Temporal variations of length, weight and condition of the Asian stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794) in the Ganges river (NW Bangladesh)

The present study revealed on temporal variations of length, weight and condition of Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794) in the Ganges River, Northwestern Bangladesh. Total 1161 individuals of H. fossilis were caught by various habitual fishing gears such as seine net, cast net and gill net during January to December 2019. For every specimen, body weight (BW) was taken by digital balance to the accuracy of 0.01 g and total length (TL) was taken using a measuring board. Relative condition factor (KR) was assessed by KR = W/(a×Lb), where W is the BW in g, L is the TL in cm and a and b are length-weight relationships parameters. The value of KR ~ 1 specifies good health, >1 specifies over bodyweight as compared to length, whereas <1 suggests a fish in poor condition. The TL varied from 8.5-28.7 cm whereas the BW was 37.17–2250 g. The overall KR for H. fossilis was 0.99-1.06 in the Ganges River. The highest KR was observed in May while the lowest was in January. The KR was significantly correlated with BW in the Ganges River. The outcomes of the study will be helpful for future management of this fish in the Ganges river ecosystem as well as adjacent water bodies. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.8(2): 259-266, August 2021

Morphometric and Meristic Characteristics of Walking Snakehead Channa Orientalis in a Wetland Ecosystem (Northwestern Bangladesh) Using Multi-Linear Dimensions

The present study is illustrated complete morphometric and meristic characteristics of fresh water fish, walking snakehead, Channa orientalis (Bloch & Schneider 1801), using nine linear dimensions and covering different fin-rays (i.e., dorsal fin, D; pectoral fin, P1; pelvic fin, P2; anal fin, A and caudal fin,C) from the wetland ecosystem Gajnar Beel in northwestern (NW) Bangladesh. Total 230 specimens of C. orientalis were collected from the Gajnar Beel in the time of January to December 2018 by several local fishing gears (e.g., cast net, gill net and square lift net (mesh size ranges: 1.5 - 2.5 cm, 1.5 - 2.0 cm, & ~2.0 cm, respectively). Different morphometric lengths were measured to 0.01 cm, and whole body weight (BW) was estimated 0.01 g for each individual. Fin rays and scales (including lateral line scale) were computed by a magnifying glass. All LWRs were highly significant (p<0.0001) with the r2 values ≥0.978. Based on r2 value, LWR by BW vs. TL was the best fitted model among nine equations. However, the LLRs were also significant with r2 values ≥0.992. According to r2 value, LLR by TL vs. SL (TL = a + b × SL) shown the best fitted model among eight equations. The fin formula of C. orientalis is: dorsal: D. 29-35; Pectoral, P1. 12-14; Pelvic, P2. 5-6; Anal, A. 20-22; Caudal, C. 12-14. A double lateral line is present which continued with 12-13 scales in the first line and 26-28 scales in other line. The present study will be helpful for the species identification and resource management of C. orientalis in the Gajner Beel NW Bangladesh and other sub-tropical countries. J. Bio-Sci. 29(2): 53-60, 2021 (December)

Remembering Nepal Earthquake of 2015 and Updating Post-earthquake Reconstruction

Nepal earthquake of 2015, a massive earthquake that struck near the city of Kathmandu (Gorkha) in central Nepal on April 25, 2015. Nearly 9,000 people were killed, many thousands more were injured, and more than 600,000 structures in Kathmandu and other nearby 31 districts were either damaged or destroyed. The earthquake was felt throughout central and eastern Nepal, much of the Ganges River plain in northern India, and northwestern Bangladesh, as well as in the southern parts of the Plateau of Tibet and western Bhutan.

Students’ perceptions on snake in Northwestern Bangladesh

Jaman MF, Rabbe MF, Alam MM, Shome AR, Hossain MA, Sarker MAR. 2020. Students’ perceptions on snake in Northwestern Bangladesh. Asian J Ethnobiol 21: 62-69. Human-snake interaction has an ancestral history with different outcomes at different times. This study was done to assess the student's perceptions of snakes and current superstitions practiced in some areas of northwestern Bangladesh. We interviewed 348 students from 7 educational institutions under 3 districts from January 2019 to April 2019. We asked dichotomous (yes-no) question to know perceptions about snakes and variation among superstitions of the students. We found significant variation in responses with respect to the demographic status of the respondents. Religion and education were the most influencing factors affecting the results of students’ perceptions. Among the total respondents, 329 (94.5%) had seen snakes, 182 (52.3%) considered snake as a notorious animal, 224 (64.4%) considered snakes as an economically harmful animal, 155 (44.5%) think killing snake gives a good feeling, 313 (90%) believe that snakes attack humans, 321 (92.2%) students have seen others killing snakes and 127 (36.5%) had killed snakes themselves. Of the five superstitions, “snake can drink milk” was the topmost statement believed by 293 (84.2%) students. Due to these negative attitudes and misconceptions, we assume that snakes are regularly killed and there is a potential risk for population decline.

Assessment of Gender Priority on Groundwater Utilization in Northwestern Bangladesh

The present study was undertaken to find out gender-specific priorities in groundwater utilization for crop production and domestic uses, and also to identify various problems and constraints faced in groundwater utilization. A total of 60 farm households were selected randomly for empirical investigation from two northwestern districts of Bangladesh. Among these selected households, both husband and wife were interviewed separately. Both descriptive and econometric (logistic regression) analyses were performed. Groundwater is the main source of irrigation and household water and it is supplied by both public and private enterprises. The availability of water is scarce in the study location hence people use irrigation water for most of their domestic activities. Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (state-run) operated tube wells that contributed 87% of the domestic water uses in the study area. Logistic regression results confirm that priorities of groundwater utilization vary across gender. Females have a greater preference for domestic uses of groundwater while males have a preference for crop irrigation. One of the major factors of preference variation is that female has to spent a good amount of time in fetching water for domestic uses. Water management policies should consider these utilization preferences to avoid extra burden on women in fetching water from away. The study suggests better institutional arrangements for groundwater availability for crop production and domestic uses towards ensuring food security and health benefits.

Assessment of drought disaster risk in Boro rice cultivated areas of northwestern Bangladesh

Drought risk has become a major threat for sustaining food security in Bangladesh; the particularly northwestern region of Bangladesh. The objective of the study is to assess drought disaster risk on Boro paddy cultivated areas of northwestern Bangladesh using drought disaster risk index (DDRI) model. The sensitivity of Boro paddy to droughts during crop-growing seasons and irrigation recoverability were employed to reflect vulnerability condition. Moreover, the threshold level of the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) was applied to evaluate the drought hazard on Boro paddy cultivated areas in the northwestern region of Bangladesh. The probability density function (PDF) was used to show the threshold level of drought hazard. The results show that drought hazard is comparatively severe in Ishardi area compared to other northwestern regions of Bangladesh. The drought disaster risk is higher in Ishardi and Rajshahi areas than Rangpur and Dinajpur areas. Although Ishardi area is more prone to high drought risk, at the same time, the recoverability rate is also quicker than any other areas. The relationship between Boro rice yield rates and drought disaster risk is insignificant. The average Boro yield rates during the period of 1976 to 2016 are 19% for Ishardi and Rajshahi areas, 20% for Rangpur and Dinajpur areas and 21% for Bogra respectively according to the total irrigation area. The outcomes of the study can aid to adopt drought condition under changing the climate and also provide guidance for future drought mitigation in the northwest region of Bangladesh.