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  • Cyclone Yaas Approaching, Bangladesh issues Alert

    Cyclone Yaas Approaching, Bangladesh issues Alert

    The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a cyclone alert message which give warning that a low pressure area is very likely to form over the North Andaman Sea and adjoining east central Bay of Bengal. A Cyclone named Yaas has formed which is likely to intensify into a “very severe cyclonic storm” and cross the Odisha and the West Bengal coasts on Wednesday (26 May) confirmed by the India Meteorological Department. The named Yaas proposed by Oman and it means jasmine flower.

    A low pressure area formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining north Andaman Sea. While a low pressure area is the first stage of formation of a cyclone, it is not necessary that all low pressure areas will intensify into cyclonic storms. Bangladesh Meteorological Department has asked the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra to hoist distant cautionary signal number one but it is going to increase.

    A mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Barishal divisions and the districts of Sitakundu, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni, and Sreemangal and it may continue for next two days. Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

    However, Early this week the cyclone Tauktae hit the Western coast of India causing serious damage in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. Cyclone Tauktae, the most powerful storm to barrel into the west coast in two decades, has killed at least 46 others after wreaking havoc in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala.

    Incidentally, The April-May and the October-December periods are also known to eyewitness cyclones. May, last year saw the formation of two cyclones – one in the Bay of Bengal which was super cyclonic storm Amphan and the other in the Arabian Sea which was Severe cyclonic storm Nisarga. Both of them had been hit in the Indian coasts.

    Live Tracking on Bangladesh Cyclone Tracker

    Sources: Bangladesh Meteorological Department, India Meteorological Department

  • Eco-friendly bricks are getting popular

    Eco-friendly bricks are getting popular

    Tahjeeb Hossain Chowdhury: Eco-friendly bricks in the form of concrete blocks are gaining popularity in Bangladesh as a way to reduce environmental damage by making conventional bricks. The House Building Research Institute (HBRI), a component of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, has been working for 40 years to develop alternatives to conventional bricks in the construction industry.

    Md. Akhter Hossain Sarkar, Senior Research Officer, HBRI, said to the media so far, a total of 30 businesses have started commercial production of blocks built by the institute. “When we make people understand the harmful effects of clay burning bricks, they are interested in using concrete blocks,” Akhtar said.

    According to the Bangladesh Brick Manufacturing Owners Association, about 7,000 clay burning brick kilns produce about 25 billion bricks per year, of which 1.27 billion cubic feet of topsoil is used. In Bangladesh, the economy heavily depends on agriculture and the top soil excavation has some alarming repercussions as a result, Akhtar said. Three years of barren lands and unproductive yields follow the excavation of top soil.  The eco-friendly building materials used by HBRI do not require clay-rich topsoil.

    Waterlogging, sand, cement and iron mesh from the bottom of the river, are the reasons for this Akhtar added. The company has made 25 types of bricks from arable land without using soil-rich topsoil. Some of the eco-friendly bricks are Narrow Stable Earth Block (CSEB), Interlocking CSEB, Concrete Blank Block (CHB), Thermal Block (TB), Aerated Concrete and Ferro Cement Sandwich Panel (ACFSP).

    In recent years, the government has taken various initiatives to promote the use of building blocks made from alternative materials, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina even instructing government agencies to build their own structures with alternative bricks.

    As part of this, HBRI is training local masons and encouraging brick kiln owners in different districts of the country to use this alternative construction material. “HBRI is training people who want to know about environmentally friendly technologies,” the government said. “We have already trained 4,000 construction workers and 1,000 civil engineers related to concrete bricks.” At a recent event in Dhaka, city planners and government officials said concrete blocks should be used as an alternative to brick kilns to balance the environment and protect agricultural land.

    The main challenges are raising people’s awareness of eco-friendly bricks, opines HBRI researchers. Yet they also express disappointment at the fact that very few people know that the bricks can both reduce construction costs and reduce environmental impact. Professor Adil Mohammad Khan, general secretary of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), said it was important to train construction workers and ensure block standards were maintained to make eco-friendly bricks commercially viable.

    (The writer is a marketing graduate, content writer, and data science enthusiast from Dhaka, reach him at [email protected])

  • Agriculture Budget of 2020

    Agriculture Budget of 2020

    Tahjeeb Hossain Chowdhury: The budget declaration has always been a topic for discussion and more often than not debate among citizens, experts, even international mediums. That time of the year has come around again as the Bangladesh Budget for 2020-2021 has been made available from the public. Our agriculture is a strong driving force behind both our economy as well as our environmental balance as well. So it would be a good idea to take a look at the biggest takeaways from the Agricultural portion of the budget 2020-2021.

    A firm concentration on the ongoing Covid-19 situation

    A very noticeable part of what the budget entails is how much of it gives importance to tackling the ongoing pandemic. The agriculture part of it is no exception. As a part of the previously predicted food crisis due to the pandemic, the budget presents it as the ultimate challenge for the nation. The budget has emphasized on the continuation of activities for encouraging agriculture and bolster our self-dependence on rice that we have achieved. These activities along with. It also sheds light on the Amon and Boro bumper production and how we need more workers to get that paddy into the storehouses. Stress has been put on to invest effort and time into wheat production so that we can achieve proper standards.

    To make accessories and necessary materials like seeds, fertilizer, cultivation tools and machinery more accessible for the COVID-19 crisis period was also a notable addition to the budget proceedings. To put it into better perspectives, bracing for the economic and operational impact of this pandemic was one of the key aspects of the agricultural budget.

    Sustainable Cultivation and Innovation

    Another notable addition to the budget was innovation and sustainable practices. Seeds of crops and produce that can withstand harsh weather was taken up in 2009. And now the efforts to continue the research has been mentioned in the budget which has 109 breeds.

    The investment of 3198 crore towards mechanization of agricultural activities is a welcome addition. Deficits of 9500 crore and reinvestment of 5000 crore was also mentioned. And chemical fertilizer prices are to be stable during the fiscal year.

    Fisheries and Livestock

    Another part of the agricultural spectrum is also the Fisheries and Livestock breeding. Provisions for these is also quite visible. It talks about how we are self-sufficient towards fulfilling our protein demands. Also, the Covid-19 risk of not being able to fulfill demands in the lockdown environment was a topic of discussion. To rehabilitate the fisheries industry, the government will take the necessary steps in post-COVID times.

    Deep-Sea Fishing activities

    Another very notable addition to the budget is the deep sea fishing activities. The budget states the establishing of the “Marine Fishing Laws -2020” which entails fishing standards and regulations for doing business with such. The deep-sea fishing of Tuna has great potential although the activities have not begun yet. Sea Vessels to facilitate such fishing is to be collected according to the budget.

    Funds into researching deep sea fishing, fish breeds along with poultry, livestock has also been mentioned. Innovations, inventions, patents of several researching has been added into the budget.

    Food Security

    To provide food for the populace during and after the COVID pandemic, provisions have been taken. Targets of 7.98 lakh metric tons of Amon, 8 lakh metric ton of boro, and 11.5 lakh metric ton of rice collection limit has been taken. The most affected corona victims have to be cared more along with people living below the poverty line. Provisions for their food have also been made in the budget.

    The provisions for food security for 2020-2021 is 22, 489 crores which is an increment from last year (21,484 crores).

    (The writer is a marketing graduate, content writer, and data science enthusiast from Dhaka, reach him at [email protected])