The Chittagong Hill Tracts: Man-Nature Nexus Torn

The Chittagong Hill Tracts: Man-Nature Nexus Torn

Dec 22, 2013 | Adivasis and Forests

“The Chittagong Hill Tracts: Man-Nature Nexus Torn” is a report on the state of environment in the CHT. Once part of a mega-diversity zone in South Asia, the CHT has lost its majestic look. It is now faced with an ecological disaster. The hills are barren today and the forest resources have decreased to great extent.  

The indigenous peoples who had a free run in the forests for generations now witness their nexus with nature torn. This is an unprecedented ecocide for the Chittagong Hill Tracts. This 368-page book compiles facts, analyses, thoughts, critiques, maps, and images about how the natural heritage and the ecology of the CHThasbeen torn to pieces. The destruction of forests and the landscapes, invasion of outsiders, and promotion of plantation economy, to name a few factors, have torn the man-nature nexus in the CHT.

Edited by Philip Gain | English PBK 368 pages, 2013 | Price: Tk. 500 US$20

“The most romantic corner of the country” the CHT, very different from the Ganges-Brahmaputra Meghna (GBM) floodplains and delta, “is beset with environmental and social problems,” observes Prof. Haroun Er Rashid, the geography guru and a contributor to the report. He stresses on the fragility of the region and warns, “If resources of the CHT continue to be used unwisely, as at present, the environment will degrade severely in the next ten years. To prevent that bleak future every resource—trees, rocks, water, soil etc.—will have to be used in a sustainable manner.” Other contributors reinforce Prof. Rashid’s contention.

Different chapters of the report deal with geography and environment, forests, official and illegal logging, plantation [economy], environmental impacts of development projects [Karnaphuli Paper Mill and Kaptai Hydroelectricity in particular] land grabbing, serfdom in the colonial reserves, pillage of the reserved forests (special attention to Reingkhyong, Kassalong, Sangu, and Matamuhuri reserved forests), village common forestry (VCF), bamboo [with an attention to its flowering and rat flood], traditional use of medicinal plants, wildlife [animals and birds] and their threats,  brick-burning, invasion of tobacco, timber and furniture trade, water, stone mining, houses, traditional foods of the indigenous peoples, and impacts of militarization.

An annotated bibliography of books, reports and documentary films on the CHT and the glossary, concepts, and theories relating to the CHT bring useful practical tips for further research and investigation on the CHT environment. We believe this report will guide people to understand the ecological disaster that has happened in the CHT. At the same time, it comes as an eye-opener to the state and the majority who can still play the role in saving the last bits and pieces of nature and repairing the nexus of nature and human beings.

Contributors to the Book: Prof. Haroun Er Rashid, Jenneke Arens, Raja Devasish Roy, Raja Tridiv Roy (late), Philip Gain, Sudibbya Kanti Khisha, Sardar Nasiruddin, M. Monirul H. Khan, Ronald R. Halder, Sayam U. Chowdhuruy, Buddhajyoti Chakma, Partha Shankar Saha, Prof. Sadeka Halim, Asfara Ahmed, Han Han, A.K.M. Muajjam Hossain Russel, Tahmid Huq Easher, Shekhar Kanti Ray, Md. Safiullah Safi, Syeda Nusrat Haque, Supriyo Chakma, Alimul Haque, Robert Alec Lindeman, Asif Khan, Tania Sultana, Ushing Prue, Nimaprue Marma, Ching Mo Sang, Lucky Chakma, and Ainud Sony.

Edited by Philip Gain
English PBK 368 pages, 2013
Price: Tk. 500 US$20

Shores of Tear

Shores of Tear

Dec 21, 2013 | Environment

Together with the Sundarbans, the world’s largest contiguous mangrove forest, the coast of Bangladesh is one of the top wonders in nature.
2013, English, 134 pages, Paperback Tk.200 / US$5

Together with the Sundarbans, the world’s largest contiguous mangrove forest, the coast of Bangladesh is one of the top wonders in nature. Nowhere else in the coasts do people live with man-eating tigers like the people of the southwestern part of Bangladesh. The people living in the coastal districts and islands witness some of the most devastating storms and cyclones that hit periodically. During the past few decades these storms and cyclones have taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the coasts and have caused enormous damages to the biomass that the mangroves sustain. Aside from natural calamities, man-made disasters have also caused serious damage to the coasts and the unique mangroves.

The book, Shores Of Tear edited by Philip Gain and published by the Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) compiles reports, features, and scientific analyses that explain the ever-changing coasts of Bangladesh, its characteristics, and the threats it faces.

Different articles of the book deal with the unique coastal geography, life and struggle of the coastal communities, impacts of two recent storms and cyclone (Sidr and Aila), consequences of prawn aquaculture, scientific analysis of biomass loss of the Sundarbans caused by Sidr, mangroves and key underlying factors for their destruction, the extent and aspects of human-tiger conflict in the Sundarbans forest, and the mitigation measures to combat damages done or may be done due to human actions and climate change effects.

The key message this book communicates is that the shores of Bangladesh are in a sorry state. Natural calamities are inevitable. They hit, kill, and devastate. However, nature recovers from such damages eventually. But the exploitation and disasters that man has inflicted upon the shores seem to be irreversible. This needs to be reversed as much as possible.

Contributors to the Book:  S.G. Hussain, Philip Gain, Abdullah F. Rahman, Bassil El-Masri, A.H.M. Ali Reza, Gertrud Neumann-Denzau, Helmut Denzau, Shekhar Kanti Ray, Partha Shankar Saha, Shanjida Khan Ripa, Ainud Sony, Tania Sultana, and Sabrina Miti Gain.

Publication Details

Published: 2013
Language: English
Paperback: 134 pages
Editor: Philip Gain
Price: Tk.200 / US$5

Energy Challenges and Phulbari Crisis

Energy Challenges and Phulbari Crisis

Dec 21, 2013 | Environment

A 240-page compendium, “Energy Challenges and Phulbari Crisis” intended for the laity in the first place, is an outcome of SEHD’s investigation and involvement into the controversial Phulbari open-cut coalmine. The aggressive approaches of the Bangladesh government and that of an arrogant British company [Asia Energy that changed its name to Global Coal Management PLC] for an open-cutcoalminecauseduproaramong the local people in the Phulbari mine area in Dinajpur district, Northwest of Bangladesh. We are convinced that the local people in the mine area had good reasons to stand strong against the open-cut coalmine and say, “We do not want coal mine”

Edited by Philip Gain, English, PBK 242 pages, 2013, Price: Tk.300, US$15

The local people felt deceived in not being clearly told by the government and the company that an open-cut mine was being planned and they did not see pragmatic approaches for compensation and how to handle an open-cut mine in a densely populated and an agriculturally very productive area.

As time passed, in 2006, the discontent began to heighten. The day, 26 August 2006, was sort of the final day when at least fifty thousand people took to the streets of Phulbari town. The people’s demonstration with sticks and musical instruments in hand was peaceful and unprecedented. It was surprising that the security personnel, all on a sudden, began to shoot, teargas and to baton-charge the demonstrators. Three people were shot dead and many injured. This led to stronger resistance. The company officials had to leave Phulbari and the government came to an agreement with the people represented by the National Committee to Protect Oil Gas Mineral Resources Port and Power.

This was a dramatic development in the history of the resistance movement in Bangladesh. The people’s power was vividly demonstrated. In one section of this compendium, SEHD reports, relevant facts, analyses, images, Prof. Anu Muhammad’s anatomy of the people’s resistance movement, and British mine expert Roger Moody’s critique of Asia Energy’s Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Phulbari coal mine project have been put together. This section of the book helps understand the sentiment of people of Phulbari mine area and the factors that underlie the grassroots revolt.

With the Phulbari coal mine, the local communities and the whole nation is in a crisis and dilemma. In the face of many energy challenges with a very low per capita commercial energy use, the coal is an important discovery for the energy solution. Now how do we seek a balance in this situation? Contributions from some experts on energy help the laity understand energy issues and possibly help form informed opinions, very important in a country like Bangladesh.

Prof. Badrul Imam, Prof. Ijaz Hossain, and Sajed Kamal present overview and analyses on the energy status in Bangladesh, crisis and the factors behind; energy efficiency potentials in Bangladesh; and revolutionary scope of renewable energy.

A brief review of selected literature and documentary films on energy, web resources and a glossary also add value to this compendium. We trust this compendium will make people think and act prudently in dealing with energy issues.

Contributors to the Book: Prof. Badrul Imam, Prof. Ijaz Hossain, Anu Muhammad, Philip Gain, Roger Moody, Sajed Kamal, Partha Shankar Saha, Aneeka Malik, Shekhar Kanti Ray, Tania Sultana, and Ainud Sony.

The Environmental Impacts of the Pulp and Paper Industry in Bangladesh

The Environmental Impacts of the Pulp and Paper Industry in Bangladesh

Dec 21, 2013 | Magazines, Uncategorized

Karnaphuli Paper Mill (KPM), the oldest and largest integrated pulp and paper manufacturer in Bangladesh and a state owned enterprise, has been regularly dumping massive quantities of liquid waste into the Karnaphuli River since it started its operations in 1953. A state owned enterprise showing such disregard for national environmental laws and regulations sets a bad example for other industries in the country. Furthermore, the bamboo and the pulpwood it utilizes as raw materials deplete valuable forest resources to the detriment of those communities that inhabit the forest regions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Asfara Ahmed’s report is an eye-opener for environmentalists and others who are interested in learning more about the current state of the country’s pulp and paper industry and its often overlooked and neglected environmental ramifications.

By Asfara Ahmed
English, PBK 44 pages, 2013
Price: Tk.100, US$5