The bridge to a ferry pontoon in Chattogram’s Boalkhali upazila goes under spring tide Wednesday afternoon forcing people to wade though knee-deep water. The authorities have set up the terminal next to the Kalurghat bridge which remains shut since August 1 for repairs. Photo: Rajib Raihan
COMPETING FOR CANOPIES … A black giant squirrel lounging on a tree branch in Moulvibazar’s Adampur. Found in many South and Southeast Asian countries, including Bangladesh, this is one of the largest species of squirrels in the world – sometimes weighing up to 1.05-1.25kg, with its head-and-body length going up to 34-37cm and a long tail which can grow till 42cm. The animal, like other squirrels, is solitary and extremely shy. It prefers living in forested areas, where it competes for canopies and food – seeds, pine cones, fruits and leaves -- with other arboreal animals such as primates. It also has a host of predators, mainly birds of prey, but its most dangerous one is humans. In recent decades, the animal’s habitat globally has steadily been encroached upon by human settlement, timber harvesting and agriculture, which, along with overhunting, has resulted in its population declining by at least 30 percent over the last 10 years. For this, the IUCN has listed the black giant squirrel in its “Near Threatened” category, urging its immediate conservation.
PHOTO: SHABBOSACHI DAS
Farmers harvest Aman from a field in Sylhet’s Sonatola area. They are happy with the good yield this season thanks to favourable weather. The photo was taken on Wednesday.
Photo: Sheikh Nasir
