ClimateWire's Flooding, Food and Climate Change in Bangladesh

LISA FRIEDMAN is writing a series of stories on Bangladesh and climate migration for ClimateWire. Here are some excerpts from first two installments of that series.

Thanks,
Babu

Bangladesh endures ugly experiments in 'nature's laboratory'
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/03/09/09climatewire-ugly-experiments-in-natures-laboratory-10035.html

"Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries on earth, has almost no control over the cause. Here, the average person emits about 0.3 tons of carbon dioxide each year -- compared to about 20 tons annually for the average American."

"But when it comes to seeing the effects of climate change, Bangladesh has a ringside seat."

"Already, hydrologists in Bangladesh say, catastrophic floods that once were expected every 20 years are happening almost every four years."

The road from growing rice to raising shrimp to misery
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/03/09/09climatewire-the-road-from-growing-rice-to-raising-shrimp-10034.html

"Water risks are a part of life in this low-lying country dominated by the reaches of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers. But scientists and environmental activists said the September flood, which happened during a lunar high tide, was deeply unusual for the time of year."

"For many years, floods have been bringing saline water further inland, destroying the rice fields that once sustained the villages. Shrimp farms, many built with World Bank investment, have rapidly replaced the rice paddies."

"But residents say the shrimp farms employ a fraction of the people needed to harvest rice. At the same time, a cheap form of food, rice, is being replaced with a pricey one. The Bangladesh government earns more than $400 million annually in shrimp exports, but few Bengalis can afford to eat it themselves."

"Now villagers in Gabura and parts of flood-prone southwest Bangladesh say it might finally be time to leave for good. Dozens of families interviewed along the coast said they have lived the close-knit village life for generations, and they're familiar with the rhythm of temporarily moving along when things get bad. The difference now, they say, is that brothers, husbands and uncles are leaving for the cities in greater numbers than ever before -- and this time, they're not coming home."

Breaking news: 2 more army officer killed in helicopter crash in Tangail

I did not see the whole news yet. Bangladeshi cable TV channel is showing text news in the bottom of the screen.

Army helicopter crashed in Tangail. Three army officers killed. Two of them are Major General Rafiqul Islam (GOC of Jessore) and lieutenant colonel Shahid.

Okay, now it is showing: Two army officer killed and one taken to the hospital.

Is this the beginning of the end?

Thanks,
Babu

Sorry that we did not help you

When we were threatened and ask your help

You put your life in the line

You came to rescue us

But when you were threatened inside that building,

And ask for `our` help

We did n0t go;

No one went in to rescue you

We played politics

SORRY

Justice?

Hmm, how could we talk of justice with any confidence?

We are under the rules of Pharaohs

We seek justice from no one, but God Almighty

And be sure, He will provide

Please forgive us

Dude, Where's My 'Alubokhra'?

It's funny that I just started reading "Dude, Where's My Country?" by Michael Moore. (Yeah, I know, kind of late). With all my luck, here come this news. I wonder, what would Mr Moore have faced? Good thing he only wrote about `the leader of the free world`. Better yet, good thing that he wrote it in here, not there. Don't you think?

Thanks,

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'Alubokhra'?Amar Desh 2009/02/24 (First page)
http://www.amardeshbd.com/dailynews/detail_news_index.php?NewsID=213178&NewsType=bistarito&SectionID=home&VJF=QBZRZZFZ&oldIssueID=2009/02/24

Bangladesh official loses plum job over fruit jibe
"Bangladesh' s top information official was sacked Monday for ridiculing the country's founding leader in a poem which compared him to a dried plum"
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5icULUoHMVHS-S3q6q8OsFOfrzd0g

Bangladesh on Monday sacked its top information official for penning a poem comparing the country's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to a "dried
plum".

Newspaper published excerpts from his 2006 poem that compared Rahman with a "dried plum"

The publisher of the book has already closed its outlet at the annual Ekushey Book Fair on the Bangla Academy premises in Dhaka.

Bangladesh sacks official for alleged remarks against Mujibur
23 Feb 2009
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Bangladesh-sacks-official-foralleged-remarks-against-Mujibur/articleshow/4179153.cms

Two sedition cases were filed yesterday against the force-retired information secretary on charges of writing a satirical verse on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members and publishing malicious remarks subversive to the state.

One case was also filed against the publisher of the book 'Baganey Phutey Achhey Anek Golap', accusing him of publishing a controversial book about a great leader and his family.

In the book, the writer referred to Bangabandhu as Latifur Rahman and also called him 'Alubokhra' (plum), he referred to Sheikh Kamal as Kamalakoli, Sheikh Jamal as Jamtoli and Sheikh Russel as Roskoli, the complainant said.


(No respite for Abu Karim, Wednesday, February 25, 2009)
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=77353

(Amar Desh, 2009/02/25 First page)
http://www.amardeshbd.com/dailynews/detail_news_index.php?NewsID=213355&NewsType=bistarito&SectionID=home&GCT=AVNBHWKT

What's for dinner? Ask Dipu and Hasan

What's for dinner? Ask Dipu and Hasan. It looks like they are cooking up something. I hope it will be delicious.

Is Bangladesh backtracking from long held position? Are we willingly and foolishly admitting (without any sort of intelligence) that BD is involved? I remember when THE ADVISOR of current Prime Minister visited bay area few years back. He said Bangladesh is involved in almost all of the international T activity. Is this the implementation of that theory?

"Bangladeshi minister for foreign affairs Hassan Mahmud has hinted that terrorists, who launched the November 26 Mumbai attacks, may have
used Bangladeshi soil." What?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2611-Bangladesh-minister-hints-at-Dhaka-link/articleshow/4155682.cms

Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni is comparing Bangladesh-to-India with Mexico-to-USA. What? She is also giving up a long held position of Bangladesh on push-in issue.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/stopping-illegal-migration-to-india-tough-bangladesh/85558-2.html

Few days back, Dipu Moni has agreed that Banladesh is a buffer state of Pakistan. AL spokesperson later tried to undermine that issue by saying Dipu may not have understood what a buffer state is. Give me a break. I am from her constituency. I can assure you with full confidence, what ever she might be, she is not a dumb girl. No sir, she is not.

I see a consistent propaganda from BD's own ministry (what used to be India's talking point). Is BD's Foreign Ministry now India's forward taking point?

Bangladesh's position in international policy arena will be diminished before you know yet.

She is saying "joint taskforce" more often then she is saying her own name. This is a very serious issue. What will that force be look like? Will Indian Army enter in BD? Will Indian air force round BD's air? Will their missile hit BD targets? If Dipu/Hasan continues to talk like this, in a few days, even I will start to agree with her, YES BRING THEM IN.

Am I being too skeptical? Could it be just a conspiracy theory? You may say that and I hope and pray that you are right. What if you are not?

Thanks