Nick Turse

The United Nations’ news agency, IRIN, reports that Asia has suffered “more fatalities attributed to natural hazards between 1975 and 2011 than anywhere else in the world.”

For more, see “Slow-onset disasters take toll.”

inothernews:

A fire inside a multi-story garment factory outside Dhaka, Bangladesh killed at least 111 people. Most of the workers inside the building died on the first and second floors, where there were not enough exits — and those that did exist did not open to the outside. Bangladesh is the second largest clothes exporter after China, and has a notorious safety record; more than 500 workers have died in factory fires there since 2006. (Photo: Abir Abdullah / EPA via The New York Times)

reuters:

A police officer uses his baton to hit an activist from the National Committee to protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports during a protest against the government in Dhaka September 30, 2012.

Demonstrators demanding the government withdraw the recent power tariff hike marched towards the city’s energy ministry on Sunday, but were dispersed by local authorities using batons and tear gas, according to local media. [REUTERS/Andrew Biraj]

PHOTOS: Reuters images from the past 24 hours

Shuvo, 7, works at a metal workshop which makes propellers for ships at a shipbuilding yard next to Buriganga River in Dhaka, Bangladesh, January 10, 2012. REUTERS/Andrew Biraj

Commuters ride on the roof of a train as they come back to the city after attending the final prayer of Biswa Ijtema in Dhaka, Bangladesh, January 22, 2012.
REUTERS/Andrew Biraj

Six months after Cyclone Aila struck the south-western coastal area of Bangladesh, people are still living in very poor conditions with most of their belongings remaining buried beneath the mud and water. Khulna, Bangladesh. 26/12/2009.The cyclone Aila has ravaged many upazillas and unions at Khulna division in Bangladesh. Near about 120 people died and thousands of people have been wounded and almost 50,000 domestic animals have died in the south-western coastal area of Bangladesh. High tidal waves churned by strong winds have inundated vast swathes of land and destroyed the agriculture crops and farms. Thousands of people are stillunable to return their home after six months as most of the lands are still submerged under water and people cannot repair their home.

photo credit: Farzana Hossen / Demotix

Covered in blood, opposition chief whip Zainul Abedin Farroque is detained. — Riot police detain Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief whip and MP Jainul Abdin Farroque as dozens of people were injured during violent protests in Bangladesh as an anti-government strike shuts down the country. Dhaka, Bangladesh. 6th July 2011

A man is arrested and taken away during the protests. — Opposition chief whip Zainul Abedin Farroque has been injured in a police attack in the city during the BNP opposition-sponsored 48-hour countrywide strike, against the current government. Dhaka, Bangladesh. 6th July 2011

A woman chants in protest. — A demonstration was held by the National Committee on Protection of Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources, Power and Ports asking to cancel the offshore gas deal between Bangladesh Government and the U.S. firm ConocoPhillips. Bangladesh. 4th July 2011

Opposition chief whip Zainul Abedin Farroque running topless after his shirt was removed, clutching a mobile phone, with riot police in pursuit. — Riot police detain Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief whip and MP Jainul Abdin Farroque as dozens of people were injured during violent protests in Bangladesh as an anti-government strike shuts down the country. Dhaka, Bangladesh. 6th July 2011