Eid: A Time of Accidents

Eid: A Time of Accidents

At least 90 people were killed in road accidents and boat capsize across the country around the four days of Eid 2014; an average of 50 people die every year at this time. WHO estimates shows the yearly number of deaths from road accidents in Bangladesh to stand at 21,218.

Note: This infographic does not include the ferry carrying 200 people which sank on the Padma river yesterday (Aug 4), which is also an accident involving people returning from Eid break (online.wsj.com/articles/ferry-carrying-up-to-250-people-capsizes-in-bangladesh-1407136451)

#bangladeshinnumbers #eid #accident #death

Sources:

www.thedailystar.net/newsarchive/tragedy-marks-eid-holidays-35331

www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/bangladesh

Tobacco Cultivation: Boost or Bane?

Tobacco Cultivation: Boost or Bane?

Tobacco companies make life of farmers easy by providing many facilities, which include interest free loans, free seeds, pesticides and fertilizers. They even go as far as providing money for children's education and health services, and offer a price guarantee at the which the farmer can make a profit. But for how long? As tobacco farming causes the soil to lose fertility, the companies move on...

#tobacco #bangladeshinnumbers

Sources:
http://www.facebook.com/bangladeshinnumbers/
http://thedailystar.net/country/rapid-increase-in-land-used-for-tobacco-cultivation-12995
http://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20130203.14.pdf

Playing with fire: No exist in sight for 47%

Playing with fire: No exit in sight for 47%

According to a recent survey of 3,200 workers in 28 factories by the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, a platform of 26 US-based clothing retailers and brands, 47% of garment workers say they cannot leave their factory buildings quickly in case of an emergency. Although 30% felt that they were at high risk of fire, an upsetting finding was that 45% of the respondents had not been trained in fire safety.

#bangladesh #bangladeshinnumbers #rmg #fire #firesafety

Source:
www.thedailystar.net/factory-exits-difficult-to-find-11073

Strawberry: New horizon in local farming

Strawberry: New horizon in local farming

Over a decade ago, Professor Dr. Manjur Hossain of the Department of Botany of Rajshahi University (RU), pioneered the technology to launch local strawberry farming using tissue culture method in Bangladesh. Anyone with a small investment can cultivate strawberries quickly if he has access to some land. Profits are reaped quickly as well, since the production cycle is very short – strawberries are harvested in 60 to 70 days, about 30 to 35 fruits are harvested in each tree, Supply chain integration, marketing facilities, along with some government patronization are needed to fully harness the potential of the low hanging fruit.

#bangladesh #bangladeshinnumbers #strawberry #farming

Source:
www.thedailystar.net/country/strawberry-cultivation-offers-opportunity-to-farmers-10911
www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=94716$date=2010-03-14&dateCurrent=2010-03-18

Dr. Shuvo Roy: The face of hope

Dr. Shuvo Roy: The face of hope

Did you know that Bangladeshi-born scientist and bioengineer at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Dr. Shuvo Roy, is leading research to develop the world’s first artificial kidney to treat End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)? Approximately 2 million globally have end stage renal disease, and 40,000 people in Bangladesh die from kidney failure every year. For them, and tens of millions more who have some form of Kidney Disease, Dr. Roy is the face of hope.

#bangladesh #bangladeshinnumbers #kidneydisease #ESRD

Please watch the video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc5e5cYdshI

Sources:
www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/03/13699/artificial-kidney-holds-promise-vast-majority-dialysis
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc5e5cYdshI
http://theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=159468%3Ainterview-of-dr-shuvo-roy&catid=176%3Astethoscope&Itemid=214
http://www.thedailystar.net/the-star/2013-a-rollercoaster-ride-4096
archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=125246www.worldkidneyday.org/faqs/about-kidneys-and-kidney-disease/kidneys-and-chronic-kidney-disease/

BDT 14.5 LAC: The value of a RMG worker's life?

BDT 14.5 LAC: The value of a RMG worker's life?

The Rana Plaza collapse has been dubbed the 'deadliest structural collapse in modern human history', claiming 1,135 lives, injuring thousands more who survived. Victims appear to be one step closer to receiving compensation from the government after a 31-member panel finalized a set of recommendations, setting BDT 14.5 lac as compensation for the dead and missing workers and the permanently disabled ones.

#bangladesh #bangladeshinnumbers #ranaplaza #rmg #garments

Sources:
www.thedailystar.net/business/rana-plaza-funds-get-closer-8878
www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/24/bangladesh-building-collapse-kills-garment-workers
www.itv.com/news/update/2013-04-25/case-filed-against-owners-of-collapsed-building-in-dhaka/
blogs.ft.com/photo-diary/tag/rana-plaza/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Savar_building_collapse

The Queen of Hearts

The Queen of Hearts

With a career of 26 long years of capturing our imagination with her ethereal beauty and intense celluloid performance, Suchitra Sen symbolized the golden age of Bengali cinema. She passed away yesterday, 17 January 2014, at the age of 82. May she remain an eternal icon, forever alive in our hearts.

#bangladeshinnumbers #suchitrasen #suchitra 

Sources:
www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/entertainment/legendary-actress-suchitra-sen-suffers-massive-heart-attack-dies-in-kolkata-hospital/article1-1173779.aspx
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Suchitra-Sen-The-quintessential-enigma-despite-59-films/articleshow/28935237.cms
www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/10-less-known-facts-about-suchitra-sen-the-first-paro-of-bollywood/

Webzine - Issue 2 (December 2013)

Couldn't keep up with all of Bangladesh in Numbers' infographics last month? Not to worry! Here's the second issue of the webzine, presenting the best of last month's infrographics (Dec 2013), freely downloadable from:

http://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2Itx3V9lwELdndwaVRTUnN6RUE

How many to die from cold in 2014?

How many to die from cold in 2014?

In 2013, Bangladesh faced the lowest temperature in 68 years, as low as 3 degrees Celsius, killing 200 people (mostly in northern parts of Bangladesh. How many will die in 2014? Millions of homeless people in the country (3.4 million in Dhaka alone) are vulnerable to the cold.

Sources:
khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2013/02/14/feature-02
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2928094/
reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/80-dead-temperature-hits-record-low-bangladesh
www.dhakatribune.com/environment/2014/jan/09/lowest-temperature-year-recorded

Growth of Profits in 2013

Growth of Profits in 2013

The pharmaceutical sector grew the fastest in 2013 in terms of profits, while Banks suffered from lower profits. Please note that the red water balloons in the infographic do not represent losses, rather lower profits than the previous year (negative growth).

Source:
www.thedailystar.net/business/pharma-best-performer-on-dse-banking-worst-6750
www.facebook.com/bangladeshinnumbers

Can a National Election be a Charade?

Can a National Election be a Charade?

Maybe it can. Find out this January 5th, 2014 at the 10th JS Polls; where 5.5 billion Bangladeshi taka will be spent at 38 thousand voting centres to allow 91 million voters to cast their vote. But, alas, 52% of these voters have only one candidate to vote for!

Sources:
www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2013/12/03/7010
www.thedailystar.net/please-do-not-hold-jan-5-elections-4167
www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-12-23&nid=77762
www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-07-04&nid=55566

Black Nights of 1971

Black Nights of 1971

Bangladeshis remember 25 March 1971 and 14 December 1971 as black nights. It's been more than four decades since the Pakistani occupying forces murdered 989 school and university teachers throughout Bangladesh in an attempt to cripple the country and dampen its spirit of liberation. But they could not rein the uprising. They could not rein our thirst for freedom.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_killing_of_Bengali_intellectuals

Who loses money due to hartals?

Who loses money due to hartals?

Farmers? Consumers? Transporters?

How about all of the above?

Sources:
www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2013/11/12/3588
www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/shutdown-hits-vegetable-farmers/
www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/hartal-pushes-up-prices-of-essentials/

One Hartal Day...

One Hartal Day...

Every Hartal or Blockade hits the bottom of the pyramid hard, as the ones who earn their daily bread through daily labour and income lose their ability to make a living. Transport workers are affected in a major way.

Corrigendum:
The poverty % in this infographic is wrong. Bangladesh in Numbers sincerely apologizes for the error. As of 2013, the % of people under the poverty line of US$2 per day is 26%. Thanks to Ms. Nabila Rahman for pointing out the error.
http://world.time.com/2013/07/18/after-much-heartbreak-some-good-news-at-last-for-bangladesh/

Sources:
www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/poultry-sector-on-verge-of-destruction/
www.cuts-citee.org/pdf/wp08-06.pdf
www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/2-lakh-milkmen-in-a-quagmire/
www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/transport-workers-in-trouble/
www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2013/11/28/6199
www.ruraldevelopment.info/Pages/BangladeshAgribusiness.aspx
www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/a-country-of-hartals/
www.un-bd.org/pub/unpubs/Beyond%20Hartals.pdf
www.cpd.org.bd/downloads/Bangladesh2013.pdf

Redesigned WEBZINE - Bangladesh in Numbers Issue 1 (November 2013)

Bangladesh in Numbers listens to its audience. Based on numerous comments received since the first issue of the WEBZINE was uploaded on Dec 5, such as the need to mention links leading to the same posts on facebook and the one line descriptions, the WEBZINE has just been redesigned! Please take a look. Your comments and suggestions are welcome, as always. 

Follow the link:
drive.google.com/file/d/0B2Itx3V9lwELVlM4MGZQTWlpemM

Is it time to cry over spilt milk?

Is it time to cry over spilt milk?

200,000 dairy farmers cry on every hartal - they lose money on 4.9 lac litres of milk on each hartal or blockage since milk goes bad fast. Bangladesh has the lowest milk consumption per head in the region, and imports milk every year to fulfill local demand.

Sources:
www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/2-lakh-milkmen-in-a-quagmire/
www1.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=334931$date=2013-06-01&dateCurrent=2013-06-09

Bangladesh in Numbers WEBZINE - Issue 1 - November

Introducing Bangladesh in Numbers - the WEBZINE!

To celebrate one month of Bangladesh in Numbers, please spread the word on the WEBZINE. The best of all the infographics in one freely downloadable pdf file. The webzine will be made available on the 5th of every month!

To view online or to download, please follow the link:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2Itx3V9lwELRjctUEQzTF9EQm8/edit

Daylight Robbery?

Daylight Robbery?

With the Central Medical Store Depot overpricing medicine purchase, in cases by 4662% compared to DMCH's procurement price (Amikacin), the only term that comes to mind is daylight robbery! These prices are eventually transferred to the end user - one can only imagine the impact on those who need the drugs but cannot afford the 'superprices'. Thanks to Dhaka Tribune for fantastic investigative reporting.

Source:
www.dhakatribune.com/crime/2013/nov/30/tk15-drug-bought-tk700

10,213 MW, A Milestone

10,213 MW, A Milestone

Bangladesh now has the capacity to produce 10,213 MW of electricity - a significant milestone. With imported electricity and with greater oil based power, power availability has grown at a very rapid rate over the last 3-4 years, as has the need to support power generation with massive subsidies.

Sources:
www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/celebrating-10000mw-capacity/
www.bpdb.gov.bd/bpdb/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=6
www.photius.com/rankings/energy/electricity_consumption_per_capita_2013_0.html
www.bpdb.gov.bd/download/achievement/Four%20years%20Acheivement.pdf
www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2013/sep/04/rental-power-may-continue-until-2020
www.textiletoday.com.bd/demo/magazine/print/527

AIDS: Getting to Zero?

AIDS: Getting to Zero?

34 million people in the world are HIV positive - out of which 2,871 are in Bangladesh; 338 new patients were diagnosed last year. Today is World AIDS day, and although the fight against AIDS has seen much progress with lower deaths and lower infections every year, experts suspect that 25% of people who are infected don't even know that they have the virus. 

Sources:www.facebook.com/bangladeshinnumbers
www.dhakatribune.com/health/2013/dec/01/hiv-aids-prevalence-survey-stopped-2011
www.unaids.org/en/resources/infographics/20131120aidsbythenumbers01/
www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/hiv/conditioninfo/Pages/how-many.aspx