The state of Bangladesh is going through the illegal arms problem of ULFA which is group called as United Liberation Front of Assam.  The majority of the ULFA militant leaders have been deported to India but the matter of fact is that they have left their arms in Bangladesh.  Their arms are actually in a large number. ULFA gathered a large number of illegal arms in Bangladesh.

About 10 Lorries of illegal arms were caught by Bangladesh police in Chittagong port of Bangladesh.  That illegal arms case is an ongoing trial in the court of Bangladesh. Intelligence branches of Bangladesh are investigating it.  They have found evidence already that, Paresh Barua, the chief of army of ULFA was present in the Chittangong port to unload the arms. A group of leaders of the then Islamic militant government of Bangladesh also helped to bring and unload the arms.  Bangladesh has already arrested a group of Islamic militant leaders on this case.

The unloading of ten lorries of illegal arms in Chittangong port has proven that, ULFA brought large number of arms in Bangladesh.  On the other hand, they have deported and been caught without arms.  Therefore, it can be said that, they had another safe place in Bangladesh where they hide their arms.

Some intelligence sources said that, in Bangladesh ULFA works with Islamic militants together.  Now many sources are saying that, some militant groups of Bangladesh are using the arms of ULFA.  Bangladesh police have already recovered a lot of arms and ammunitions at Mymensing district in Bangladesh.  This district’s border is nearby Assam.  Therefore, police suspected that, these arms were left by ULFA.  The home ministry of Bangladesh is going to search and recover the arms left by ULFA.  Some of the police officers say that, it is not an easy job because more than fifty outlaw groups are in Bangladesh and most of them are Islamic militant.  ULFA worked with them and then most of the outlaw groups were nursed by an intelligence organization (now State Department of America says that it is a militant organization) of a particular country.

Current government of Bangladesh has blocked that interfere of that intelligence group in Bangladesh already.  Consequently the outlaw groups have already lost their power.  More to the point that already the trials of the criminals from the war are ongoing now and most of the big shot of those criminals are now in jail.  These criminals from the war are the main leader and the brain of the Islamic militant groups of Bangladesh.  They are supposedly the main agent of that particular country’s intelligence organization. ULFA has got that, they have no room in Bangladesh.  But, Bangladesh has to face the consequence of ULFA and the illegal arms of ULFA are one of them.  Islamic Militants are using their illegal arms.

Well there are updates from Dhaka, Bangladesh that Bangladesh will fire the chiefs of the country’s securities regulator after an independent probe blamed them for the recent stock market crash, as per the finance minister’s statement.

The benchmark Dhaka Stock Exchange General (DGEN) index touched a high of 8918.51 points on December 5 last year before plunging to around 5,200 points in two months, gutting hundreds of thousands of small investors.

In the month of January the government ordered a probe into the crash after weeks of violent protests by investors and amid media reports alleging some traders manipulated the market with the help of regulators.

The government published the 284-page probe report Sunday, with finance minister A.M.A Muhith vowing legal action against the manipulators.

He said the government would replace the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman and his two deputies this week.

“The government thinks that the SEC should be recast to restore confidence in the capital market,” the finance minister told reporters on Saturday night.

The minister said the government would conduct further probe into the allegations that some businessmen linked to the ruling Awami League party were involved in a stocks scam.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange of Bangladesh, which now trades at about 6,000 points, was one of the world’s best performing markets between 2007 and 2010, taking Bangladesh up; but experts warned of a bubble in which many small investors were caught up.

Bangladesh wildlife is vey interestingly full of Bangladeshi flora & fauna & their natural habitats. Though several areas are protected under law, a large portion of Bangladeshi wildlife is threatened by the growth of human population which lead to subsequent clearing of numerous natural habitats.

Bangladesh supports a surprising wildlife, including Bengal tigers and other endangered species. Forests, jungle, mangrove, waterways, hills and plains of Bangladesh have preserved many endangered species in them.

Set between the Indian plains and the hills of Myanmar, Bangladesh has more to offer in matters of conservation than one might expect. Wet and flat it may be but there are hills in the Sylhet and Chittagong districts, rising to over 1200 metres, and a large section of the Ganges delta sprawling across the southern coastline.

Different habitats encourage a variety of fauna and flora and with the establishment of parks and reserves; conservation efforts are well under way.

Bangladesh National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Bangladesh boasts eight national parks and seven wildlife sanctuaries, many with recreation facilities, trails and guides, plus five conservation areas and one game reserve, Teknaf, overlooking the Bay of Bengal and known for medicinal plants.

Closest to Dhaka, the Bhawal National Park is home to peacocks, python, catfish, deer and others and protects a coppice sal forest. Himchari near Cox Bazar has grasslands and rainforest sheltering gibbons, leopards and sloth bears.In the Bay of Bengal, Nijhum Dweep adds its own contribution with some 5000 deer, clawless otters, fishing cats, turtles and dolphins.

Top of the wildlife sanctuaries is the UNESCO listed Sundarban, divided into east, west and south, across the Ganges delta spreading into India. Mudflats, islands, waterways, mangrove and freshwater swamps support crocodiles, flying fox, pangolin, chital, snakes, Ridley turtles and tigers.

Bangladesh Bengal Tigers and Endangered Species

Bangladesh has adopted the Royal Bengal tiger as its national emblem, setting up the Sundarban tiger project in 2005 to collect data, study habitat and raise conservation awareness through education. A male Bengal tiger weighs over 200 kg and hunts mostly at dusk, feeding on medium to large preys. In 2010, the Bengal tiger population was estimated below 2500 across the Indian subcontinent with over 200 in Bangladesh, mostly in the Sundarban but a few in the eastern hills.

Among other endangered species found in Bangladesh are Indian elephants, black bears and hoolock gibbons, the second largest of the species, a number of snakes, turtles and crocodiles. The blind freshwater dolphin is seen in groups of just two or three and often considered on the critical list. Rare birds include the Baer’s pochard and Palla’s fishing eagle.

Bangladesh wildlife, national parks & sanctuaries are trying their best to save these species. If they don’t then, such a large loss will usually effect the environment to a greater or lesser degree and result in environmental imbalances.

Energy starved Bangladesh has signed a landmark 35-year power transmission deal with India paving ways for import of 250 megawatt electricity from the neighbouring country starting from 2012 end, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

The state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) inked the bulk power transmission treaty with Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) at a ceremony witnessed by Bangladesh’s Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Prime Minister’s energy adviser Tawfique-e-Elahi Chowdhury and concerned officials of both the countries.

The agreement keeps the provision for Bangladesh to export power to India in the future while PGCIL was tasked to construct, own, operate and maintain a 400-KV double-circuit line to exchange 500-MW power between the two neighbouring countries soon after the system is launched.

“It’s (agreement) a small step but a greater thought in regional cooperation through which the South Asian countries will immensely benefit,” Muhith said.

According to the agreement, the transmission tariff will be fixed later by the Energy Regulatory Commission of West Bengal while BPDB will pay the transmission tariff on a monthly basis.

Under the agreement PGCIL will invest and construct 80 kilometre transmission line and own, operate and maintain it.

The Indian company will recover the construction cost under a fixed rate over 35 years.

“If in future we can export power, the beneficiary or the Indian consumers will share the cost. This is why this agreement is a power exchange deal,” BPDB chairman Alamgir Kabir said.

The Indian part of the infrastructure will also include a 400 KV switching station at Baharampur, loop-in and loop-out of Farakka-Jeerat 400 KV single circuit line at the same place, and a 400 KV double circuit line from Baharampur of India running up to Bheramara in Bangladesh.

On the other hand in other side of the border, the state-run Power Grid Company of Bangladesh floated a tender in April to set up a 40 km transmission line in Bheramara with a high voltage sub-station at a cost of US$150 million to be funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Bangladesh currently faces electricity deficit of over 1500 to 1800 mw on an average against the de-rated capacity of 4500 mw in 132 state run and private units.

The government recently formulated a vision plan as part of its desperate efforts to augment electricity amid growing demands while the poor power supply is estimated to cost around two percent in GDP growth each year according a study of the World Bank.

Only around 40 per cent of Bangladesh is currently have access to electricity while the country now witnesses a deficit of 1,000 to 1,500 mw power with 41 public and private sector plants with de-rated capacity of 5,198 mw.

Bangladesh’s parliament Wednesday formed a 15-member parliamentary committee to begin a review of the country’s 1972 constitution. The opposition parties opposed the move by keeping out.

The government of Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina, who recommended the committee to the House, hopes to amend the constitution and debate its basic tenets socialism and secularism that were altered by past military-led governments.

Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury has been made the chairperson of the committee while Awami League lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta is the co-chairperson.

Main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain termed the formation of the All Party Parliamentary Committee (APPC) to decide on restoring of the 1972 Constitution “anti-constitutional and against the parliamentary rules of procedure”.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, the leader of the opposition in parliament, consulted legal and constitutional experts before taking the decision.

Bangladesh enacted its statute in 1972. Nationalism, democracy, secularism and socialism were enshrined as the basic tenets.

After the assassination of country’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and during the 1975-90 military-led phase of governance, socialism was dropped and secularism was replaced by a declaring country as an Islamic republic.

Other members to be included are Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and those who fought in the 1971 freedom movement including Abdur Razzak and Tofael Ahmed.

Representatives from other parties include Jatiya Party lawmaker Anisul Islam Mahmud, Workers Party’s Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal’s Hasanul Haq Inu and National Awami Party’s Amina Ahmed.

Bangladesh has proposed the setting up of an environment court with powers to jail polluters for up to five years, officials said on Tuesday.

They said the plan was endorsed by the cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday, and would soon be put before parliament for approval.

Any citizen would be allowed to file a case in the court – with its headquarters in Dhaka and branches across the country. Targets could include factory owners and builders who illegally grab land and waterways.

All four of Bangladesh’s major rivers, including the Buriganga that provide a lifeline to millions of people in and around Dhaka, have been heavily polluted by industrial and human waste, killing fish and leaving the water unfit for use.

Environmental protection groups have made a series of protests in recent years against such abuses of waterways, while city planners have demanded the reclamation of dozens of canals and parks that had bee illegally occupied and built over.

The proposed court would have the power to jail offenders for up to five years and impose half a million taka (US$7,000) fine, said Abul Kalam Azad, press secretary to the prime minister.

Bangladesh already has an environmental protection law with options for lesser punishments but it has been little used, officials said.

“It is a good initiative to have a court with wider powers to save the endangered environment,” said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, leader of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association. “But how effective it will be remains to be seen.”

Others said prosecuting land grabbers and polluters has often been difficult in the past because of widespread corruption.

Pollution is growing alarmingly in Bangladesh, one of the world’s most densely populated countries with more than 150 million people. Health officials and doctors say millions of Bangladeshis suffer from pollution-related ailments.

A World Bank study last year said four major rivers near the capital Dhaka receive 1.5 million cubic metres of waste water every day from 7,000 industrial units along their banks and another 0.5 million cubic metres from other sources.

Geography

The District of Mymensingh is situated between 24°02‘03″ and 25°25‘56″ north latitude and 89°39‘00″ and 91°15‘35″ east longitude. According to the latest report received (1971) from the director, Land Records and Survey, it comprises an area of 5,039.76 square miles (13,052.92 km²). Mymensingh city is situated within Mymensingh Upazilla which is a sub-district.

The city has no officially defined geographical limits. The actual city area is larger than the Municipal area. Since 1980s the city has expanded with fast urbanization. Mymensingh city is clearly marked by the old Brahmaputra river flowing along its north. Some other different ends of the city are marked respectively by the beginning of the Agricultural University campus, the Medical College, Army cantonment and, finally, Sultanabad, a township built for the followers of Aga Khan. A railway line connecting Dhaka with northern districts, built between 1885 and 1899,^[12] passes through the city and divides it into two sides.

Climate and weather

The climate of Mymensingh is moderate. However for proximity of the Himalayas, it feels much colder than Dhaka. The monsoon starts in May or June and continues till August. It rains heavily and sometimes for days and weeks. During the monsoon, the temperature varies between 15 and 20 degrees. The temperature falls below 15 °C (59 °F) in winter which is spread over December and January and may well include November and February. Highest temperature is felt during April-May period when the temperature may be as high as 40 degrees. High humidity causes huge sweating during this period. For Western travelers, the best time to visit is between November and February.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament yesterday said the government has a plan to set up more international and domestic airports in the next fiscal year.

Replying to a question she said the government has adopted a plan to set up Bangabandhu International Airport as per the election manifesto. The proposed international airport will act as a bridge between the countries of East and West.

Hasina informed the House that the committee formed for the purpose has already submitted its pre-feasibility study report.

Besides, work for formulating document to set up the airport on the basis of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programme is under process.

The Prime Minister said Cox’s Bazar Airport would be upgraded to an international standard at a cost of Tk 302.65 crore by 2012. Development of Cox’s Bazar Airport Phase-1 is expected to be implemented by June 2012.

She further informed that the government has taken measures to set up a domestic airport at Rampal of Bagerhat to aid Mongla Port and the tourist spots of the area. A project titled “Construction of Khanjahan Ali Airport (Rampal, Bagerhat)” will be implemented at a cost of Tk 470.30 crore. The airport will provide quick transport facility between the south and western districts.

On healthcare the Prime Minister said the government is committed to provide healthcare facilities to the people for which 3551 physicians were appointed on ad-hoc basis.

Responding to a question during the PM’s question hour she said 1,445 nurses were also appointed recently.

She said that 6,347 medical assistants were appointed at the field level. Process is on for recruitment of another 1,581 medical assistants.

Hasina said that to provide better healthcare to the people across the country, the government already gave clearance for appointment of doctors at different levels.

The government is also distributing modern equipment to hospitals for improved treatment of patients. Strict measures have been taken to ensure attendance of doctors, officers and employees in all public hospitals, she added.

On jute sector the PM criticised the BNP-Jamaat government for “destroying” the jute industry and expressed her government’s firm determination to regain the lost share of jute goods in the world market.

Replying to a supplementary question, she said the “BNP-Jamaat government intentionally destroyed” the country’s jute sector by closing down government-owned jute mills one after another.

“As a result, we lost the share of jute in the world market and the present government is determined to regain that share.”

Responding to another supplementary question, the Prime Minister said the previous BNP-led government had taken ‘policy of shrinking’ for the jute sector. “This was the end… they just destroyed the jute sector.”

She, however, said that the golden days of jute are coming back and the government would do whatever is possible to develop this sector.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) will hold its first meeting today for fiscal 2010-11 to consider eight development projects, including one to develop and reclaim Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara Lake in the city.

Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside over the meeting.

The Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara project under the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) seeks to protect the lake from illegal occupation and to reclaim and preserve the water retention capacity of the lake as well as its beautification.

The other projects likely to be considered in the meeting are special development of University of Dhaka (4th phase) under the education ministry, Special Rural Water Supply Project under the Local Government Division, setting up single line miter gauge railway tracks on Dohazari-Ramu-Cox’s Bazar and Ramu-Gundum near Myanmar border under the Roads and Railways Division, construction of Dirai-Shalla highway near Madanpur-Dirai-Shalla road under the Roads and Railways Division, 2D seismic survey under fast track programme under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, rural infrastructure development project in greater Faridpur (2nd phase) under the Local Government Division, and coordinated forest development (2nd phase) under the Agriculture Ministry.

The meeting is also likely review the ADP implementation progress of the Roads and Railways Division.

BUET professor Ijaz Hossain on Thursday claimed that energy shortage annually causes nearly US$ 16.6 billion economic loss to the country.
He made the claim while making a presentation on “the Impact of Power & Gas Crisis on the export-oriented manufacturing sector” at a luncheon meeting at Sonargaon Hotel in the city, organized by Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DBCCI).
Giving a calculation, Prof Ijaz said if 10 percent of the energy shortfall is assumed in the export-oriented manufacturing sector, its loss will be US$ 1.33 billion.
Prof Ijaz did not elaborate on the basis of his calculation, but said that the energy shortfall is 4 million tons of oil-equivalent a year.
Such remarks came from a professor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) at a time when the country has been experiencing severe power and gas crisis.
According to the BUET professor, the country’s present power generation capacity is 4500 MW against a demand of 6000 MW while daily gas production is 2000 million cubic feet (MMCF) against a demand of 2500 MMCF.
State-owned Power Development Board (PDB) chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir, Netherlands’ Ambassador Alphons Hennekens, DBCCI president Rakesh Mohan, secretary general Osama Taseer and joint secretary general Sadi Chowdhury also spoke at the meeting.
Advocating for taking a prompt decision by the government to extract coal for diversified energy sources for power generation, Prof Ijaz said that the country has reserve of world-class coal with very low sulphur content, lower than 5 percent even.
“This coal should be immediately extracted for power generation to reduce the overall generation cost,” he said.
PDB chairman Alamgir Kabir said the government has moved for quick rental power plants as a short-term solution to the nagging power crisis. “We took these plants through direct negotiation with the sponsors.”