Author: Fatema Akter Mary

There are many reasons of global warming around the world and it has disastrous effects on us. Greenhouse effect is the main cause of global warming. The rise in the atmospheric temperature is known as greenhouse effect. Our atmosphere is guarded by an ozone layer which resists the entrance of ultra-violet rays from the sun. But deforestation around us and the increased amount of carbon dioxide, methane and chloro-floro carbons affect that layer. The heat of the sun enters directly into the atmosphere of the earth. Scientists are worried about this increased heat because it is melting the ice in the polar-regions. If this process continues for a long time, the layer of water in the oceans will rise and flood coastal areas and farm lands of Bangladesh. besides, this will reduce mankind’s ability to grow food, destroy or severely damage wildlife and wilderness. So, greenhouse effect is the main cause of global warming along with deforestation and rise of CFC gas. So, in order to solve this problem, we have to prevent or reduce the amount of emission of greenhouse gases. (Words : 182)

Arsenic, a fatal and poisonous material, when mixed with water especially tubewell water, causes arsenic pollution. Arsenic is a poisonous white compound of brittle element. Arsenic poisoning occurs when its intake exceeds the limit of tolerance. There are a number of causes of arsenic pollution. Due to some chemical reactions taking place in the underground, the metal arsenic changes into liquid arsenic and pollutes the underground water when extracted via tubewell. Excessive use of tubewell water is also another cause of arsenic pollution. Arsenic poisoning becomes chronic when a small amount of it enters a body repeatedly. It is then converted into less toxic form in the liver and exerted with urine. Arsenic has got some life threatening effects. Arsenic badly affects different parts of the body such as skin, heart, stomach, liver, kidney and bone. It can cause the skin to peel off and can bring about rapid hair loss. Long term poisoning may cause even death. Constant itching, cough and ophthalmia are also signs of arsenic attack. Public awareness and identification of arsenic affected tubewells may avert arsenic pollution to some extent. (Words : 184)

Changes in the earth’s weather including changes in temperature, wind patterns and rainfall are referred to as climate change. It is now a major global concern. Greenhouse gases that include carbon dioxide, methane and CFC are the main causes of this climate change. Our atmosphere which is guarded by an ozone layer resists the entrance of ultra-violet rays from the sun causing greenhouse effect. Climate change is the worst of all the problems that affect all the flora and fauna of the environment. There are many plants and animals that are vulnerable to climate change. The summer and rainy seasons are already prolonging and winter is shrinking. The river banks are being eroded and crop land is being reduced. Besides, saline water is intruding into the rivers in the coastal areas resulting in damage to farm lands. Moreover, floods, droughts and other disasters hit the country more frequently nowadays. Over the past century, sea level has risen by 10 to 20 centimetres as a result of global warming. The Sundarbans, world’s largest mangrove forest is also at severe risk. All these lead to more landless people and climate refugees in the country. (Words : 192)

Price hike or the increase of price of the daily essential commodities is the most talked about issue at the present time. The price of the daily commodities is soaring sky high to go out of reach of the poor and the lower middle class people of our country. There are a lot of causes behind this price hike. Hoarding of essential commodities by the dishonest businessmen is one of the causes of price hike. Smuggling and black marketing by traders and people in general are also important factors causing price rise. Many dishonest men have earned huge black money through black marketing. This has caused great suffering to the people. Shortage of supply due to low production also accelerates the price hike of essential goods. At present syndicate business has added to this plight. Due to inflation price hike is more acute in our country. As a result of price hike, the poor and the lower middle class people suffer intolerably. Government mechanism to curb price hike is defective. Public awareness against illegal hoarders of the daily necessaries, smugglers and black marketeers can remove this curse from the country. (Words : 190)

Acid violence is one of the most heinous and atrocious crimes of modern civilization. In most cases girls, women and children are the victims of acid violence. Sometimes this crime is caused due to personal conflict, social cause and family affairs etc. Another cause is rejection of love or marriage proposals by the girls. Besides, in case of delay for paying the dowry, the bride falls a victim to acid throwing. Moreover, when a jilted lover fails to win the heart of his beloved, he takes to acid throwing out of revenge. Again, it so happens that the parents of a girl give her in marriage with another man defying the love affair of their daughter. Then the male lover, finding no other alternative, throws acid on the face of the girl whom he loved dearly a few days ago. The effect of acid throwing is very destructive. In most cases, the victims succumb to injury and even to death. Those who survive, drag a miserable existence. They are either crippled or paralysed. The victims also possess a terrifying and distorted appearance. Sometimes the victims lose their mental balance. (Words : 190

There are many causes of sound pollution having harmful effects on human body and mind. Sound pollution occurs when the vibration of sound is harsh, sharp and unpleasant to the ears. Acute sound pollution occurs in towns, cities and industrial areas. There are many causes of sound pollution. Enormous growth of human population and increasing use of machines in industrial works are among the main causes of sound pollution. Hydraulic horns and whistles of different motor vehicles plying on the roads also causes serious sound pollution. The grinding sounds of mills and factories also contribute to sound pollution to a great extent. Listening to music using microphones and loudspeakers, beating various kinds of drums, shouting of slogans on the roads also cause serious harmful sound pollution. Sound pollution causes many fatal diseases like heart attack, hyper tension, blood pressure, deafness etc. The normal growth of the children and the patients in hospitals are greatly affected by sound. It often hinders the students to concentrate on their studies. It is man and the environment. That can avert sound pollution for a healthy and happy life. (Words : 184)

Natural hazards/ calamities pose a great threat to the ecological balance of a country. Natural hazards/calamities such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes and erosion etc. are very destructive by nature. These calamities have negative impact on the life and economy of a country. Flood is the most common devastating force of nature. It usually occurs due to heavy downpour during the rainy season and causes untold sufferings to the people and property. The after effect of the flood is more pathetic. Cyclone also causes a lot of sufferings to the people. But the miseries of severe cyclones like SIDR, Ayla, Hurricane beggar description as they take away a huge number of lives and damage the whole area. Drought, another natural calamity hinders the usual growth of crops and leads the country to hunger and death. Earthquake occurring in a particular area turns it into a desert damaging human lives, animals and destroying homesteads, roads and highways. Bangladesh is also vulnerable to different natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, drought, river erosion, storms and so on. All these disasters cause untold sufferings to the people. (Words : 183)

Illiteracy is undoubtedly a curse to a nation as it hinders all development works of the country. Illiteracy is the state of being unable to read and write which stands in the way of differentiating between right and wrong. The illiterate people cannot contribute to the welfare and prosperity of the community, let alone the country. For example, the people of Bangladesh are lagging behind in all spheres of development because of a huge number of illiterate people living here. They are devoid of the knowledge of sanitation, malnutrition and family planning. In spite of being an agricultural country, Bangladesh is yet to apply scientific methods of cultivation to boast up her production. As a result, poverty always hangs heavy on her. Again, lack of knowledge of sanitation and malnutrition leads the people to decay and death. Moreover, for lack of knowledge of family planning, population of the country is increasing at an alarming rate. However, illiteracy must be eliminated from the country. Setting up a number of schools including night schools for the adults and anti-illiteracy campaign can solve the problem of illiteracy. (Words : 184

Eve-teasing has been the most talked topic in our country during the recent years. Usually school or college going girls and working women become victims of this social evil. There are many reasons behind eve-teasing. Firstly, lack of moral values and free exposure to ultra-modern fashion cause eve-teasing. Secondly, want of consciousness of law enforcing agencies is another reason for it. Thirdly and most importantly, gender discrimination is one of the main reasons for eve teasing. The girls and women are usually victimised by teenage boys, rickshaw pullers, bus drivers, street vendors, traffic police and sometimes by the supervisors or colleagues of the working women. Making vulgar comments, whistling, throwing flying kisses and sending SMS or nude picture through mobile phone, e-mail, internet etc are the easiest means that teasers use to harass their opposite sexes. Eve-teasing leaves deep psychological effects on the victims. Eve-teasing increases girls’ drop out rate from schools and colleges. Teased girls are married off before they gain mental and physical maturity. Establishing human rights, empowering rural governance and removing gender disparity could be the effective tools for curbing this social curse. (Words : 186)

Air, one of the most important elements of our environment, is getting polluted continuously posing a great threat to our existence. No human or animal can survive without air. Smoke of all kinds is the most common factor for causing air pollution. Man makes fire to cook food, to burn refuse and to melt pitch for road construction. All these create smoke and pollute the air. Smoke emitted from mills, factories, brickfields and industries also cause air pollution. Moreover, motor vehicles like cars, buses and trucks plying on roads and highways also produce a lot of smoke causing air pollution. Furthermore, by burning coal, petrol, diesel and oil, railway engines and power houses create smoke and pollute the air. But the most serious air pollution often occurs in big cities and industrial areas. Air pollution ultimately causes serious kinds of airborne diseases like hyper tension, blood pressure, cancer and so on. Sometimes serious kind of air pollution even leads to death. It is man who can stop air pollution by planting many more trees for a healthier and happier life. (Words : 180)Eve