Environmental refugees are one of the most burning issues at this time throughout the world.Bangladesh, a riverine country, is suffering from acquit riverbank erosion which compels millions of her population to be displaced from their place of origin. As such, 283 locations, 85 towns and growth centers, along with 2400 kilometers of riverbank line in Bangladesh are vulnerable to erosion. The major rivers e.g., the Padma, Findings of a social survey carried out in 2008 on the erosion-hit displaced people in Chapai Nawabganj and Rajshahi districts are discussed in this paper. Newly settled people along with the native inhabitants have been interviewed to reveal the problems associated with making rearrangements for the displaced people. Besides these problems of displacement, adaptation strategies and relationships with the local people, their socioeconomic losses, sufferings, perception of natural disaster and psycho-physical problems, environmental ruins etc. have been revealed in this paper. There are no specific policies to rehabilitate the erosion-hit people. Thus, it is time to formulate policies to address prevention of riverbank erosion as well as to rehabilitate the river-erosion refugees.
Air particulate matter samples were collected using Air Metrics samplers from 11 -17 January and 19 -27 January, 2012 at Amin Bazar and Farm Gate sites, respectively. The sampling time was from 8 a.m. -4 p.m. Three samplers were used of which two samplers were for PM 2.5 samples, using Teflon and quartz filters and the others for PM 10 samples using Teflon filter. Organic and elemental carbons (OC and EC) were measured in PM 2.5 samples at both sites. It has been found that the EC concentration at Amin Bazar is higher than in Farm Gate. The contribution of EC may come from diesel, gasoline and coal/wood combustions in the Amin Bazar site. The present OC/EC data were compared with the previous data. It was found that the concentration of EC became higher than those in the previous year. During last couple of years, Government implemented different policies specially in case of motor vehicles to improve the air quality. But due to the use of diesel in quick rental power plants, the air quality start to deteriorate. BC plays an important role to change the climate. Hence, government should think of alternatives to meet the power demand in place of diesel.
Total suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the urban atmosphere of Dhaka city was collected using a high volume sampling technique for a period of one month (August 2017-September 2017). Chemical characterization of particulate matter (PM) was investigated, and characterized concerning the size distribution, morphological features such as count, total area, average size, perimeter, circularity, aspect ratio (AR), roundness; equivalent spherical diameter (ESD), surface area and volume of PM. The results of elemental analysis showed that the presence of heavy metal in PM was ten to hundred times higher than the standard value prescribed by WHO and USEPA. Several morphological analysis indicated that particles varying in shape from nearly spherical to various irregular shape, had higher surface energy, higher content of Cl and S bearing particles and had a large surface area which can cause greater damage to lungs. The presence of various organic compounds containing functional groups like alcohols, ketones aldehydes, carboxylic acids as well as unsaturated and saturated carbon bonds was observed by FT-IR analysis. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the morphology of the PM. Agglomerates and shoots type particles were mostly seen in SPM.
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