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Environment Pollution: Future is at stake!
Suparna Roy: Development vs. Environment- is one of the controversial issues of modern and progressive world. The concept of development today and couple of years ago are not same. Development of human civilizations started being measured when we realized that, “we are limited with resources.” Since then, people started thinking about development protecting nature. Whenever any conflict arises in between the two, both developed and developing countries are eager to choose ‘development’. The natural environment of Bangladesh is also part of this controversial issue. 17 corer people live in the 1, 47, 570 sq.km and economic growth is the primary concern of individual. Over the last three decades, Bangladesh witnessed 200 natural disasters. Though geographical location next to the Bay of Bengal is one of the reasons of those disasters, environment pollution is also a reason. A database between 2008 and 2017 stated that, around 37 million people in Bangladesh were affected by natural disaster. Bangladesh is in the 7th position among countries most extreme weather conditions and in the 3rd position for natural disaster.
Soil, air and river are the primary objects of nature. Population densities, socio-economic environment, irresponsibility, political influence, non-implementation of laws, industrializations are the reasons of increasing environment pollution day by day. Over population is creating a pressure in every sector. For securing their basic necessities, Government is focusing on economic growth even harming the environment. The entrance of Rohingas is also increased the pressure. Government or Khas lands are not used for the betterment of environment because of political influence. And for the same reason, the numbers of illegal industries are increasing. That toxicity hampers the balance of environment. To control all those issues we have almost 200 environment laws but still this matter is out of control.
Sustainable development is a fair approach to protect environment in developing countries. The jurisprudence of sustainable development creates an equal balance of development and environment. As a developing country, Bangladesh needs balance equality where economic growth and environmental protection both can be solved. Bangladesh has MDG, SDG plans to deal with the Environmental problems along with 200 environmental laws. Enacting new laws cannot solve the problems. We have enough laws on environment which need to be implemented properly. Government should take every possible step to aware its citizens. Bangladesh gives its consent on international environmental laws and policies. So it is the responsibility of every citizen to protect the environment. As well as, Government can introduce environmental education and scientific research on environment to protect the environment. This method will involve young generation to generate new ideas for the betterment of environment. Also Government should promote training to deal with the random natural disasters. Authority should promote awareness among people to protect environment.
Humans are creature and modular of the environment”. If we care for humanity, we must protect our environment for the present and future generation. Environment is necessary for physical and mental progress. Tree plantation is an instrumental action which will help us to tackle issues like natural disaster. Development is necessary but we cannot ignore nature. Environment is the key to the existence of life on earth. Environment is everything that is around and the entire life system of a human depends on it. So it is responsibility of every individual to protect environment and to ensure no development can be made harming environment. We need a place to where development and environment are equally balanced. Human with the support of Government can make this aim true and also can gift a colourful nature to the upcoming generations.
(The writer is a participant of National Environmental Writing Contest 2020 and can be reached at [email protected])
July 2, 2021
Treasure, not Trash: Creating Green Energy from Non-Recycled Plastics
Bahnishikha Chowdhury: Over the last six decades, global production and consumption of plastic have accelerated so rapidly that almost 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics have been produced globally and each year the number is increasing. Overconsuming of non-biodegradable plastic has led us to a major problem as most of the plastics end up as trash in landfills or oceans. If our lifestyle remains unchanged then there will be more plastics in oceans than fishes in 2050 and the situation of lands will only worsen.
Plastic is a versatile, lightweight, moisture-resistant, strong material comparing to other available materials on the market. These irresistible qualities have made plastic popular and resulting in increased mass production each year globally. It is evident that nowadays plastic is unavoidable but at the same time, these non-biodegradable and extremely durable plastic are destroying marine and coastal ecosystems even entering our food chain in microplastic form. Instead of throwing plastics in landfills and oceans, one promising alternative is to convert plastic in fuels.
Plastic is mainly composed of Carbon and Hydrogen, containing similar compounds of conventional fuels such as diesel. It is possible to convert plastics directly into useful forms of energy. Scientists at Columbia University found that if they were able to convert all non-recycled plastics to energy, they could power 5.7 million homes.
It is possible to convert all the non-recycled plastics directly into a useful form of energy, using a process called Pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is a method of heating at high temperatures in the absence or limited presence of oxygen. It is normally used to generate energy in the form of heat, electricity, or fuels.
In this process, at first plastic wastes are collected and sorted for recycling and non-recycling. By using the pyrolysis technique, these non-recycled plastics are heated and melt into a liquid state and then vaporized into a gas state. The gases are then further cooled and condensed into a variety of synthetic crude oil, synthetic diesel fuel, kerosene, and more. One company of the USA claims that its system can convert 50 tons of plastic waste into 26,000 gallons of oil—per day. If all the non-recycled plastics in the U.S. were able to be converted this way, they could create enough oil to fuel nine million cars for a whole year resulting in 70% less CO2 and less greenhouse gas emission.
Plastics also can be converted into gas fuel that can be used to produce electricity or turned into liquid fuels and even chemicals for manufacturing. Japan and South Korea have been using gasification for garbage and industrial waste for a couple of decades. Scientists in the UK, Spain, and Australia have invented a technique to convert plastic into fuels and which can also be used as raw material for plastic production.
Bangladesh is a home of 170 million people. Waste management has always been a major issue in Bangladesh, resulting in its capital, Dhaka being one of the most polluted cities in the world. Plastic pollution is increasing and polluting our water sources every day. This developing technology might help to manage wastes in our country. This technology considered green and sustainable which produces clean energy.
Our trash can only become a problem if we do not find a way to manage it. These technologies have proven that our trash is not filthy but valuable resources.
(The writer is a participant of National Environmental Writing Contest 2020 and can be reached at [email protected])
May 24, 2021
Coronavirus wastes posing threat of further contagion
Banani Mallick: Environment experts said the government should look to alternative ways like incineration while dealing with final disposal of Covid-19 wastes. They made this suggestion as used face masks, hand gloves and white gowns dumped here and there amid the pandemic of coronavirus are posing threat of further contagion.
They came up with the suggestion when the government was yet to ensure a safe management of the COVID-19 wastes in the country. They noted that the government should adopt a viable safe disposal method as early as possible as the coronavirus infection cases are increasing alarmingly with environment hazards in the highly-infected Dhaka and other cities and towns across the country. Md Sazzadul Haque, an environment thinker and academic researcher, said incineration of the COVID-19 related waste is the only way of dealing with this threat. “Being contagious in nature, the COVID-19 has the potential of further transmission through additional carrier and waste collectors and people living next to these open dumping zones,” he said. Echoing Sazzadul Haque, many public health experts said the COVID-19 waste might be a source of coronavirus infection if they were not managed safely as the virus stays alive for several days on objects.
Referring to study findings of some provinces of China, he said, they use cement kilns and other industrial furnaces for burning hazardous waste. Bangladesh has also a number of cement industries. It can think of using controlled furnaces to burn the hazardous wastes.
In addition, he also suggested using the brick kilns located nearby Dhaka and other cities. Noted virologist and former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Nazrul Islam said all measures including quarantining, isolation and lockdowns to control the spread of the disease would go in vain if COVID-19 wastes were not managed safely. “COVID-19 waste is a confirmed source of the coronavirus infection and it can infect others at any stage,” he said. Dr Lenin Chowdhury, Joint General Secretary of Paribesh Banchao Andolan, said the virus Covid-19 can be back from the dumped wastes.
“The authorities concerned should look into some effective methods such as industrial furnaces and brick kilns. If they fail then COVID-19 hazardous waste will be a further threat to the community,” he said.
Talking to the Daily Observer Dhaka North City Corporation Chief Waste Management Officer Commodore M Saidur Rahman on Sunday said they were going to launch separate management of such wastes from Tuesday. “We have planned a massive public awareness campaign, training for our waste collectors and safe disposal of the wastes,” he said. He said the DNCC asked PRISM, a non-government organisation managing city medical wastes, to dispose of the medical waste generated at the community level.
Dhaka South City Corporation’s Additional Chief Waste Management Officer Mohamamd Mizanur Rahman admitted that the DSCC was yet to start separate COVID-19 waste management, saying that they would start one soon. He said they would start collecting the waste separately and dispose of them with other medical waste in cooperation with PRISM.
(The writer is a Senior Staff Correspondent of The Daily Observer and a participant of National Environmental Writing Contest 2020. She can be reached at [email protected])
May 19, 2021
Bangladesh Faces the Anticipated Threats of Electronic Waste
Maisha Binte Sultan: Today, men are crippled without the intervention of technologies. The sum of electronic waste or e-waste has increased exponentially over the last few decades with the unprecedented rise in electronic usage as it becomes more accessible and cheaper.
According to the United Nation’s Global E-waste Monitor report 2020, 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste was generated in 2019 and only 17% was recycled in that year. Bangladesh is not spared from the curse rather it generated 400 thousand tonnes of e-waste in 2018 (20% increment each year) with only 3% recycling of the e-waste, as reported by the Department of Environment, but Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) reported it to be 2.95 million tonnes of e-waste with only 10% recycling. The toxic hazardous substances released from these e-wastes are amending the healthy environment that culminates in the disruption of human metabolism and aquatic ecosystem.
The management of e-waste is becoming a challenge as the developing countries suffer more from the e-waste disposed by the developed countries. By enhancing the collection and recycling processes, the efficiency of e-waste management system is ensured. For that, both the formal and informal sectors must play pivotal role to tackle e-wastes.
Annually, the major portion of e-waste is generated from the ship breaking yards in Bangladesh. The lack of investment and technically skilled human resources causes the ostensible recycling in the country to adopt unsafe measures like burning of the e-scraps and rest are thrown into landfills, rivers, drains, lakes, and open spaces. These releases toxic heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium and also plastics, copper, aluminum along with organic pollutants such as polychlorinated bi-phenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers etc. into the environment.
Dismantling or shredding of e-waste, releases metal particulates into the immediate environment where the health of workers (particularly child laborers) are often seriously and chronically affected. The coarse particles directly contaminate soil; runoff accumulates hazardous components into the surface water which finds its way into underground water resources which is the main source of drinking water.
The contaminants enter the food chain of aquatic lives and in food crops thus eventually end up in human body through the phenomenon of bio-accumulation and bio-magnification. When exceeds the threshold level of contaminants concentration in human body causes cell disruption, metal toxicity, asthma, cancer, infant mortality, disability and other life threatening diseases. Now, inadequate legal framework and dysfunctional waste management system in Bangladesh heavily challenges it to face the emerging threats of e-waste.
The ever growing massive pile of e-waste is yet managed primarily by the informal sectors of Bangladesh. The current practices of e-waste management involve- Landfills, Incineration and improper recycling which are not environmental friendly and looks unsustainable in the long run. Lack of formal policies or direct enforcement of laws to manage e-waste caused the electronic companies to generate products without any consequences.
An integrated formal-informal approach for proper collection, treatment, and disposal systems of e-waste can lessen the unsolicited threats. The most widely used Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy and 3 Rs policy or Reduce, Reuse, Recycle initiatives are effective for integrated approach. EPR compels the companies to take back post-consumption products for recycling and to minimize the risk of electronic raw materials; precious metals like gold, platinum etc. are extracted from the recycling units worth billions of dollars.
Besides, adoption of eco-friendly recycling technologies and taxes on illegal dumping on landfill can only be possible through integrated approach. For the development of Bangladesh, it is inevitable to face the consequence of e-waste threat and act accordingly.
(The writer is a participant of National Environmental Writing Contest 2020 and can be reached at [email protected])
May 14, 2021
Increase Prices of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products through Specific Taxation
Increasing the prices of tobacco products through effective taxation discourages the youth to start tobacco use as well as encourages the existing users, particularly those financially vulnerable, to quit. To achieve a tobacco-free Bangladesh, the prices of cigarettes and other tobacco products should be increased through specific taxation, bringing these products beyond the purchasing power of the masses.
MPs, economists, journalists, and public health experts expressed such views today during a virtual roundtable, jointly organized by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), titled ‘Tobacco Tax and Price Measures for a Tobacco-Free Bangladesh: Reality and the Way Forward. As PROGGA presented its budget proposals for FY 2021-22′ during the event, its estimation says implementation of such proposal would encourage 1.1 million adult smokers to quit, prevent premature deaths of 390,000 existing smokers and 400,000 youths. The proposals regarding supplementary duty, health development surcharge, and VAT on cigarettes would also earn the government an additional BDT 3400 crore in revenues.
During the roundtable, Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment, Forestry and Climate Change, said, “Each year before the budget, we raise our demands to increase tobacco taxes. Unfortunately, the national budget never reflects our demands. Our constitution has declared that this republic belongs to its people. The constitution has also bestowed the sacred responsibility of safeguarding public health on the State. So, our Honorable Prime Minister voiced her vision for a tobacco-free Bangladesh considering all such aspects. Those who are putting obstacles in the way need to be identified.”
Eminent economist and the convener of the National Anti-Tobacco Platform, Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said, “It is quite frustrating for us to find NBR saying the increase in tobacco taxes would harm the poor. The reality is quite the contrary. An increase in tobacco taxes benefits the poor the most.” In addition to supporting the budget proposals, Mr. Kholiquzzaman also called for the reinstatement of export duty on tobacco. Professor Dr. A A M S Arefin Siddique, Chairman of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, said, I hope those involved in the formulation of the national budget would incorporate at least some of these demands. He also focused on including lessons on the detrimental effects of tobacco in the national curriculum and other co-curricular activities.
Additional Director-General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof. Dr. Meerjady Sabrina Flora opined that reducing the affordability and use of cigarettes through tax increases allows the people, particularly the poor, to spend more on nutrition and other necessities. She emphasized that adopting a coordinated plan regarding tobacco control would push for increasing taxes, raising awareness and implementing the existing law.
Dr. Nasir Uddin Ahmed, former Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR), said, One of the major impediments in realizing such proposals in the national budget is the government’s investment in British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB) as well as the tobacco industry’s influence on NBR. He urged the Finance Minister to increase the prices of tobacco products in the upcoming budget and also to divest the government’s involvement in a tobacco company. Prominent Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of TV Today Mr. Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul said, “Materializing a commitment made by the Honorable PM requires additional effort from those in policymaking level. Unfortunately, we cannot find any such effort in this case. We must be sincere in this regard.”
Abdul Quayum, Associate Editor of the Daily Prothom Alo, said, “Use of bidi and cigarettes causes diseases and thus increases medical expenses which, in turn, makes the poor even poorer. We need more campaigns to raise awareness regarding such devastating consequences.” Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Haque,
National Professional Officer, World Health Organization (WHO) said, “We want to raise taxes on tobacco products so that it reduces the affordability of these products among the poor demographic and also discourages the youth to start its use.” He also told that due to the inelastic nature of tobacco demand, it would also increase government revenue.
The Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Dr. Mahfuz Kabir said, the users of low-tier cigarettes constitute around 70 percent of total smokers. So, if we can increase the price of this tier through specific taxation and raise it closer to the medium-tier, it would not only reduce use but also increase government revenue manifold.
Md. Mostafizur Rahman, Lead Policy Advisor for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Bangladesh said, once the prices of tobacco products are increased, the use of these items among the poor decreases. He urged the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to play a more pro-active role in tobacco taxation.
The event was hosted by Nadira Kiron, Co-convener, ATMA. The budget proposals were presented by Md. Hasan Shahriar, Project Head, Tobacco Control, PROGGA. Among those present were also Mortuza Haider Liton, Convener, ATMA, ABM Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA and representatives of anti-tobacco organizations and media outlets.
To raise tobacco taxes and prices, the following proposals for upcoming budget for FY 2021-22 were presented during the press conference:
Budget Proposals:
- Introduce a tiered specific excise (supplementary duty -SD) with uniform tax burden (SD share of 65% of final retail price) across all cigarette brands
- In the low-tier, the retail price should be set at 50 for 10 sticks, followed by BDT 32.50 as specific supplementary duty (SD).
- In the medium-tier, set the retail price at BDT 70 for 10 sticks and BDT 45.50 should be imposed as specific supplementary duty (SD).
- In the high-tier, the retail price should be set at 110for 10 sticks, followed by BDT 71.50 as specific supplementary duty (SD).
- In the premium-tier, set the retail price at BDT 140 for 10 sticks and BDT 91 should be imposed as specific supplementary duty (SD).
- Reduce price tiers from four to two in the medium-term (2021-22 to 2025-26) by reducing the gaps in final prices and tax rates between cigarettes brands
- For 25 non-filtered bidi sticks, the retail price should be BDT 25, followed by a specific supplementary duty of BDT 11.25. The price for 20 filtered sticks should be BDT 20, which will be followed by a specific supplementary duty of BDT 9. As a result of such measures, in both filtered and non-filtered bidis, the specific supplementary duty will be 45 percent of final retail prices.
- For SLT products, the price per 10-gram jarda and gul should be BDT 45 and 25 respectively. A specific supplementary duty of BDT 27 should be imposed on per 10-gram jarda. For gul, the specific supplementary duty should be BDT 15. As a result of such measures, in both jarda and gul, the specific supplementary duty will be 60 percent of final retail prices.
- Retain the existing 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) and 1% Heath Development Surcharge on all tobacco products.
Implementation of the above-mentioned proposals for tax and price hike of tobacco products will encourage 1.1 million people to quit smoking, prevent premature deaths of 390,000 current adults and 400,000 current youth, and earn BDT 3400 crore as additional revenue from the supplementary duty, health development surcharge and VAT imposed on cigarettes. At the same time, price hikes of bidi, jarda and gul would also discourage the use among the poorest and most vulnerable demographic while contributing to govt. exchequer.
The existing multi-tiered ad-valorem taxation has rendered cigarettes quite cheap and affordable in Bangladesh. Following a price hike, consumers conveniently switch to cheaper brands instead of quitting. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2017, between 2009 and 2017, there has been a 1.5 million increase in the number of cigarette users. The numbers reveal that the existing tobacco tax structure has not been contributing to make Bangladesh a tobacco-free country by 2040, as envisioned by the Honorable Prime Minister.
With the ongoing second wave of the COVID 19 pandemic, the health sector and overall economy of the country are going through precarious conditions. If tobacco use goes unchecked during such a period of vulnerability, it would put an additional risk for public health. According to World Health Organization (WHO), smokers are more likely to become severely ill when infected with covid-19. This makes the existing tobacco users, around 40 million in number, extremely vulnerable to severe COVID 19 infection. In Bangladesh, tobacco use claims 126,000 lives prematurely each year.
In a 2019 study titled “Economic Cost of Tobacco Use in Bangladesh: A Health Cost Approach”, it was revealed that in 2017-18, the economic cost (medical expenses and loss of productivity) of tobacco use stood at BDT 30,560 crore while revenues from tobacco sector in 2017-18 FY was only BDT 22,810 crore. Raising the prices of tobacco products would discourage the youth from starting use and getting addicted while encouraging the existing users belonging to the poor demographic to quit.
Source: PROGGA Knowledge for Progress
May 11, 2021
Reduction of Carbon Emission: A Light of Hope in a Blind Alley
Nusrat Jahan Labonnayo: Excess Carbon emission is a poignant reality for us. Much of the apprehension about climate change is directly attributable to increasing global temperature, a by-product of the ever-increasing rate of carbon emission. However, we have taken this era-defining challenge for granted for far too long. Consequently, our sea level is gradually rising and might eventually result in environmental catastrophe. Saltwater intrusion might become a new normal for countries like Bangladesh, causing massive internal displacement and changing our agricultural landscape forever. 16-17 southern districts may be inundated by saltwater by the end of the century. Hence, it is imperative that we control the emission of toxic elements like Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide etc. to avoid the aforementioned deleterious consequences.
To understand the ramifications of carbon emission, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist. Evidently, our world is in an appalling situation because of it. However, here I bring about a new perspective for the reader. During lockdown for COVID-19, Environmentalists have observed dramatic healing taking place. Pollution significantly decreased in many countries and Bangladesh was no different.
Long story short, the lockdown from mid March to mid April essentially forced industries to shut down resulting in zero to negligible carbon emission. So far this year, the lockdown leading to global economic shutdown has reduced carbon emission by more than 8%. Furthermore, by evaluating the data from the air quality index during the period of lockdown, Dhaka’s air quality has improved 30% or higher.
Hence, we can confidently claim that the industrial and power sectors are mostly responsible for carbon emission and the population plays a trivial role in air pollution. However, we understand the impossibility of shutting down essential industries or total mitigation of carbon emission. The motivation for this article, therefore, is to introduce some systematic plans to minimize carbon emission.
Some media sources presented the improvement of our climate during lockdown as a silver lining. However, these temporary solutions are at best, weak swords that won’t absolutely eradicate the problem. Rather, a sustainable structural transformation is required in order to steer clear from this impending disaster. We’ve to reduce carbon footprints by any means & acknowledge this as an urgent priority. Furthermore, government intervention in various sectors of business is required to ensure environmental protection.
Environmental policies should be introduced & implemented regarding carbon emission reduction and our government should make sure that those policies are compatible with our country’s environmental and economic development.
In addition, it might be worthwhile to go over concrete actions like carbon tax and carbon trading. Here carbon tax means a charge being imposed on the carbon content of fuels & carbon trading is an alternative system where the state sets the total emission volume for each polluting industry and grants these pollution rights to industries through an auction scheme. The Government may also offer incentives or rewards to business entities who performed well in maintaining these rules and used more eco-friendly tactics to reduce negative externalities.
While we might go ahead & enjoy the benefits of large-scale economic growth and structural change, we should also note that under no conditions should we allow our ecosystem to get deteriorated any more than it already has. Therefore, timely implementation & prompt execution of green policies must be ensured and public-private collaborations should be integrated into those policies. If everything goes accordingly, hopefully by the end of this century, our future generation won’t have to become the poster-children for UNHCR’s fundraising campaign & we’ll have cleaner air to breathe.
(The writer is a participant of National Environmental Writing Contest 2020. She can be reached at [email protected])
Featured Image Courtesy: Nicolas Herrbach
May 7, 2021
Micro-plastics pollution: A high concerning time as the emerging pollutant hits the environment
Amit Hasan Anik: Micro-plastics can be defined as the smaller fragments (≥1 μm – <5 mm) of semi-synthetic plastic polymers which are highly persistent and omnipresent in the environment. Micro-plastics mainly contain polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, nylons, poly-lactic acid, polyamide, and polyethylene terephthalate.
However, large plastic pollution was an antecedent worldwide issue whereas micro-plastics pollution is a thriving mondial concern in today’s world. During the last few years, it has taken note that impacts of micro-plastics are relatively more ticklish than macro plastics which causes increasing environmental concern about these tiny particles. Nevertheless, this emerging pollutant of our environment has been largely unexplored in the perspective of Bangladesh.
However, micro-plastics are divided into two common classes on the basis of their origin and sources, such as primary and secondary micro-plastics. Micro-plastics may enter into the environment due to indiscriminate use in industrial preproduction pellets like personal care products (primary micro-plastics) and as well as by the breakdown of larger plastic objects (secondary micro-plastics). According to the report of Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), 60 most prevalent and commonly used beauty and cleaning products in Bangladesh, including face wash, detergent etc. contain microbeads (segment of primary micro-plastics).
They also claimed that monthly around 8000 billion microbeads are released from the household basin and through the drainage system ended up into the surrounding water bodies of Dhaka, Chittagong & Sylhet. Besides, Bangladesh is one of the rising developing countries where consumption of plastic items has expanded than ever before. Furthermore, due to the outbreak of Covid-19, a huge number of single-use personal protective equipment (PPE) including mask, gloves, goggles and gowns are added as single use plastic waste in our environment and turned into a great source of secondary micro-plastics which creating a situation like rub salt into the wound.
Micro-plastics can be ingested by a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial species due to their small size and their abundance in both pelagic and benthic ecosystems. Recently researchers identified micro-plastics in diverse organisms from the smallest plankton to top predators like large fishes, birds and mammals which indicate pernicious effects of micro-plastics on an ecosystem.
These micro-plastics through ingestion, inhalation and translocation biomagnified along with the food web and may transfer into human body. According to the report of WHO (2019), they have found the presence of micro-plastics in treated tap and bottled water though in low level but due to regular consumption it may cause chronic effect on human health. However, the detrimental effects of micro-plastics in surrounding environment and on food chain toxicity has not yet been reported in Bangladesh whereas the global researchers has identified the role of micro-plastics as carriers of toxic pollutants responsible for adverse health effects.
Albeit, in 2002, the Bangladesh government banned lightweight plastic bags and pushed the use of jute fiber bags as an alternative. Moreover, single-use plastic products are also banned recently because they are secondary sources of micro-plastics deposition.
However, at the same time, polythene and single-use plastic products are continuously produced, traded and utilized all over the country because of the weak implementation of the law and absence of cost-eﬀective environment-friendly alternatives. Therefore, government should introduce strong legislative rules and set ‘zero tolerance’ regarding the use of mega and macro plastics and compel the industries to use biodegradable materials like starch in lieu of non-degradable materials to lessen micro-plastics pollution.
(The writer is a student of Department of Environmental Science, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Dhaka, Bangladesh and a participant of National Environmental Writing Contest 2020. He can be reached at [email protected])
May 5, 2021
Tobacconomics Cigarette Tax Scorecard Released
Tobacconomics, a US-based research initiative, released the first edition of the International Cigarette Tax Scorecard, assessing the performance of cigarette tax policies in over 170 countries including Bangladesh. Tobacconomics is based at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Institute for Health Research and Policy and it conducts economic research to inform and shape fiscal policies for health globally.
Bangladesh got an overall score of 2.38 out of 5 possible points, which is slightly higher than the global average (2.07), but there is ample room to improve when compared to the top performing countries (4.63). The top performing countries are Australia and New Zealand, which reflects their high, uniform specific cigarette excise taxes with regular increases that have significantly reduced the affordability of cigarettes.
The Tobacconomics Scorecard assesses countries’ cigarette tax policies based on international best practice using data from the World Health Organization from 2014-2018. Nearly half the countries scored less than two out of the five-point maximum. There has been little improvement between 2014 and 2018: the global average score rose only slightly from 1.85 in 2014 to 2.07 in 2018. The Cigarette Tax Scorecard has been created by the University of Illinois Chicago’s (UIC) Institute for Health Research and Policy.
Bangladesh had significantly improved its score on cigarette taxation policy from 0.87 in 2014 to 2.38 in 2018 but improvements are needed in the tax structure and prices of cigarettes.
“The Scorecard shows considerable untapped potential for cigarette tax increases to raise revenue for a COVID-19 recovery and importantly, prevent premature deaths and promote a healthy and productive workforce,” says Tobacconomics director and lead author of the scorecard, Frank J. Chaloupka.
“The complex tiered cigarette tax structure in Bangladesh has significantly contributed to a reduced score for Bangladesh in this scorecard. Bangladesh must reduce the number of tiers for the purpose of cigarette taxation, introduce specific excise taxes and significantly increase its existing excise taxes on all tobacco products to save lives and raise much needed revenue” according to Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Eminent economist and the convener of National Anti-Tobacco Platform.
“According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lungs hooked on tobacco are at greater risk of COVID-19. In Bangladesh, 37.8 million adults use tobacco and 41 million people fall victim to second-hand smoke in their own homes. This huge chunk of population, victims of direct or indirect tobacco use, are currently at grave risk of severe coronavirus infection. Low prices of tobacco products are the main reason behind this. Increased taxes on tobacco products will reduce their consumption and generate much needed revenue to bear coronavirus related medical expenses and implementation of govt. stimulus packages.” said Dr. Mahfuz Kabir Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). About 126, 000 people die every year in Bangladesh from tobacco use and the economic burden from tobacco use amounted to BDT 30,500 crores in 2017-18 which is 1.4% of Bangladesh’s total GDP.
In addition, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created a major dent in Bangladesh’s GDP growth. Reforming tobacco taxes provides a quick and easy way for Bangladesh to raise much needed revenue for economic recovery. Tobacco taxes are the single most effective way to minimize the negative health and economic impacts of tobacco consumption. The best way to do this is through a uniform specific excise tax that comprises at least 75% of the retail price and is automatically updated to stay ahead of inflation and income growth.
December 19, 2020
Groundwater depletion and related environmental threats around Dhaka city and other cities nearby
Kowshik Ahmed: Water! Fresh water! Which is the most essential element for us and our environment. If I say, you have to live one day long without water, then you must freak out! Obviously it must be difficult to survive a single day without water. And if you still don’t know, how is it to live without pure water, then you are welcomed to try!
The matter of fact is most of the people of our country still doesn’t know the value of fresh water because water is often easy to get here. But when it’s about the over populated and urbanized city like Dhaka, then most of the people can feel the crisis of fresh water around them.
Now the question is, is it all about the fresh water crisis?
-NO, it’s not only about fresh water crisis but also about other environmental threats like- groundwater level depletion, land aggravation, deterioration in water quality, environmental drying up and increasing the process of desertification, depletion of water in streams and lakes in the city etc.
So, how this all are related? Let’s discuss.
Because of over population and urbanization in Dhaka city, the continuous withdrawal process of groundwater is taken place over last 30 years in demand of the daily need. The surface water resources, like- lacks, rivers, streams are filled up due to urbanization.
Because of that the recharge process of groundwater level is averted and the level of groundwater drops around 7-10 meters in the different places of Dhaka city. Scientists are concerned that it may lead the process of land aggravation which may cause severe “Earthquake” in the Dhaka city. It may cause subsidence of some construction in the Dhaka city. Also the water quality is deteriorating day by day which is a great health threat.
Lack of proper drainage system and groundwater recharge system, sometimes it leads to severe desertification and sometimes severe flash flood. Both cause great damage to our environment and life.
Now, what initiatives are needed to take for prevent those threats? Let’s discuss…
First of all, we must need a proper water management plan and properly implementing those which are already exists. Formulate special groundwater rules and we all have to stop misusing the fresh water.
Secondly, Artificial recharging of groundwater must be executed through excavating necessary numbers of lacks and water streams and also by river dredging.
Thirdly, Use modern technology for water contribution and spread awareness of stop misusing the supplies water. Fix the supply limit for residences and industries and maintain that strictly.
Fourthly, we have to stop water pollution and plastic pollution. All the industry must follow the treatments rules for pollutants. No industry should be permitted to set up without a proper treatment plant for waste water. Necessary number of water treatment plant must be established all over the country and operate regularly.
And the fifth point is each and every building should have the storage system for store rain water. We must utilize the rain water for our use to reduce the burden of groundwater.
So in a nutshell, we can say that by following those steps discussed above we can diminish the problem and make the place environmental friendly and sustainable for everyone. Along with that we must keep planting trees which are the natural savior of the environment and also important for our groundwater preservation.
(The writer is a student of Patuakhali Science and Technology University and champion of National Environmental Writing Contest 2020. He can be reached at [email protected])
October 16, 2020
Now know Paddy cut count from your mobile App
Tahjeeb Hossain Chowdhury: Bangladesh is an agricultural paradise with fertile lands that cultivates gold it seems. We have been able to become self-dependent on paddy cultivation. Apart from that we also have stellar agricultural produce for vegetables, grains, commercial crops, and more. So, it has been a disappointing notion that we do not have as many agricultural technologies that help with production. The Newest breakthrough is the app that lets users know how much paddy has been cut. It’s about time that mobile apps for agricultural logistics came forward and it seems we are getting quite a good app that will benefit the farmers a lot.
The Combine harvester has been one of the newest additions to efficient agriculture in terms of the Bangladesh landscape. ACI Motors brought this technology from the Japanese Yanmar. The remote-controlled machine can be managed from a distance. The Accompanying smartphone app is the crux of our story here. The app is linked to a respective machine. It tracks the overall activities of the paddy cultivation. This is a huge boost in terms of Agricultural Management. We are at the cusp of breaking into an era of production that needs the involvement of Artificial intelligence and smart technologies more than ever.
Bangladesh Agricultural University has reported that the per capita income of farmers and Agricultural professionals is on the rise. Methods of Production and labor management has changed as well. There may be a deficit or difficulty in acquiring labor services in the coming days. In that front technology bundles like the Yanmar, Smart assist and Combine harvester will become crucial cogs in the wheel. There is a need for new technology and a new workforce that can use and manage this new technology properly. This was the overall message shared by the former vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Agriculture University Mr. Sattar Mondol.
With Irrigation, Cultivation, and Insecticide work being 95% mechanized, it is only a matter of time we cover all bases. The Smart Assist app can monitor the harvesters’ performance, check if it needs repairs, and counts the paddy amount as its being operated. With remote management available, modern farmers can rest easy with this new addition into AGRO-TECH.
(The writer is a marketing graduate, content writer, and data science enthusiast from Dhaka, reach him at [email protected])
October 14, 2020