HSC ENGLISH: REPORT WRITING

World's most urgent refugee crisis

Diplomatic Correspondent

The humanitarian crisis caused by escalating violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State is causing suffering on a catastrophic scale. Extreme violence and persecution in the western Rakhine State of Myanmar have caused more than 500,000 Rohingya people, an ethnic minority, to flee their homes in search of a safe haven. Refugees arriving in Bangladesh—mostly women and children—are traumatized, and some have arrived with injuries caused by gunshots, shrapnel, fire and landmines. Leaving almost all they own behind, the majority of those fleeing have crossed the border into Bangladesh. Since Aug. 25, 2017, the Rohingya population in Myanmar has been subjected to extreme violence and has been forced to flee their homes. There have been reports of helicopters firing on civilians, the extra-judicial executions of women and children, and the burning of entire villages. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called the situation a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing," and the crisis has caused a mass exodus of the Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh. An emergency fund will support life-saving assistance and relief efforts for Rohingya people displaced by violence and conflict, specifically in and around the refugee camps in the Cox's Bazar area of Bangladesh and in neighboring settlements. Everyone’s support will help survivors and victims get necessary immediate relief supplies like food and hygiene kits, as well as provide longer-term support through activities like the construction of much needed medical clinics and field hospitals.

To address the ongoing and increasing needs, a new Joint Response Plan was launched on 16 March 2018, requesting US$951 million to provide life-saving assistance to 1.3 million people, including Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar to Bangladesh and local host communities. As of 25 May, the appeal remains only 18% funded. 

Food Adulteration & Health Concern

Staff Correspondent

It is matter of great concern of all that unsafe food serves as a growth medium for bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Food borne diseases may turn fatal and even cause death. 

There is lead in turmeric, formalin in fish, fruits, vegetables and milk. High concentration of pesticides and chemical preservatives are found in fresh produces. Studies show that farmers use a concoction of toxic chemicals to fight pests and they indiscriminately use chemicals in crops to extend shelf life without showing any concern for the health of consumers. We also know of contamination by microorganisms leading to acute food poisoning.

Contaminated foods can carry harmful contaminants,chemicals, parasites and toxins. Application of excessive and unauthorised additives and colours for making food items tasty and attractive can be lethal as many such chemicals may cause cancer and other life threatening ailments. Millions of people of our country become ill from foodborne pathogens each year.On the basis of a surveydone from 2010 to 2013,the Public Health Institute stated that 50%of all food items were found to be adulterated.Greed for fast profit among food traders has led to today's alarming situation. 

The relevant government agencies for food safety have a role to play in consumer protection. They need to educate producers on how to produce safe food, and at the same time punish people who deliberately sell unsafe food. The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority was incorporated in 2013 as an Act to help coordinate food control and consumer protection activities across the country. FAO is providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Food in this regard. But there is also the need for political will to devote sufficient public resources to make the system operational and effective in the longer term.

Flood in 4 districts turns serious

UNB, Dhaka

The floodwaters have inundated fresh areas of the four districts, halting academic activities at hundreds of educational institutions. According to reports reaching the UNB desk, the water levels of all the rivers, including Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla, Jamuna and Dudhkumar in the three districts continued to rise due to the onrush of water and heavy downpour. The flood hit more than one lakh people in four upazilas of Lalmonirhat, over 1.7 lakh people of 250 villages under five upazilas of Kurigram, more than one lakh people in Sirajganj district and one lakh inhabitants in Jamalpur. The flood-affected people were suffering much for lack of pure drinking water, sanitation, food and shelters. State Minister for Social Welfare Ministry has distributed relief goods among 400 flood victims of Char Bairati area this morning. The scarcity of food and pure drinking water has turned acute in the flood-affected areas. Waterborne diseases were spreading fast in the flood-hit areas while no relief or medicine reached the victims yet. More than 150 educational institutions were shut down following the flood, locals said, adding that 771 hectares of cropland were inundated. Like Altaf, at least 20 people of the same village have been staying on the embankment with their domestic animals. Milon Hossain was one of them, living there with his four cattle, for the last three days. "My family members are virtually living on the bed to avoid the water. But these cattle cannot survive there. I need to save my cattle at any cost." he said. Without their cattle, the people here believe that they have nothing else to look forward to. Years of taking care and doting after these creatures has built an unbreakable bond that cannot be fully explained.

Some people said they sold their domestic animal due to lack of accommodation. Parting was better than causing more suffering. Moreover, some 119 government primary schools were declared shut down in the six upazila for flood waters, said district primary education officer Md Shahidul Islam. The rise of water is devouring more and more places of different upazilas. Twenty-one villages in three unions of Sonatola upazila and 14 villages in two unions were inundated, affecting at least 70,000 people, according to the District Relief Office.

Viqarunnisa Noon Science Festival prize giving ceremony held

Staff Correspondent

The prize giving ceremony of the 'Pran Frooto Viqarunnisa Noon 13th Science Festival' of took place at the auditorium of the institute yesterday. Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique attended the programme as the chief guest while Prof Dr Mohammad Kaykobad as special guest. The principal of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, presided over the ceremony. Prof Arefin said we should be careful so that technology does not stray out of its tracks and we should utilise it for betterment of people. In the project display competition, first three places in physical science (senior), were taken by Kazi Ridita Mahtaba (smart heater), Iffatur Ridwan (simple LDR remote) and Mastura Safayet (air conditioning). In biology and environmental planning (senior), first three places were taken by Mehnaz Tabassum (replacement of defected genes with the help of gene therapy), Sangeeta Bhattacharjee (environment at its best) and Nishat Salsabil (floating kitchen garden). In IT (senior), the first three places were taken by Mahnuma Mahfuz Estee (vision 2021 digital Bangladesh), Khondoker Faria Alam (factory automation system with RFID) and Nazneen Nawal Bipasha (digital Bangladesh). In psychology (senior), the first three places were taken by Nakia Bari (dyslexia a psychological disorder), Marin Sultana (autism) and Faiza Monzor (meditation). In physical science (junior 1), the first three places were taken by Sadia Islam (mobile battery), Syeda Amina Abedin Sadia (producing loom from banana leaf) and Jannatul Ferdous (air condition without power supply). In physical science (junior 2), the first three places were taken by Anika Ibnat Shama (producing electricity with the by product gas from brick kilns), Farzana Sarkar (producing electricity from air) and Noshin Nehal (easy way to pump water without motor). In biology and environmental planning (junior 2), the first three places were taken by Tahsin Tarannum (pipeline fish breeding process), Zaria Akter (toxic pesticide tree save food technology) and Subah Salsabil (preserving tomatoes without cold storage).

During the festival, the club also organised an inter-school and college quiz competition, extempore speech competition, debate competition, project display competition, sudoku competition, math Olympiad, physics Olympiad, chemistry Olympiad, and sky observation.