NATURAL CALAMITY OF BANGLADESH

Bangladesh is a land of natural calamity. People here survive fighting against the natural disasters like flood, cyclone, drought, etc. Recently people have become very much concerned about a calamity and that is earthquake. So RAJUK (Rajdhani Unnayan Katripakshya) has taken strict steps and now a high-rise building is planned in a shock-resistant process to avoid the unexpected massive destruction of earthquake. The number of floors of a building is suggested by the experts of RAJUK. Keeping safety stairs in multi-storeyed buildings is now very common. The designers follow the earthquake resistant building code. It is noted that Bangladesh lies in the active earthquake zone. So, it is a threat to us. Although there are a number of fault lines in the geographical area comprising Bangladesh, none of them is active enough to pose a major threat. But to avoid the possible danger this city must be designed in a planned way. For this, the experts should work with much care while giving permission for constructing a multi-storeyed building.

OUR NATIONAL FLAG

A national flag is the symbol of a nation's sovereignty or independent identity. It introduces the country to the whole world. Every independent country has a national flag of its own. We live in an independent and sovereign country. We have our own national flag. Our national flag is the greatest achievement in our national flag. It is our pride and glory. In 1971, we achieved our freedom through the Liberation War and had a new country named Bangladesh and her flag. Our flag is green with a red circle at the center. The green colours symbolizes the peaceful youthfulness of this green country and the red circle symbolizes the sun of freedom which rises or a renaissance or awakening and the sacrifice of blood by the martyrs. The proportion of the length and breadth of our flag is 10:6 and the radius of the red sun is one-fifth of its length. The designer of our national flag is Hamidur Rahman. On our government office buildings, the national flag is hoisted. In the other countries where there are our high commission offices, our flag is hoisted. In the UNO our country's flag is also hoisted. Even while our army personnel on their duty in peace-keeping missions in foreign countries also bear the flag. Our president, prime minister and other ministers move in flagged cars. We, the people of the country, are determined to keep its respect high at any cost.

TREE PLANTATION

Trees exerts much influence on the climate condition of a country. They are responsible for maintaining ecological balance throughout the world. Trees are essential for our life. We cannot think of our existence without trees. They are related to our life in many ways. Tree plantation means planting trees in large number following proper system. Trees supply us with food, shelter, fuel, furniture and medicine. They keep our environment fresh. They also add beauty to nature. They supply us with oxygen and take carbon dioxide. They save the land from erosion. Besides trees give us fruits which satisfy our food requirement partially and supply us with vitamins and minerals. People cut down trees for different purposes. It is creating danger for us. The earth is growing unfit for our living. So we should plant trees every year. We should expand the area of plantation and take care of the planted trees. We should keep in mind that the more are the trees, the healthier is the environment.

MOHAKHALI FLYOVER

Flyover is a road. It is built over another road to avoid traffic signals. In very big cities and towns there are flyovers. There are too many buses, trucks and cars in the busy cities. During office and school time, there is a long queue of traffics causing traffic jam. People can go through the flyover. They can save time. In the Dhaka City there is a flyover at Mohakhali. It is 1.8km long. Its width is 14.63m excluding the sidewalks. The flyover is built on 51 pillars. Four cars can ply on the flyover at a time. The center of the flyover is 7m high from the ground. A Chinese company has constructed it. About 13.6 millions Taka was spent to build the flyover. There is another flyover at Khilgaon in Dhaka.

WORK POSITIVELY AND BE SUCCESSFUL

Rafi is an educated, unemployed youth living in Dhaka. After obtaining his Master's Degree, he started looking for a job with a high hope. But trying for a few months and being unsuccessful in every attempt, he became frustrated. One day he decided that he would leave the idea of searching for a job. He hit upon a plan that he would work for his own. He will invest his time, energy and talent for himself. He has good knowledge of computer. He completed a course on graphics design. He set up his own shop in the Motijheel area on rent at the ground floor of a building. He also did a little bit of advertisement. He told his friends about his business. He visited many offices in the Motijheel area for giving him work on graphics design like book covers, posters, visiting cards and other designing tasks. He worked hard to make communication with people initially. After a few weeks, he started getting orders for work. He got sufficient work orders from the second month of his business. He was delighted at his achievement. Since then he has been working independently. He is his own boss. Today he is a successful businessman. He has own house, car and a happy family.

CORRUPTION IN BANGLADESH

Corruption is an issue of serous concern in Bangladesh. It has turned into a society cancer. It is like termite nibbling at the fabric of society. Corruption is the use of public sources for private purposes. The country is suffering from corruption since its birth in 1971. Bangladesh has clinched championship for five consecutive years as the world's most corrupted nation. It is a major challenge for the government at the moment. There are many forms of corruption in Bangladesh including bribery, smuggling, misuse of power, nepotism, deprivation of legal rights and delay in work etc. The lure of filthy lucre, desire for luxury living, etc are the urges that drive many officials to practice corruption. Corruption is frequently practiced in government offices and private companies. The police and the education departments are the cesspit of corruption nowadays. Lust for money, poverty, unemployment, social degradation, availability of arms and political patronage are also the reasons for doing corruption. A strong political will to combat corruption is a must. The government must act in unison to fight corruption.

THE 21ST FEBRUARY

The 21st February is a red letter day in our history. This day has historical importance in the history of Bangladesh. The Language Movement of 1952 paves the way to our Liberation War. Many historians think that the Language Movement was the starting point of the Liberation War . On 21st February 1952, during the time of Pakistani ruling, some valiant sons of our country laid down their lives for our mother tongue, Bangla. Since then, the day has been observed as our Shaheed Day commemorating the sacrifice of the language martyrs. But since 2000, this day has been recognized by the UNO as the International Mother Language Day. And so the importance of the 21st February has become greater. However, 21st February is now observed all over the world as a memorable day. In our country it is observed as a national mourning day. The National Flag is hoisted half mast to mark the day. On this day people of all classes walking up early in the morning bring out a procession called Probhat Ferry. Everybody in the procession walk bare footed and sing the sad song, "Amar bhaeer rakte rungano...... Amiki Bholite Pari.." They put on black badges on their breast or shoulder and go in procession to the Shaheed Minar. They express their respect to the martyrs by offering flowers and wreath at the foot of the Shaheed Minar. They also arrange meetings and seminars to mark the day. Our newspapers bring out special features of the day. The TV and radio put up special program highlighting the significance of the day. In fact the significance of the day in our national life is very great.

SOUND POLLUTION

Pollution is probably the most talked word of the world. It is in fact the process of making the elements of the environment dirty or harmful. Our environment is polluted in various ways and forms. Sound pollution is one of the forms of environmental pollution. It refers to the intolerable level of sound. The normal tolerance limit of sound is 45 decibels. When sound exceeds this limit, it becomes polluted. Sound pollution is created due to many reasons. The main reasons are rapid growth of population, increasing use of machines, vehicle horns, indiscriminate use of microphones etc. The effects of sound pollution are serious. It affects our daily life badly. It is very harmful for the patients. It interrupts the attention of study of the students. Often it makes people aggressive. People may also go completely mad due to sound pollution. So, it is a bare necessity that we stop sound pollution at any cost. To prevent sound pollution some places are declared 'silent zone'. Silent zone means a place where there is little or no sound. In other words, high sound is prohibited in such areas. Library, hospital etc. are such places. We can control sound by careful town planning and developing public awareness. The law enforcing agencies can also play a vital role in this regard.

DENGUE FEVER

Dengue fever is a viral fever. No other fever is so dangerous as this. Aedes is a kind of mosquito that carries this virus. It lays eggs on clean and standing water. It also lays eggs on standing water of the plastic bottles, plastic pots, tires, coconut shells, etc. If an Aedes mosquito bites anybody, dengue virus gets into his body. The person attacked with dengue fever feels severe pain in the whole body. He feels headache, nausea, dizziness and gets red spots at different parts of the body. He also gets temperature of 104 - 105 degree Fahrenheit of dengue fever. The victim should drink much water and take a lot of vitamin C. He should consult a doctor immediately and take medicine accordingly. To prevent this disease people should be aware of the danger of disease. They must keep their surrounding clean. They must not allow any water stand in the house for 2-3 days. Check up the pitchers and other sources where water remains stagnant for days.

INTERNET

Internet is the latest medium of communication. This is a speedy system of transmitting information with the help of computer and computer networks. Internet is regarded a milestone of the modern world of communication. It is, in fact, a network of communication. In Bangladesh internet has opened a new dimension in our communication system. Both BTTB and our government have taken active initiatives for its better implementation in our country. The use of internet in our country is still limited and costly. Modern age is the age of information. Information is stored and we find them through internet. Now the world of commerce has been changed by it. Internet based e-commerce has become most popular to many customers because they can buy or choose anything without going to a market. Educational institutions are also taking its advantages. Many students are communicating with their teachers, libraries and among themselves with the help of internet. One each student will have access to internet and take its maximum benefits.

IMPORTANCE OF RADIO

The importance of radio in our lives is very great. It has been entertaining people from mid-20th century. It influences our lives in many ways. It broadcasts educational, cultural, political, religious, meteorological programs and so on. By listening to the radio, people can be aware of these. In developing countries like ours: radio, television, computer and some other instruments have become the media of entertainment. But it is a matter of sorrow that very few people in towns and cities listen to the radio. Specially rural people are interested to listen to the radio. In rural areas, it has become a kind of companion medium. Rural people buying a radio or a transistor feel very proud. In a word, radio plays a very important role in influencing our lives.