The fishery ghat in Cox’s Bazar town is brimming with hilsa. The catches have been plenty over the last two days, but the prices are yet to come down. The national fish was sold for Tk 60,000 to Tk 140,000 per 100 pieces at the wholesale market yesterday, depending on size.
Photo: Mokammel Shuvo
APES OF THE EAST
This Hoolock gibbon, locally known as “Ulluk”, was spotted brachiating through the trees of Lawachhara National Park in Sylhet. Native to eastern Bangladesh, Northeast India, Myanmar and Southwest China, these lesser apes are diurnal, arboreal, and their method of locomotion is known as brachiation -- meaning they use their arms to swing from tree to tree. They are even called “rulers of the canopy”, as they are famous for the swift and graceful movement through the trees with their long, powerful arms. They are the fastest ape, travelling up to 34 miles per hour – almost as fast as a galloping racehorse. As they move from branch to branch, they look for food, mainly insects, fruits and leaves. Though they are shy creatures, they do love to sing! Gibbons might sing alone, to find a mate, or in duets, and they start each day by singing as the sun rises. Unlike most primates, they choose to stay with one mate for life. While these amusing apes enrich our wildlife, their numbers have dropped drastically due to deforestation and illegal wildlife trade, for which they are enlisted as “endangered” by the IUCN.
PHOTO: MOSABBER HOSSAIN RIBON
A nurse helps Tahim Taj, 11, adjust his cannula, used to administer IV fluids. He travelled all the way from Noakhali’s Laxmipur to be admitted to Shishu Hospital after being diagnosed with dengue four days ago. Like him, many children from all over the country are seeking admission to various city hospitals, as dengue cases continue to soar. Meanwhile, nine more patients died yesterday.
PHOTO: RASHED SHUMON
HSC examinees brush up on their lessons before entering the exam hall at Siddheswari Girls College on New Bailey Road in the capital yesterday, the first day of this year’s HSC exams.
Photo: Prabir Das
