Daily lifeDuring the 2019 dengue outbreak, a recipe for a homemade mosquito cream of neem oil, glycerine and wax spread online. There is no evidence such a mix protects against dengue; WHO advises registered repellents and removing breeding sites.
AgribusinessJaynuddin Khan of Kadirkol village in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah, began growing bay leaf with 100 saplings in 2008 and had 400 trees by March 2020. He says he spends about Tk 40,000 a year and sells about Tk 5 lakh of leaves.
FruitsIn Falgun 2020, mango and litchi trees in Agailjhara, Barishal, and Sreepur, Gazipur, carried heavy blossom, and growers hoped for a good crop if storms and hail held off.
AgribusinessIn March 2020 the Ministry of Agriculture took up a Tk 230.80 crore project to build a flower research centre on 20 hectares at Jhikargachha in Jashore. Sarabangla reported that the project was then going through approval.
AgribusinessAminur, back from work abroad, started a mobile farm with 1,000 ducklings on Kamarnaoga beel in Delduar, Tangail. In March 2020 he said selling 300 to 350 eggs a day earned him more than Tk 1 lakh a month.
FruitsOn 10 March 2020 ECNEC approved the second revision of the Department of Agricultural Extension's project to improve nutrition through year-round fruit production, at a cost of Tk 161.05 crore.
WorldSoaps, toothpaste and face washes made from cow dung and urine were selling online in India, and Mumbai's Cowpathy had a turnover of 25 million rupees a year. The health claims made for them are the makers' own, with no scientific evidence behind them.
EnvironmentMore than 30 animals, including orangutans, gorillas and a chimpanzee, died when fire destroyed the ape house at Germany's Krefeld Zoo just after midnight on 1 January 2020. Police said New Year sky lanterns were the likely cause.
