Use of social Media in Bangladesh

Social media is an overwhelming reality in Bangladesh's information world. It reaches about half the population and though there are socio-economic and gender divides, the people who matter and whose voices are heard and listened to are on social media. So it's impossible to ignore this  fact of life  

Study of recent trends has become important as it impacts a wide range of activities that lead to short and long term gains. It has attracted considerable investment in every sector and they are looking for profits. At the same time, some sectors are not looking at economic gains but political ones. In fact this sector is a high-stake-holding one because it's hoping to change the regime and therefore gain political and economic power at the state level.  

Apart from that there are the entertainment and e-commerce sectors which have become a new playing field where many sorts of innovations and activities are noted. While these activities are on, the participants and consumer behavior in terms of the social media sector are in a state of hype. The weak information infrastructure on social media itself has produced a great deal of interest and optimism. While there are reasons for the same, an analysis of efficiency and efficacy has been made. So, though the sector is large, it's not yet an organized one with long term performance goals.

That is the usual nature of social media everywhere. But the fact remains that a better insight into socio-economic or political results emanating from its activities would lead to greater gains. That awaits to be done but a few organized study projects have been undertaken. Some preliminary opinions are shared here.

Climate change refers to changes beyond the average atmospheric condition that are caused both by
natural factors such as the orbit of earth’s revolution, volcanic activities and crustal movements and
by artificial factors such as the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases and aerosol. Climate
change by global warming, which refers to the average increase in global temperature, has become a
megatrend that will lead to significant global changes in the future. Concerning its impacts, the UN
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presented considerable scientific evidences in its
fourth report on climate change (2007) and they have become clearly recognized worldwide. In
addition, people have become more aware of the fact that global warming cannot be avoided due to
the continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions and the changes in the climate system. The Club
of Rome Report 1972 officially raised global warming as an international issue and, in 1985, World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) officially
declared carbon dioxide as the principal cause of global warming. In order to effectively cope with the
global warming issue, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was organized in 1988 and
has carried out systematic research and in-depth studies on climate change. 

                                                     The consequences of climate change in Bangladesh

Climate change is the most unpredictable threat to our planet. It is the most pressing issue at the moment over the world. The climate of the earth has changed over the last century. Climate change  is affecting many of the communities and their livelihood through rapid changes in the temperature and rainfall patterns. Bangladesh is recognized worldwide as one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of global warming and climate change. Due to geographic location especially in monsoon, the country is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Due to this problem, many people lost their land, house, and assets. They become homeless. Bangladesh experiences different types of Natural Disasters almost every year because of the Global Warming as well as Climate Change impacts. The following impacts of climate changes have already been observed in Bangladesh: Summers are becoming, hotter, monsoon irregular, untimely rainfall, heavy rainfall over short period causing water logging and landslides, very little rainfall in dry period, increased river flow and inundation during monsoon, increased frequency, intensity and recurrence of floods, crop damage due to flash- floods and monsoon floods, crop failure due to drought, prolonged cold spell, salinity intrusion along the coast leading to scarcity of potable water and redundancy of prevailing crop practices, coastal erosion, riverbank erosion, deaths due to extreme heat and extreme cold, increasing mortality, morbidity, prevalence and outbreak of cholera and diarrhea, etc. Governments should develop national action plans on climate change adaptation and to allocate fixed proportion of national budgets to check on the effects of climate.

Smart Bangladesh

Smart Bangladesh 2041 is a comprehensive blueprint for the future of Bangladesh, focused on building a progressive and sustainable society by leveraging technology. The plan envisions a country that is self-sufficient, innovative, inclusive, and prosperous. It aims to transform Bangladesh into a developed nation by 2041, which marks the golden jubilee of its independence. The key pillars of Smart Bangladesh 2041 are innovation, inclusiveness, and sustainability, which are aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The plan includes a range of initiatives across various sectors, including education, healthcare, energy, transportation, agriculture, and governance. For instance, the government plans to digitize all public services to make them more accessible and efficient. It also aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity to every citizen, including those in remote areas. In the healthcare sector, there are plans to develop a digital health platform that will enable real-time monitoring of patients' health status. The plan also emphasizes the development of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels. Overall, Smart Bangladesh 2041 is an ambitious and forward- thinking plan that seeks to position Bangladesh as a leading player in the global digital economy. If executed successfully, it has the potential to make Bangladesh a model for other developing nations seeking to leverage technology for sustainable development.

International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day is celebrated every year on February 21. It honors linguistic and cultural diversity worldwide. UNESCO proclaimed this day in 1999. The day commemorates the events of 1952 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In 1952, students were martyred for advocating the recognition of their mother language, Bangla. The day highlights the importance of preserving native languages. These languages are crucial for cultural identity and heritage. Events like cultural programs, language festivals, and educational activities are held globally. Schools conduct special classes and activities to raise awareness among students. The day promotes unity and understanding among different linguistic communities.

Bangladesh garments industry has created a breakthrough regarding women's employment in the industrial sector. A supply of cheap and readily available female labor has contributed to the rapid expansion of the ready-made-garments (RMG) Sector in Bangladesh. The hard labor of the millions of female workers has also contributed in making the garments as the highest export earner of the country. However, the work environment of the garment industries is not safe, congenial and healthy for the workers, especially for the female workers. Some of the problems of women workers are related to the human environment of the workplace. This paper focuses on the environment of the workers in the garment sector of Bangladesh and identifies its challenges from a gender perspective.

                                                                     Dhaka Metro Rail

Dhaka Metrorail is a fast public transportation system in Bangladesh. It was planned in 2013 to solve traffic issues in the crowded Dhaka city. The organization in charge is Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited. Originally, there were plans for 3 metro rail lines, but in 2016, it was increased to 5. The first line, MRT Line 6, from Uttara to Motijheel, is 21.26 km long and was chosen for the initial construction. Construction began on June 26, 2016.

JICA and DMTCL aim to build 6 metro lines totaling 128 km by 2030, with 51 elevated stations and 53 underground stations. Together, these lines can carry 4.7 million passengers daily.

The Dhaka Metrorail partially started operating on December 28, 2022, with the Diabari to Agargaon section of MRT Line 6. The Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, inaugurated it and took the first official journey.

It opened to the public on December 29, 2022, initially stopping at Uttara North (Diabari) and Agargaon stations. Pallabi station opened on January 25, 2023. All stations from Uttara to Agargaon were fully operational by the end of March.

Bangladesh, formerly known as East Bengal and East Pakistan, has a historical legacy as a region once part of ancient India. Cultural and trade ties between China and ancient India date back roughly 2,000 years. The historical evidence confirms that Chinese merchants had affluent commercial links with ancient India. P. R. China has maintained bilateral relations with India and Pakistan since its foundation; however, its interactions with each nation remain diverse. Thus, Bangladesh, having been part of both ancient India and Pakistan, shares a long history of collaboration and cooperation with China.  Although Bangladesh–China official diplomatic relations started in 1976, Beijing provided a US$4 million donation to Bangladesh after the floods in 1974 (Chowdhury, 2009). Vice Premier Li Xiannian was the first top Chinese leader to visit Dhaka in March 1978. During the visit, an agreement was signed between the two sides for cooperation in the fields of economy, science, and technology (Datta, 2021). The degree of collaboration between Bangladesh and China since then has constantly been risen. Bangladesh has undertaken various initiatives to uphold and develop the ties during the military regimes. Defense aid from China was central to bilateral ties throughout this period; for instance, in 1975–1980, Bangladesh imported 78% of its arms from China. Bangladesh kicked off its democratic restoration journey in 1991 after 15 years of military rule. During the years 1991 to 2008, Bangladesh and China began solidifying themselves as reliable partners. Bangladesh’s “Look East”6 policy and support for “One China principle”7 converted this relationship into a trustworthy collaboration. Bangladesh celebrated 25 years of diplomatic relations with China by the release of a postal stamp in 2000. The “Bangladesh–China Friendship Year” was observed in 2005. China assisted Bangladesh to get membership in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Regional Forum, and reciprocally, Bangladesh invited China to participate as an observer in SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). However, until the first decade of the 21st century, the relationship between Bangladesh and China was comprised of minor and insignificant trade transactions. The 2010s witnessed unique politico-economic relations by engaging in massive economic and infrastructural deals under BRI, military purchases, FDI (foreign direct investment), and duty-free trade. The relationship eventually developed into a strategic partnership. Bangladesh imported 82% of its arms on credit and soft loans from China from 2009 to 2014. Bangladesh defense forces use Chinese fighter planes, armor, missiles, and Ming-class submarines. Dhaka placed an order for 23 Hongdu K-8W training jets under a deal worth over $200 million on June 20, 2018. Seven of them were already received by Bangladesh in 2020. Chinese and Bangladeshi armed forces have mutual access to training facilities in one another’s military schools, and the defense forces of Bangladesh demonstrate more preference for Chinese weaponry than other countries (Shikha, 2014; Mushtaq, 2018; Bhattacharjee, 2018; Ramachandran, 2019).  Economic cooperation has reached a record level since Bangladesh officially declared its support for the BRI. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Bangladesh in 2016 marked the beginning of a new era in Sino-Bangladesh relations. This landmark visit netted 27 deals worth US$24 billion dollars. Subsequently, China has supported nearly all large-scale infrastructure developments in Dhaka. The primary focus of Chinese investment in Bangladesh has been developing and enhancing crucial infrastructure such as airports, highways, bridges, railroads, and power plants. Beijing has funded $1 billion in digital connectivity and $3.7 billion in the Padma Bridge rail project and built eight friendship bridges in Bangladesh (Bhattacharjee, 2018; Ramachandran, 2019). During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official visit to China in 2019, nine bilateral agreements were signed, covering various areas such as aid for the Rohingyas, economic and technical cooperation, investment, power, culture, and tourism. China declared duty-free status for 97% of Bangladeshi imports in 2020, and a total of 8,256 Bangladeshi export items are now duty-free under the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). China currently holds the top position as Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, FDI contributor, importer, and provider of military weapons (Anwar, 2022; Devonshire-Ellis, 2020).

Education is the most crucial part of children's life because education shapes their lives. Thanks to technology, education has been improving day by day. Students can reach online classes, which is available for every time. Although traditional classes and online classes look similar at first glance, they differ from each other in terms of their availability and flexibility.

First of all, online classes are flexibly scheduled. Therefore, students can access their classes whenever they want because videos have already been recorded. Moreover, students do not have to go any certain place to study. If they have access to the Internet, they can study anywhere. They even do not have to access the Internet, if they download their lectures. So, students can watch their lessons in the subway, for instance. However, they cannot reach their teachers when they have a question mark in their mind. Also, some students open their lecture in a tab but they do not listen or watch it. They just want not to count as absent but teacher can easily notice these students from exam results.

Traditional classes are widely spread and it is believed that the traditional classes are more beneficial because of its discipline. Who can imagine a class without discipline? Discipline is a good way to manage the students. Furthermore, the schedule is stricter in traditional classes compared to online classes. Students must attend the class at a certain time. If they do not attend the class many times, they are kicked from their classes and then they cannot attend not only lectures but also exams. Also, students can interact with their teachers face-to-face, so they can ask their questions immediately. Communication between the teacher and the student influence the quality of education in a good way.

In Bangladesh, offline classes allow direct interaction between teachers and students, helping better understanding and discipline. However, they can be difficult for students living far from schools. Online classes offer flexible learning from home, which is helpful during emergencies like the pandemic. But many students face problems like poor internet and power cuts. While offline classes provide personal contact, online classes offer convenience. A mix of both could improve education in Bangladesh.

it is one of the great speeches all over the world. his bold speech helped us to get freedom. so beyond all, it is very important in our national and international life.

Computer
A computer is one of the best man-made creations that has been developed to help people in various sectors. It has become such an important part of our lives that we find computers everywhere we go. Starting from our school life till our old age, we have many uses for computers. We have become so much dependent on computers that we are using computers for almost everything we do. It is a device that can store an enormous amount of data in it. We are so much dependent on computers that we do not want to put any pressure on ourselves. We blindly store all our data in a computer with a safety passcode. A computer takes up the responsibility and processes the output in no time, hence making our life easier. It collects the data, processes it and then provides the final result to us within a very short time. People in this day and age have become so reliant on computers that they cannot imagine life without them. Computers are significant because of their widespread use, productivity, and openness. Computers are the most needed innovation due to their incredible benefits. Computers are used in every field, like the education sector, hospitals, hotels, etc. If you go for a CT Scan, X-ray, or ECG, you will need a computer to check your body. In case you want to submit a project, you will need a computer. It has become a part of our lifestyle.

The computer is a remarkable piece of science that man has created to help humanity. Computers are in charge of today's reality, and they have unquestionably altered people's lifestyles and the condition of developing countries.

Kawran Bazar, Dhaka 
2nd March, 2024
The Editor
The Prothom Alo
Kawran Bazar, Dhaka 

Subject: Concern about the outbreak of Dengue fever in the city.

Respected Sir,

Through the esteemed column of your newspaper, I wish to bring to the fore Concern about the outbreak of Dengue fever in the city.Dengue Malaria is caused by mosquitoes which breed in dirty and stagnant water especially in overhead tanks, open water ditches and water cooler. Drains and pools are also the major breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
I suggest that a campaign must be launched from your end to eradicate this menace. A newspaper advertisement to make people aware, as well as help in fighting the epidemic will be appreciated. People should be made aware that all stagnant water should have a little oil poured into it to reduce surface tension, keep windows closed, use of mosquito repellent, etc. The corporation should also spray insecticide, around the city preferably in the evening and arrange for cleanliness patrol in the city. I hope that my humble suggestion will give a careful thought for the benefit of the city so that Dengue malaria can be dealt with.

Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Samiya

Would you mind closing the door

Would that I could go there.