Arsenic Contamination
A devastating environmental disaster threatens the lives of millions of Bangladeshis (and people of West Bengal) as a result of aresnic contamination of the ground water. Tens of millions of persons in many districts are drinking ground water with arsenic concentrations far above acceptable levels. Thousands of people have already been diagnosed with poisoning symptoms, even though much of the at-risk population has not yet been assessed for arsenic-related health
problems.
The Arsenic Crisis Information Center is the online focal point and repository for this crisis. This is a comprehensive resource for anyone wishing to know more about the crisis and wanting to help in alleviating teh situation.
National Parks and Sanctuaries
The information below has been drawn from the 1993 United Nations List of National Parks and Protected Areas of the WCMC Protected Areas Database. Only those sites meeting strict criteria are included, principally those meeting IUCN Management Category I-V and covering more than 1,000ha.
National Park
| Name | Category | Location | Size | Year |
| Bhawal | V | 24 01’N/ 90 20’E | 5,022 | 1982 |
| Madhupur | V | 24 45’N/ 90 05’E | 8,436 | 1982 |
Wildlife Sanctuary
| Name | Category | Location | Size | Year |
| Chunati | IV | 21 40’N/ 92 07’E | 7,764 | 1986 |
| Pablakhali | IV | 23 08’N/ 92 16’E | 42,087 | 1983 |
| Rema-Kalenga | IV | 24 05’N/ 91 37’E | 1,095 | 1981 |
| Sundarbans East | IV | 21 53’N/ 89 47’E | 5,439 | 1977 |
| Sundarbans South | IV | 21 50’N/ 89 24’E | 17,878 | 1977 |
| Sundarbans West | IV | 21 44’N/ 89 15’E | 9,069 | 1977 |
Endangered and Threatened Species
This information below is derived from the 1994 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals and is maintained in the WCMC Species Database. The species listed are those considered to be globally threatened as of late 1993 according to the IUCN status categories.
| Class | Order | Family | Species |
|
Aves |
Ciconiiformes | Ardeidae | Ardea insignis E White-bellied Heron |
| Gruiformes | Otididae | Eupodotis indica E Lesser Florican | |
| Mammalia | Carnivora | Felidae | Panthera tigris E Tiger |
| Lagomorpha | Leporidae | Caprolagus hispidus E Hispid Hare | |
| Primates | Hylobatidae | Hylobates hoolock E Hoolock Gibbon | |
| Proboscidea | Elephantidae | Elephas maximus E Indian Elephant | |
| Reptilia | Crocodylia | Gavialidae | Gavialis gangeticus E Gharial |
| Testudines | Cheloniidae | Chelonia mydas E Green Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata E Hawksbill Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea E Olive Ridley |
|
| Emydidae | Batagur baska E Batagur |
UNESCO World Heritage List
- 1985 Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat
- 1985 Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur
Relevant Links
- Department of Environent, Bangladesh Government
- Bangladesh Environment Network
- Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association BELA
– See more at: http://virtualbangladesh.com/bd_eco.html#sthash.3jsmOVRg.dpuf