Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sep 2007
Bangladesh is the Eastern neighbour of India. Thanks to my dear friend and great photographer Shahidul Alam, UNESCO, Paris invited me to visit DRIK in Dhaka, Bangladesh for an evaluation of the institution and its various arms/functions. In this visit, UNESCO/DRIK under "Artists in Development" programme asked me to hold an exhibition of my pictures at the DRIK Gallery which was an honour. Photos from the show are posted here: http://photos.suchit.in/gallery/4075433_cp3ii/
During the spare time, I got a chance to see the city of Dhaka (Bangla: ঢাকা, pronounced [ɖʱaka]) which is the capital and the largest city of Bangladesh (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ [ˈbaŋlad̪eʃ] Bangladesh). Today's Dhaka has a long story of evolution from the time it was founded during the 10th century. It served as the Mughal capital of Bengal from 1608 to 1704. Before coming under British rule in 1765 it was a trading center for British, French, and Dutch colonialism. In 1905 it was again named the capital of Bengal, and in 1956 it became the capital of East Pakistan. During the Bangladesh war of independence in 1971 the city suffered a heavy damage. In 1982 the spelling was changed from 'Dacca' to 'Dhaka'.
Dhaka is located in the geographic center of the country. It is in the great deltaic region of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers and located on the banks of the Buriganga River. With a population of over 12 million, Dhaka is a major city in the region. It is known as the City of Mosques and renowned for producing the world's finest muslin. Having been the center of Persio-Arabic and Western cultural influences in eastern Indian Subcontinent., today it serves as one of the prime centers for culture, education and business in the region. Bangladesh is the seventh most populous country in the world and is among the most densely populated countries in the world with a high poverty rate. However, per-capita (inflation-adjusted) GDP has more than doubled since 1975, and the poverty rate has fallen by 20% since the early 1990s. The country is listed among the "Next Eleven" economies. Dhaka and other urban centers have been the driving force behind this growth.
Unfortunately Buriganga river, which flows by Dhaka, is now one of the most polluted rivers in Bangladesh because of rampant dumping of industrial and human waste. A World Bank study said four major rivers near Dhaka -- the Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Turag and Balu -- receive 1.5 million cubic metres of waste water every day from 7,000 industrial units in surrounding areas and another 0.5 million cubic metres from other sources. Chemicals such as cadmium and chromium, and other elements such as mercury carried by the industrial waste are also creeping into the ground water, posing a serious threat to public health.
Read MoreDuring the spare time, I got a chance to see the city of Dhaka (Bangla: ঢাকা, pronounced [ɖʱaka]) which is the capital and the largest city of Bangladesh (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ [ˈbaŋlad̪eʃ] Bangladesh). Today's Dhaka has a long story of evolution from the time it was founded during the 10th century. It served as the Mughal capital of Bengal from 1608 to 1704. Before coming under British rule in 1765 it was a trading center for British, French, and Dutch colonialism. In 1905 it was again named the capital of Bengal, and in 1956 it became the capital of East Pakistan. During the Bangladesh war of independence in 1971 the city suffered a heavy damage. In 1982 the spelling was changed from 'Dacca' to 'Dhaka'.
Dhaka is located in the geographic center of the country. It is in the great deltaic region of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers and located on the banks of the Buriganga River. With a population of over 12 million, Dhaka is a major city in the region. It is known as the City of Mosques and renowned for producing the world's finest muslin. Having been the center of Persio-Arabic and Western cultural influences in eastern Indian Subcontinent., today it serves as one of the prime centers for culture, education and business in the region. Bangladesh is the seventh most populous country in the world and is among the most densely populated countries in the world with a high poverty rate. However, per-capita (inflation-adjusted) GDP has more than doubled since 1975, and the poverty rate has fallen by 20% since the early 1990s. The country is listed among the "Next Eleven" economies. Dhaka and other urban centers have been the driving force behind this growth.
Unfortunately Buriganga river, which flows by Dhaka, is now one of the most polluted rivers in Bangladesh because of rampant dumping of industrial and human waste. A World Bank study said four major rivers near Dhaka -- the Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Turag and Balu -- receive 1.5 million cubic metres of waste water every day from 7,000 industrial units in surrounding areas and another 0.5 million cubic metres from other sources. Chemicals such as cadmium and chromium, and other elements such as mercury carried by the industrial waste are also creeping into the ground water, posing a serious threat to public health.
![Dhaka (Bangla: ঢাকা, pronounced [ɖʱaka])— (Dacca) is the capital city of Bangladesh (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ [ˈbaŋlad̪eʃ] Bangladesh). Dhaka, located on the banks of the Buriganga River is a megacity with a population of over 12 million. Dhaka is known as the City of Mosques and renowned for producing the world's finest muslin. it is a center for culture, education and business.](https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Dhaka-Bangladesh-Sep-2007/i-Vpmp28d/1/697528a6/S/Title%2007091267-S.jpg)
syed saiful alam
on September 26, 2009Saving the planet one step at a time
Have you heard of climate change?
Temperatures are getting higher. Storms are getting worse. Ice is melting and sea levels are rising. Portions of the coast of Bangladesh are likely to go underwater, lost forever. Millions will become homeless. The ability of the earth to sustain people is threatened.
Why is climate change happening?
Because people are burning up fossil fuels (diesel, petrol, natural gas, coal) at such rapid rates that future generations are now threatened.
Is it possible to slow climate change?
Yes, but we cannot continue to waste time. Carbon dioxide levels are rising rapidly. That is where the number 350 comes in. If we can limit CO2 in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million then we can avoid the worst of the harm to come.
Is there anything we can do?
No one person cam stop climate change but everyone contributes something significant. We can slow out own use of fossil fuels by walking and cycling and taking cycle rickshaws rather than using motorized transport. We can reduce our use of electricity. We can avoid, as a nation, burning coal (pure carbon) or selling it to others to burn. We can encourage the government to act to encourage reductions in fuel use and to encourage walking, cycling, and rickshaws.
This will mean making some changes. Fortunately most of those changes are likely to
increase rather than reduce our quality of life. Imagine being able to cycle safely in
Dhaka. Imagine the air being fresh and clean. Imagine children and youth being able to play in side streets. If we move our focus from cars to people, from traveling long
distances to accessing basic needs close to home, we can reduce congestion and all the misery it causes, We can have more time with family and for the other important parts of life.
Remember 350 is not just a number. It is not just an ideal. It is something we can all work to make a reality.
www.dhaka-rickshaw.blogspot.com
www.dhaka-transport.blogspot.com
sentanoe
on August 17, 2009nice mr. suchit, great!
Guest
on June 3, 2009very nice collage!