The indiscriminate use of gillnets by fishers in Bangladesh has become a major threat to the two freshwater dolphin species found there: the Ganga River dolphin (Platanista gangetica) and the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris). Both species, listed as threatened by the IUCN, the global wildlife conservation authority, are found in the
Author: Abu Siddique
Birds in Bangladesh find new lease of life in community-run sanctuaries
Degraded soil threatens to worsen food crisis
In an effort to feed 170 million people in a rapidly growing economy, Bangladeshi farmers rely on the widespread use of chemical fertilizers to boost production, leaving the country’s soil heavily degraded as a result. The country requires around 38 million tons of food grain. Some farmers are now switching to
Ecologically critical areas exist only on paper in Bangladesh
Popular eggplant comes with a side of lead in Bangladesh
Food safety in Bangladesh faces a serious threat from heavy metal contamination, according to recent studies, with one of the country’s most widely consumed vegetables, the eggplant, containing potentially cancer-causing amounts of lead, nickel and cadmium. Researchers attribute this to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by farmers, as well
Fish eggs return to Halda River following conservation efforts
Saving hilsa fish comes at a cost to Bangladesh fishers
Better management of shared waterways can benefit both Bangladesh and India
Although Bangladesh’s waterways carry tremendous economic and geostrategic significance for both Bangladesh and India, environmental management issues have rendered most of these routes useless. Bangladesh and India signed a protocol for using the waterways to carry goods in 1972. However, only three of the designated 11 routes are in regular use
Bangladeshi industries explore renewables as power crisis looms
An ongoing power crisis in Bangladesh – prompted by a gas shortage – is encouraging Bangladeshi industries to slowly transition to renewable energy sources such as solar power. Although Bangladesh marked 100% access to electricity for all people in March 2022, more than 50% of electricity is generated using natural gas.
Lack of finance prevents farmers from diversifying rice crops
Bangladesh is home to more than 130 different rice varieties, but a lack of economic incentives means farmers here grow only a handful of the higher-yielding types. This has given rise to a virtual monocrop system, which farmers and experts say threatens both long-run production and soil quality. Most farmers, meanwhile,