special
Shrimp farmers in Bagerhat stare at starvation
Already hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, shrimp farmers in Bagerhat district have been dealt another severe blow this year -- incessant showers and consequent tidal surges.
This year, shrimps, crabs and different species of fish worth over Tk 6 crore have been swept away by tidal surges with more than 8,000 shrimp enclosures going under water across the southern district, pushing many farmers to the brink of starvation.
In Chanditola village of Bagerhat’s Rampal upazila, for instance, most of the farmers have lost their shrimp enclosures to the late-monsoon showers and tidal surges.
READ: Bagerhat fruit farmer eyes foreign markets to expand thriving business.
The scenario is the same in villages across other upazilas of the district, prompting the District Shrimp Farmers’ Association to demand from the government an insurance scheme for their members to protect them from such unexpected losses.
Does Uber in Bangladesh offer hassle-free service?
Riddled with complaints of harassment and inconvenience from commuters, ride-sharing service Uber in Bangladesh is taking a hit in terms of reputation.
Issues like failure to pick up passengers in time, transferring ride requests from passengers to other drivers, multiple cancellations of rides, exorbitant fares and not accepting bKash payments are forcing many regular users to abandon it.
On September 16, this correspondent called for an Uber ride to go from Baridhara J Block to Badda. The trip got cancelled three times, and Uber charged Tk 30 from the bKash account without providing any service.
Read:Uber marks 5th anniversary, pledges to curb noise pollution
Jannatul Begum, who works at a private company, had to go through the same ordeal last month. One morning, she called for an Uber ride to go from Bashundhara to Paltan. Her trip got cancelled twice. The first driver had accepted her ride request but informed 30 minutes later that the trip has been cancelled due to gas shortage.
The first driver then transferred Jannatul’s ride request to a second driver, who, after taking 20 minutes, informed her that he too won’t be able to make the ride. The office-goer then had to take a CNG-run three-wheeler.
“I would’ve managed some other vehicle had I known that my trip will be cancelled after confirmation. Besides, fare of an Uber trip from Bashundhara to Baitul Mukarram in Paltan is around Tk 800-900, which is very high compared to other types of rides. That’s why I’ve stopped using Uber,” Jannatul said.
Read:Uber, BRTA celebrate National Road Safety Day 2021
Mehedi Hasan had been a regular user of Uber before he stopped. While talking to UNB, he discussed some issues which are behind the gradual decline of the ride-sharing service.
“Nowadays, passengers can’t find Uber rides when needed. Drivers also don’t want to make the trip if they don’t like the destination. Fares have also gone up, and many drivers are unwilling to accept bKash payments though Uber has added that as an option,” Mehedi said.
Asked about these issues, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Chairman Nur Mohammad Majumder told UNB that they will look into the complaints made against Uber and take legal steps if any passenger is found to have been harassed.
Read Best Ridesharing Apps in Bangladesh
“We had permitted Uber to operate here with a view to ease the commuting issues. In order to keep its operations running, Uber has to provide services considering the best interests of the passengers. There are certain conditions that Uber has to follow, and one of them is preventing harassment of passengers at any cost,” said Nur.
About high fares, the BRTA chairman added that another condition that Uber must follow is to keep the fare reasonable.
“Uber has to set the fares considering the present situation. We’ll definitely fine Uber if we receive complaints of charging excessive fares,” Nur added.
Read: Uber partners with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society
Contacted by UNB through its public relations agency in Bangladesh, Benchmark PR, Uber acknowledged the issues.
“Long waits and driver cancelling trips fall short of our promise to deliver a magical experience to riders. We are working hard to address this and have launched a slew of new features for driver partners,” it said.
It further said, “To remove frustration for riders and drivers alike, we now show trip destinations to drivers upfront before they decide to accept the ride. We are also showing drivers the mode of payment (cash or online) before the trip starts. In case of any concerns while using our platform, we also encourage our users to raise complaints through the app for timely and efficient resolution.”
Read Uber Adds Auto-Rickshaws in Dhaka: Transportation Aggregation and Competition
EU’s proposed carbon tariff may affect Bangladesh’s exports
Experts say that the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) through supply chain regulations and trade measures would be a game changer in tackling emissions.
The EU is set to introduce the CBAM, which in effect will make use of trade policy in an unprecedented manner to tackle carbon emissions, they said.
Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, Chairman of Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID), told UNB the EU has been maintaining an emission trading system (ETS) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of high carbon-emitting sectors.
Also read: Power Division, USAID sign agreement to cut carbon emissions.
Carbon price under the EU-ETS reached a record high at EUR 98 per tonne of CO2 on 18 August 2022. Since then it has somewhat fallen and fluctuates around EUR 70, which will be effective in trade in the EU market after 2026, he said.
Dr Razzaque, also an international trade expert, said the embedded carbon content in imports will be priced equivalent to the price of CO2 faced by EU domestic firms under ETS.
The transition phase is 2023-2025 -in this period importers will have to report emissions embedded in their goods without paying any charge, he pointed out.
Also read: IFC-led PaCT helped factories cut carbon and water footprints: BGMEA
The EU and EU parliament is working on such regulation to bring about execution by 2026, which may be shifted to 2027. Once in operation, the importers will have to pay for embedded emissions, buying CBAM certificates, Dr Razzaque said.
If a non-EU exporter establishes a carbon market, the corresponding cost will be deducted from total CBAM charges, he said.
According to the European Commission, the CBAM will initially apply only to a select number of goods at a high risk of carbon leakage, viz., cement, iron and steel, aluminum, fertilizers, and electricity, and will be operational from January 2023, said Md Jillur Rahman, Assistant Professor, Economics Department, Jagannath University.
Read Summit, JERA to collaborate for developing a carbon neutral roadmap
He said that both the European Council and Parliament have adopted their positions on the Commission's proposal for a CBAM.
“The European Parliament proposes a gradual implementation of the CBAM beginning in 2027, and full implementation beginning in 2032 when the free allowances are completely phased out,” Jillur added, who is doing research on CBAM.
The Parliament proposes to broaden the scope of sectoral coverage to include organic chemicals, plastics, hydrogen, and ammonia. Gradually the coverage should be extended to cover all sectors under the EU ETS, he said.
Read MVCs' CSOs demand end to carbon emission instead of 'net-zero' target
Jillur said, the European Parliament, Council, and Commission will now engage in a trialogue (three-way dialogue) and discuss the differing viewpoints of the three institutions. The political process may be completed by the end of 2022 to adopt the final CBAM regulation for the Union.
Professor Abu Eusuf, department of development studies, Dhaka University, said many countries, including India, Vietnam, and China are taking measures to reduce carbon emissions to address the negative impact of climate change in line with the Paris Agreement.
“Bangladesh in its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commits to unconditionally reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6.73 percent (27.56 MtCO2e) from the business-as-usual scenario by 2030,” he said.
Read Climate change to ultimately cost $100,000 per ton of carbon
Prof Eusuf said that subject to technology and know-how transfer, and finance and investment support from the international community, Bangladesh intends to reduce GHS emissions by an additional 15.12 percent (61.9 MtCO2e).
“Bangladesh’s NDC commitments and actions for reducing carbon emissions appear to be much less ambitious compared to other comparable countries. China commits to reducing carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 60 to 65 percent (from the 2005 level) by 2030, while India intends to do the same from 33 to 35 percent,” he added.
The experts said Bangladesh’s major competitors have either already established or are in the process of developing carbon markets locally.
Read Environmental degradation is a burning issue, but its impact is not yet measured: Statistics Secretary
China launched its carbon market in 2021; Vietnam and India are in the process of establishing their internal carbon market. Vietnam wants to formally launch its carbon market in 2028.
The 8th Five Year Plan of Bangladesh aims to introduce green taxation on the consumption of fossil fuels, but it is not clear yet how this will be implemented.
However, no progress has been made so far. Therefore, the CBAM can disproportionately affect Bangladesh relative to other competitors.
Read Govt committed to protect ozone layer: Environment Minister
Disappointment in Bagerhat as Shikdar Bari avoids large-scale Durga Puja celebration for third year running
Preparations for celebrating Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, are going on in Bagerhat with the famous ‘Shikdar Bari Durgotsob’ in limited scale like the last two years following Covid pandemic.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the elaborate puja celebrations organised by the Shikdar family will be on a limited scale for the third consecutive year to protect the rituals, said Shishir Shikdar, member of the family's Shikdar Bari Durga Puja organising committee.
Like the visitors and Hindu devotees, the organisers are also upset because the grand celebration of Durga Puja is not being organised on a large scale. But provided that the pandemic tapers off, from next year Durga Puja will be organised on a large scale like before, Shishir added.
Read: Durga puja: A festival that unites Bangladesh!
The Tradition of Shikdar Bari’s Durga Puja
In 2011, Dr Dulal Krishna Shikdar introduced the grand celebration of Durga Puja with 251 idols at his ancestral home Hakimpur village of the Bagerhat Sadar upazila.
He wanted to raise society's awareness of the value of practicing sanatana dharma (traditional religion, or Hinduism) through the grand puja.
Since then, the number of idols of gods and goddesses has been increasing there every year.
In 2019, Durga Puja was organised with 801 idols of gods and goddesses on the Shikdar Bari Puja mandap.
The celebration became more vibrant and different every year to spread the festival among people of all religions.
Around autumn with the fragrance of Shiuli in the air, millions of visitors and devotees from all over the country, regardless of caste and religion, flock to the spectacular Shikdar Bari’s puja mandap.
The preparations for the celebration of Shikadar Bari Durga Puja ran almost throughout the year. The artisans started making idols six to seven months in advance with straw and clay. Idols were decorated with different colors and different types of ornaments, both local and foreign.
Three months before the puja, the workers would be busy with decoration and lighting work.
Various gods and goddesses of Satya, Treta, Dwapara and Kali Yuga were arranged in this puja mandap as companions of Mahamaya Goddess Durga.
Eminent industrialist Liton Shikdar, son of Dr Dulal Krishna Shikdar, was organising the festival with his own initiative.
Unfortunately, this traditional Durga Puja is being organised in that puja mandap to protect the religious rituals in a limited scale.
UGC warning private unis to maintain standards: Biswajit Chanda
Noted educationist and University Grants Commission (UGC) member Prof Dr Biswajit Chanda has said that the quality of higher studies is directly linked with the quality of a country’s universities.
The UGC member said this during an exclusive interview with UNB.
Asked about the dwindling standard of education at the country’s universities, Biswajit said that the number of seats has to be lowered to maintain standards.
“A class should consist of only 35-50 students. If needed, the number of sections should be increased to accommodate a large number of students. In our country, sometimes there are 2000-3000 students in a single section, which erodes the quality of education to a great extent. The standard of higher education won’t develop if we can’t keep the number of seats in check,” Biswajit said.
Replying to a question, Biswajit added that besides dedicated students, good teachers are also mandatory for increasing the quality of higher education.
“Appointment of competent teachers along with curriculum and skills development are some of the steps that need to be taken immediately to ensure top-notch education. Proper infrastructure and training of teachers also need to be in place. Most importantly, cooperation and participation of students are necessary to create a sound learning environment,” Biswajit added.
Asked about UGC’s monitoring system, Biswajit assured that his organization is constantly monitoring the higher education landscape of the country.
Also read: UGC wants cluster admission system for private universities
“Recently, some questions have surfaced regarding the quality of higher education at some universities, specially the private ones. UGC is repeatedly warning these universities to maintain a certain standard. There are some private universities which are providing world class education nowadays. This shows the impact of UGC’s strict monitoring,” said Biswajit.
Biswajit also informed that UGC is thinking of arranging a six-month-long training program for the university teachers, which the apex academic body is thinking will make the in-person learning process more efficient.
During the interview, the UGC member accepted the fact that there are some loopholes in UGC’s monitoring process.
“UGC’s manpower is much less compared to the large number of private universities in the country. Although we’ve already given some directives on how to provide quality education to the private universities, it’s taking time for us to reap the fruits of our initiative due to the manpower shortage. However, we’re always trying to strengthen our monitoring process,” Biswajit added.
On the quality of Bangladesh’s higher education compared to other countries, the academic said that it depends on the quality of the universities.
“The standard of higher education at some public and private universities of the country is much closer to the world’s leading universities. At the same time, education provided by some universities can’t even match the local standard. As a result, any comparison between Bangladeshi and international universities is bound to be faulty. However, I would say that we’ve progressed a lot in terms of higher education in the last few years,” said Biswajit.
Also read: UGC asks private universities to update syllabuses
It’s the same for public and private universities, Biswajit concluded, adding “Any attempt to differentiate between them is bound to fail. Quality of higher education depends on quality of universities, not on their type.”
Durga puja: A festival that unites Bangladesh!
Suffused with the spirit of love and camaraderie, Durga puja is a festival of unity in Bangladesh.
Be it the minority Hindus or the majority Muslims, all grab this opportunity to throng pandals, dance to the sounds of the dhak (a special percussion instrument) and indulge in delectable bhog during the festival.
In Faridpur, Netrakona and Khulna, for instance, hectic preparations are on for the festival, slated to begin on October 1, with the homecoming of Goddess Durga post-slaying of the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
The largest festival of the Hindu community will culminate with the immersion of idols on October 5.
With Durga puja round the corner, the artisans -- known as the Pals -- are having a busy time giving final touches to the idols of the Goddess.
Also read: DMP commissioner orders ensuring maximum security during Durga Puja
The idols of deities are, in fact, sculpted from mud and straw by the artisans, before being taken to the pandals for worship
Why top Indian FMCG companies are betting big on veggie meat
Taking a cue from a slew of Indian startups, top fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in this country are now betting big on the plant-based meat segment.
At least two Indian FMCG majors -- Tata Consumer Products Limited (TCPL) and ITC -- have recently forayed into the plant-based meat segment, with an eye on vegetarians looking for an alternative to animal protein.
While TCPL is the FMCG arm of Indian salt-to-software conglomerate Tata Group, ITC is the second largest FMCG company by market capitalisation.
As part of Simply Better, the Tata Group company has recently launched four delicious plant-based meat variants -- Nuggets, Burger Patty, Awadhi Seekh Kebab and Spicy Fingers.
The product range is rich in protein, it is trans fat free and has no added preservatives, artificial colours or artificial flavours, according to a TCPL release.
"Plant-based meats are at the forefront of the broader plant protein landscape, aimed at replicating the sensory and cultural resonance of animal-derived meat, but without the associated implications for the environment and health."
Similarly, ITC has recently launched two products -- Incredible' Burger Patties and Incredible' Nuggets -- under its Master Chef IncrEdible brand.
According to ITC's Vice President Froze Ashu Phakey, "The product has been rolled out across e-commerce channels and large retail chains in eight cities as of now as well as to institutional customers."
ITC has attributed its diversification into the plant-based meat segment to a research by GFI India earlier this year. According to GFI figures, over 60% of urban non-vegetarians prefer to eat plant-based meats regularly.
Smart protein and plant-based meats are a generational opportunity to align planetary health stewardship, public health resilience, and economic growth, according to Varun Deshpande, managing director of GFI India.
In the past two years, a number of Indian startups like Shaka Harry and Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma-funded Blue Tribe has entered the plant-based meat segment.
Experts predict the sector to generate USD one billion revenue by 2030. "Urbanites in India are increasingly looking for healthy animal protein alternatives," says Delhi-based nutritionist Dr Sobha Sharma.
Bagerhat fruit farmer eyes foreign markets to expand thriving business
Kamrul Hasan, a farmer from Bagerhat, has found massive success in recent years in cultivating foreign fruits. After racking up revenues of Tk 2.7 million annually selling the yield from his 21-bigha orchard, Kamrul is now thinking of expanding his business by exporting the fruits abroad.
Visiting Kamrul’s orchard in Shiyalkathi village under Bagerhat’s Kochua upazila, UNB found the place filled with numerous varieties of local and foreign fruits, including Dragon Fruit, Malta Fruit, Mango, Guava, Lime, Orange, Pineapple, Wood Apple, Sugar Apple, Custard Apple etc.
Inspired by Kamrul’s work, many people from the area are joining the fruit farming business. Customers are also coming to the orchard on a regular basis to buy fruits directly from the grower.
Read: Drought hampering Aman production in Bagerhat
Even the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has dubbed Kamrul a "successful fruit farmer".
Soaring prices keep hilsa out of Khulna kitchens
When it comes to hilsa, the general rule is that you pay less during the rainy season than in winter.
But this year, even the incessant rains have failed to cool off the prices of the monsoon delicacy, at least in Khulna. In simple words, the gastronome's delight is no longer within the reach of the common people.
Officials attribute the sky high prices of hilsa to spiralling fuel rates and hoarding by unscrupulous fish traders.
Read Hilsa Ilisha: The National Fish and Silver Pride of Bangladesh
"The fishermen are reeling under the impact of spiralling prices of diesel that they need to run their trawlers. Also, those hoarding the fish in refrigerators are responsible for pushing up the prices of ilish," Joydeb Pal, the district fisheries officer, told UNB.
Agreed fishers. "The trawlers we use for fishing, and the trucks and mini trucks used for transportation are all diesel driven. So, the fuel price hike has directly impacted us," said Belayet Mir a fisherman from Barguna.
Some fish traders, however, claimed that the prices of hilsa have gone up in the wake of the government giving 49 business units permission to export 2,400 metric tonnes of hilsa to India for the upcoming Durga puja.
Read: With Hilsa catch declining, Bagerhat fishermen stare at penury
Sheikh Saidul Islam, a fish trader, said, “Due to the government’s multipurpose plan, the production of hilsa has increased. But its prices vary as per the market demand."
Dhaka muslin: Resurrecting the forgotten fabric in Cumilla!
Once the most valuable fabric on Earth, Dhaka muslin has now become almost extinct.
Centuries on, researchers in Bangladesh have resurrected the forgotten enigmatic fabric after six years of effort -- this time, not in Dhaka but in Cumilla.
Once an attire of kings and queens, muslin is a light cotton fabric of plain weave. It got its name from the ancient city of Mosul in Iraq where it was first produced.
Read: Recovering Muslin is our great achievement: Textile and Jute minister
According to the researchers, at least 30 metric counts of cotton fibre are needed to produce a reeled or handwoven muslin yarn. And the yarn produced in this way is so fine that a muslin saree can pass through a ring.
But, somehow muslin became extinct by the end of the 18th century.
At present, over 200 women are producing muslin yarn in Sonapur and Rampur villages of Cumilla’s Chandina and Debidwar upazilas under a project monitored by the Bangladesh Handloom Board (BHB).
Read Recovering Muslin is our great achievement: Textile and Jute minister