for mutual benefits and interests. We welcome suggestions and
assistance for effective and efficient resettlement of climate refugees.
*This article refers to climate-induced migrants as “refugees,” but Towards Recognition is of the stance that such a designation muddies the traditional definition of the term and could lead to weakened legal protection. |
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 Khulna District (khulna division) with an area of 4394.46 sq km, is bounded by jessore and narail districts on the north, the bay of bengal on the south, bagerhat district on the east, satkhira district on the west. Annual average temperature is 35.5°C and lowest 12.5°C; annual rainfall is 1710 mm. The main rivers are
Rupsa-Pasur, Bhairab, Shibsha, Dharla, Bhadra, Ball, and Kobadak. Forest: sundarbans (166814 hectares).
Khulna (Town) consists of 38 wards and 183 mahallas. The area of the town is 20.60
sq km. It has a population of 1227239; male 52.79%, female 47.21%; density
of population is 59574 sq km. The literacy rate among the town people
is 59.1%.
Administration
Khulna district was established on 1882. It consists of 9 upazilas and
5 thanas, 71 union parishads, 2 municipalities, 47 wards, 188 mahallas,
747 mouzas and 1106 villages. The upazilas are batiaghata, dacope, dumuria, dighalia, koyra, paikgachha, phultala, rupsa, terokhada; tahans are khalishpur, khan jahan ali, kotwali, daulatpur, sonadanga. Historical events
16 December of 1971, Independent Bangladesh was established but Khulna
was under the control of Pakistan Army. Next on 17 December as the
Pakistani Army surrendered in the Circuit House ground then Khulna got
her Independence. Pir Khan Jahan Ali came to preach Islam in this
district about 400 years ago. In 1926 Mahatma Gandhi came to Khalishpur
to inspire the Swadeshi Movement. Marks of War of Liberation Sculpture 1 (Bir Bangali), Monument 5, Mass grave 3. Religious institutions Mosque 1500, Tomb 4, Temple 646, Church 22, Place of pilgrimage 3, Monastery 1. Population 2334285; male 51.87%, female 48.13%; Muslim 73.49%, Hindu 25.74%, Christian 0.67%, Buddhist 0.04%, and Others 0.06%. Literacy and educational institutions
Average literacy 43.9%; male 52.2%, female 34.6%. Educational
institutions: university 1, university college 1, medical college 1,
Bangladesh Institute of Technology 1, teacher's training college 1,
regional public administration training institute 1, polytechnic
institute 1, vocational institute 1, homeopathic college 1, social
welfare training centre 1, madrasa 205, government college 5,
non-government college 42, government. secondary school 9,
non-government secondary school 248, lower secondary school 107,
government primary school 625, non-government primary school 79,
community primary school 34, satellite primary school 63,
NGO operated school 199, primary teacher's institution 1. Newspapers and periodicals
Dailies: Tribiun, Janmobhumi, Anirban, Probaho, Purbanchal, Janabarta,
Tatthya, Rajpather Davi, Satya Khabar, Hizbullah, Pathaker Kagoz, Juger
Sathi, Kalantor, Viswabarta, Mail; Weeklies:
Khulna, Rupsa, Padoddhoni, Chhayapath, Ganobani; Periodicals:
Purushottomadyuti, Shikar, Padatik. Extinct Periodicals: Agami, Ityadi,
Deshkal. Cultural organisations
Club 345, public library 5, museum 1 (Khulna Divisional Archaeological
Museum), drama stage 5, cinema hall 21, theatre group 100, magic
organisation 3, literary society 15, cultural organisation 20. Main occupations
Agriculture 25.11%, fishing 1.66%, agricultural labourer 11.3%, wage
labourer 7.15%, industry 16.38%, transport 4.09%, constructions 1.53%,
service 18.93%, others 12.22%. Value of land The market value of the land of the first grade is around Tk 12000 (per 0.01 hectare). Main crops Paddy, jute, sesame, betel nut, and vegetable. Extinct and nearly extinct crops Sesame. Main fruits Jackfruit, mango, banana. Fisheries, dairies, and poultries Chingri Gher 3,409, dairy 498, poultry 447, hatchery 348. Communication facilities Railway 36 km, pucca road 400 km, semi pucca 350 km, mud roads 3575 km; waterways 470 nautical mile. Traditional transport
Palanquin (extinct), horse carriage and bullock cart (nearly extinct), and boats. Manufactories Garment Poly, Paper
mill, hard
board mill, textile mill, match factory, shipyard, steel mill, cable
mill, rice mill, flour mill, ice factory, press mill, saw mill etc. Cottage industries Handloom, bamboo work, goldsmith, potteries, carpenter, tailoring. Main exports Germent Poly, Paddy, rice, jute, sesame, betel nut, gur, mango, jackfruit, prawn. NGO activities CRC, ACR, brac,
Care, Prodipan, nijera kari, asa, caritas, Progoti. Health centres
Medical college hospital 1, district sadar hospital 1, upazila health
complex 9, TB hospital 1, infectious disease hospital 1, christian
missionary hospital 1, salvation army (NGO) hospital 1, chest disease
niramoy centre 1, railway hospital at kopilmuni 1, jail hospital 1,
police hospital | |
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