What if someone told you that the entire water of Dhanmondi Lake can be filtered within 21 hours? That too through freshwater mussels? You read right. What many may not be aware of is that mussels act as super-filters – each mussel can filter between 10 and 20 gallons (37.85-75.7 litres) of water every day. Remarkable information on the humble mussel’s key role in improving water quality and aquatic environments came about during a conversation with Dr David C Aldridge and Dr Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury. Dr David C Aldridge, a Professor at Cambridge University’s Department of Zoology, whose work focuses on applied freshwater ecology with a particular emphasis on bivalve molluscs (mussels, oysters, clams), was in Dhaka recently. While in Dhaka, Dr Aldridge gave a presentation at the Department of Zoology of Dhaka University. He also guided a group of MS and MPhil students of DU’s Department of Zoology who will be working in the field over the next 1-2 years. His work has attracted a number of awards, including the World Bank’s Development Award (2006) for sustainable improvement of water quality in developing countries and the Entec Medal (2007) for contributions towards environmental protection. Dr Chowdhury is a Professor of zoology at the University of Dhaka, who obtained her PhD in Zoology (wetland ecology) from the University of Cambridge. A Commonwealth Academic Staff Scholarship and a Wildlife Conservation Society Fellowship are just two of the several honours and scholarships she has received. She works with government, non-government and international organizations. She is a board member of the international conservation organization WildTeam. Her work focuses on conservation of aquatic ecosystems and threatened species in Bangladesh. While talking at WildTeam’s office at Cosmos Centre in Dhaka, Dr Aldridge and Dr Chowdhury elaborated about their work in Bangladesh.  Read more: Many waterways abandoned due to irregularities in dredging Talking about his research in China, Dr Aldridge said, “We worked on declining water quality, comparable to that in Bangladesh. A lot of the lakes, both in Bangladesh and China, suffer from heavy nutrient enrichment – driving algae abundance in the water and a decline in biodiversity.” “My work in China with the World Bank was very much about using natural filter features to remove the algae in some of the lakes and restore the systems towards a cleaner water status. And the work was incredibly successful. We actually managed to clear the water in some lakes using native freshwater mussels that are really important filter feeders,” he went on. “The results were so effective and the water became so clear that plants started to grow on the banks of the lakes that hadn’t been seen for over 30 years. These plants then created a habitat for native invertebrate, and that was better food for fish. “One of the things we’re trying to do in Bangladesh is to develop a similar approach where we encourage important ecosystem engineers like freshwater mussels that can help in developing better quality habitats for all sorts of other aquatic life,” Dr Aldridge said. Referring to their work in Dhaka, he said, “Dr Chowdhury did some very important work for her PhD, looking at the roles that the native freshwater mussels could play in supporting biodiversity in Dhanmondi Lake, which is one of the larger lakes in Dhaka.” “We’re very interested in looking at whether we can encourage freshwater mussels to restore the degraded water quality, to make better quality ecosystems. And we also want to combine that with growing pearls in the freshwater mussels so that local people get an enhanced livelihood,” he added. With an additional source of income, degraded waterbodies can be restored and everyone wins, Dr Aldridge and Dr Chowdhury were of the opinion. Talking about her PhD project, Dr Chowdhury said, “During the dry season, we looked at the function of mussels in the Dhanmondi Lake nearshore zone. Mussels were abundant when 50 locations, between one and three metres from the shore, were sampled. According to our calculations, mussels can filter the lake’s water in just 21 hours. And it is done by two species of freshwater mussels.” Not all lakes and waterbodies in Dhaka are in as promising condition as Dhanmondi Lake, however, according to the researchers. They visited several lakes and rivers in and around Dhaka and observed that the mussel populations are perhaps declining. Some lakes in Dhaka have no mussels at all. The water is too polluted, and that is cause for concern, they said. Regarding the prospect of encouraging freshwater mussel population growth to restore degraded water quality and combining that with pearl farming, the duo visited Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) facilities that play a significant role in cultured pearl. “We met the BFRI DG, and visited their farm. We’re hoping to set up a collaboration between BFRI and my research group at Cambridge University as well as Dr Chowdhury’s team, so that we can help to collectively develop this project,” Dr Aldridge said. There are, however, challenges that pose threats to the aquatic “super filters”. According to Dr Aldridge and Dr Chowdhury: Freshwater mussels are very important in ecosystems because as filter feeders, they remove algae from the water that helps to push freshwater ecosystems away from low oxygen, low biodiversity state. But this also relies on freshwater mussels being healthy and being able to live in those ecosystems. In Bangladesh’s southwest coastal region, increased salinity of waterbodies – linked to climate change – might interact with their ecosystem engineering functions. The more stressed mussels are, the less effective they are going to be as ecosystem engineers. This also affects the mussel population. How adaptable the mussels might be will be a decisive factor in this regard. If the rate of change in salinity in the rivers is quite modest, the mussels can adapt and respond. If there are sudden changes, then the mussels may not be able to survive, resulting in a collapse in the ecosystem services. 

Structural engineers, soldiers, paramedics and handlers with trained search dogs are heading to Turkey and Syria to help locate and rescue survivors of Monday’s earthquake. Here's a glance at the assistance that's being provided: — The European Union has mobilized search and rescue teams to help Turkey, while the bloc's Copernicus satellite system has been activated to provide emergency mapping services. At least 13 member countries have offered assistance. — The United States is coordinating immediate assistance to Turkey, including teams to support search and rescue efforts. In California, nearly 100 Los Angeles County firefighters and structural engineers, along with six specially trained dogs, were being sent to Turkey. — Russian rescue teams from the Emergencies Ministry were sent to Syria, where Russian military deployed in that country already has sent 10 units comprising 300 people to help clear debris and search for survivors. The Russian military has set up points to distribute humanitarian assistance. Russia also has offered help to Turkey, which has been accepted. — War-ravaged Syria called for the United Nations and its members to help with rescue efforts, health services, shelter and food aid. Both government-held territory and the last opposition-held enclave were damaged by the earthquake. — The International Committee of the Red Cross has sent enough surgical material to treat 100 people to one of the public hospitals in the Syrian city of Aleppo. More medical equipment is on its ways to Aleppo, Latakia and Tartous. The Red Cross also is donating canned food, blankets, mattresses and other essential items for distribution in the many shelters being set-up in affected areas. — The Israeli army is sending a search and rescue team of 150 engineers, medical personnel and other aid workers to render lifesaving aid in Turkey. The two countries are mending ties after years of tensions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has also approved a request for humanitarian aid for Syria. Israel and Syria do not have diplomatic relations. — Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said the Palestinian Authority will dispatch two humanitarian missions to assist in Syria and Turkey. The aid missions will include civil defense and medical teams. — Neighbor and historic rival Greece is sending Turkey a team of 21 rescuers, two rescue dogs and a special rescue vehicle, together with a structural engineer, five doctors and seismic planning experts in a military transport plane. — The Lebanese army says it will send a team of 15 members of the miltiary’s engineering regiment to neighboring Syria to help in rescue operations in government-held parts of the country. Tuesday’s announcement came a day after the army sent 20 members of the same regiment to Turkey to help rescuers there who are racing to find survivors. — One of Libya’s rival governments said it will dispatch a 55-member team to Turkey to help in rescue efforts. The government of Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah said the team would include rescuers, medical members along with four dogs. — Spanish medical workers will set up a field hospital in Turkey to treat the wounded. Spain has mobilized troops and drones from the country’s Military Emergency Unit to Malatya airport, where the Turkish authorities have installed an international aid center. Spain will also contribute to aid efforts through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Spain will also contribute to rescue efforts in Syria through NGOs operating there. — Germany’s THW civil protection agency is sending a 50-member rescue team to Turkey on Tuesday. A team from the group International Search and Rescue Germany, with 42 experts and seven dogs, has arrived in Turkey and is heading to Kirikhan, near the Syrian border. Germany also has been readying deliveries of emergency generators, tents, blankets and water treatment equipment. — South Korea will dispatch a 60-person search and rescue team and 50 troops and send medical supplies to Turkey. The government also says it is providing an initial $5 million in humanitarian support, and the Gyeonggi provincial government plans to provide $1 million in humanitarian assistance. — Pakistan has sent one flight of relief supplies and another carrying a 50-member search and rescue team. The government says daily aid flights to Syria and Turkey will start Wednesday. — Britain is sending 76 search-and-rescue specialists with equipment and dogs, as well as an emergency medical team, to Turkey. The U.K. also says it’s in contact with the U.N. about getting support to victims in Syria. — India is sending 100 search and rescue personnel from its Natural Disaster Response Force to Turkey, as well as specially trained dog squads and equipment for relief efforts. Medical teams with trained doctors, paramedics and essential medicines are also ready, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. — Taiwan is sending 130 rescue squad members, five search dogs and 13 tons of equipment to Turkey. Interior Minister Lin Yu-chang said the first group left for Turkey late Monday and another was sent Tuesday. Taiwan earlier said it would donate $200,000 to Turkey. — Swiss rescue dog service REDOG is sending 22 rescuers with 14 dogs to Turkey. The government said it would also send 80 search and rescue specialists to the country, including army disaster experts. — The Czech Republic is sending Turkey a team of 68 rescuers, including firefighters, doctors, structural engineers and also experts with sniffer dogs. — Japan is sending a group of about 75 rescue workers to Turkey. — Austria has offered to send 84 soldiers from a military disaster relief unit to Turkey. — Poland is sending Turkey 76 firefighters and eight trained dogs, with equipment. — Romania is sending specialized personnel and material to Turkey on two military aircraft. — Croatia is sending 40 personnel and 10 dogs, rescue equipment and vans to Turkey. — Serbia is sending 21 rescuers and three liaison officers to Turkey. — Montenegro is sending at least 24 firefighters to Turkey. — Moldova's president says 55 rescue workers have been sent to Turkey. — France is dispatching rescue teams to Turkey. — Jordan is sending emergency aid to Syria and Turkey on the orders of King Abdullah II. — Mexico’s foreign affairs secretary said the country will send equipment and rescue specialists to Turkey. — Egypt has pledged urgent humanitarian aid to Turkey. — Italy’s Civil Protection Agency has offered assistance to Turkey. A firefighting team was preparing to leave from Pisa, and the Italian military says transport flights will carry equipment as well as health and other personnel. — New Zealand is providing $632,000 to the Turkish Red Crescent and $316,000 to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to deliver items such as food, tents and blankets, as well as provide medical assistance and psychological support. — China’s Red Cross Society is providing the Turkish Red Crescent and the Syrian Red Crescent with $200,000 each in humanitarian assistance.

Bangladesh and Japan can develop “ICT bridges” as the latter faces shortage of young ICT engineers, says a Japanese expert. “The two countries can support each other. I hope young Bangladeshis go to Japan and have some experience… It is not a one-way support,” Dr Kano Tsuyoshi, co-founder and CEO of ICT for Development (NPO), Japan, told UNB today. Responding to a question, Dr Kano, also an associate professor at Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Japan said he is eager to support young Bangladeshi ICT engineers. Read Present world is not of competition but collaboration: Palak While talking to this correspondent at Jatiya Press Club (JPC), the Japanese expert said digital human resources are one of the important factors for the ICT sector’s development in Bangladesh. “Digital human resources in Bangladesh can be ICT bridges between the country and Japan,” said the Japanese expert. He said if young Bangladeshi professionals go to Japan and come back to Bangladesh after 10 to 20 years, both countries will be benefitted.   Dr Kano said Japan has a big challenge — shortage of ICT engineers — because it is becoming an “aging society” and the number of young people is inadequate. Read: Bangladesh gets drug, precursor test kits from Japan through UNODC “Young ICT engineers are not many in Japan,” he said, adding that in Bangladesh, many young people do not get jobs immediately after graduation, even in the ICT sector, due to lack of required skills. The Japanese expert said these two challenges — shortage of ICT engineers in Japan and shortage of good jobs in Bangladesh — can be addressed through cooperation and collaboration. Dr Kano, who is visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japanese Embassy in Dhaka, is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Tuesday. Read IBBL ICT wing holds discussion, hosts iftar party He said both soft and hard skills can be obtained through global experiences and the two countries can make ICT business relationships stronger. The number of Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh has tripled in the past 10 years with an increased attention from ICT companies (offshoring, development center, recruitment, etc.).  On Sunday, he delivered a lecture on “ICT Bridge between Bangladesh and Japan” at ICT Division, joined by more than 100 people – government officials, industry people and students. Read KUET partners with Huawei to set up ICT academy

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has urged engineers in power sector to work sincerely to ensure customers’ satisfaction.