BUSY WITH THE BEES … A blue-bearded bee-eater gently perched on a flowering tree branch in Sylhet’s Satchhari forest. These fascinating birds are found in much of the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, and prefer living in densely forested areas. Their appearance and food habits are quite apparent in the name – with elongated blue feathers running down the throat and an appetite for mostly bees, along with other flying insects. How they get their food is even more interesting, as they usually target hives and provoke the bees to come out and attack them. Once the bees are out, they used their curved beaks to grab hold of them and hit and rub the insect on a hard surface to stun them and remove toxins.
PHOTO: TIMU HOSSAIN
The water of the Hariadoa river has turned black in Arshinagar of Narsingdi Sadar upazila due to the discharge of toxic waste into the water by factories. The pollution is damaging biodiversity and fish has almost disappeared. Dumping of household waste is also narrowing this part of the river. The photo was taken recently. Photo: Jahidul Islam
Defying a ban, a goods-laden three-wheeler runs on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar Radio Colony area yesterday. Plying of such vehicles on national highways increases the risk of accidents. A motorcycle is also seen going against traffic.
Photo: Palash Khan
Suffering from a severe headache for days, Emon, along with his mother, waited for hours outside Khulna Medical College Hospital yesterday. However, with doctors across Khulna on strike for the second day, there was no one to help him. Like Emon, patients across the district have been suffering as the healthcare officials have extended their strike till at least March 4 to protest a police official’s attack on a fellow doctor. PHOTO:
HABIBUR RAHMAN
