A college student and a farmer were killed by lightning strikes in Fulbaria upazila of Mymensingh on Wednesday evening, according to family and hospital sources. The victims were identified as Tuli Rani Sen, 16, daughter of Jhutan Chandra Sen of Debgram in Putijana Union, and Abdul Khalek, 58, of Nijpara village in the same upazila.

Tuli Rani Sen, a first-year student at Fulbaria Government Women’s College, was near her home when lightning struck during light rain, causing her to lose consciousness. She was taken to the Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared her dead. In a separate incident, Abdul Khalek collapsed after being struck by lightning while walking to Kaladah Bazar after Asr prayers. Locals rushed him to the same health complex, where he was also pronounced dead.

Both deaths occurred within the same evening under similar weather conditions, highlighting the recurring risk of lightning strikes during seasonal storms in the area.

The water level of the Teesta River at Dalia point in Nilphamari dropped slightly below the danger mark on Wednesday, measuring 52.1 centimeters against the danger level of 52.15 centimeters. According to the Water Development Board, the situation in four northern districts has improved as water levels receded, though some low-lying areas in Sylhet and Sunamganj remain temporarily affected by flooding. The board confirmed that all major rivers in the country are currently flowing below danger levels.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre reported that several rivers, including Teesta, Surma, Kushiyara, and Someshwari, are flowing near the warning level at various monitoring stations. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been recorded in Sylhet and Chattogram divisions, with moderate to heavy rainfall in Rangpur. Upstream regions in India’s West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Tripura have also experienced heavy rainfall, contributing to rising river levels.

Forecasts indicate that water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Ganga-Padma river systems may continue to rise over the next five days, potentially causing temporary flooding in some low-lying areas of Kurigram, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, and Bogura districts.

A record-breaking heatwave sweeping across Europe has caused a major power outage in northwestern France, leaving around 68,000 households without electricity. Authorities said it was the country’s first large-scale power disruption in recent times linked to the ongoing extreme heat. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. Tuesday near Ergué-Gabéric in the Brittany region’s Quimper area, when a transformer fault disrupted the power transmission system. No casualties were reported.

According to the Finistère department administration, the malfunction was related to unusually high temperatures. Power transmission and distribution companies RTE and Enedis worked overnight to restore supply, but full service was expected only by the end of Wednesday. At the peak of the outage, about 106,000 customers across France were without power as the country faced one of its hottest days of the year.

Finistère is among 58 French departments under a maximum “red alert” for extreme heat. Meteorological forecasts warned that temperatures could reach 39 to 41 degrees Celsius from Brittany to the Paris region, with experts linking the persistent heat to atmospheric conditions and global warming.

Residents along the Teesta and Dharla rivers in Lalmonirhat are struggling to survive on limited government and NGO relief as recurring floods and river erosion devastate their livelihoods. Many families, including those in the char areas, depend entirely on aid, yet say it is insufficient to sustain them. Locals repeatedly express a single demand: they want work opportunities rather than relief handouts.

The situation has worsened due to fluctuating water levels caused by heavy rainfall in India’s upstream regions and the opening of the Gajoldoba Barrage gates in West Bengal. This has led to flooding across several northern districts of Bangladesh, submerging roads, croplands, and putting flood control embankments at risk. The Water Development Board reports that Teesta’s water flow at Dalia Point rose above danger level on Tuesday but slightly receded the next day.

Officials say the situation is being closely monitored, with warnings issued to low-lying residents. Locals remain hopeful that the long-promised Teesta Master Plan will be implemented to create employment and resolve chronic water management problems.

Several recent earthquakes have been recorded in and around Dhaka, Bangladesh, with epicenters located unusually close to the capital. The latest tremor, on June 22, measured 4.4 on the Richter scale and originated about 16 kilometers east of Dhaka in Rupganj, Narayanganj. Earlier, a 3.2-magnitude quake struck Kaliakair in Gazipur on February 1, while a stronger 5.7-magnitude quake in November 2025 near Narsingdi caused casualties and injuries across multiple districts.

Experts from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department and universities note that these quakes may be linked to tectonic activity or reactivation of old faults. Bangladesh lies at the junction of the Eurasian, Indian, and Burmese plates, making it seismically active. Researchers highlight that while Dhaka itself has no major fault line, nearby regions such as Narsingdi and Mymensingh are crossed by active or “blind” faults that are difficult to detect.

Specialists caution that although recent quakes are moderate, the city remains vulnerable due to dense construction and variable soil conditions. They emphasize the need for structural assessments and public awareness to mitigate risks from potential future large earthquakes.

Bangladesh’s river-dependent economy and ecology continue to face challenges due to India’s upstream water management decisions. The country has 57 transboundary rivers, 54 shared with India, and disputes over water sharing have persisted since independence. The article highlights how India’s unilateral projects, including dams and barrages such as Farakka, have caused water scarcity and environmental degradation in Bangladesh. The 1996 Ganges Water Treaty between the two countries expires in December 2026, and uncertainty remains over whether it will be renewed or replaced. India’s proposal to base a new framework on water flow at the Farakka point is described as unfair to Bangladesh.

The Teesta River remains another unresolved issue, with India’s upstream control through the Gajoldoba Barrage reducing dry-season flow into Bangladesh. The 2011 Teesta agreement was never implemented due to opposition from West Bengal. Similarly, the 2019 memorandum allowing India to draw water from the Feni River for Tripura residents has sparked controversy, with allegations of excessive withdrawal affecting Bangladeshi farmers.

The article urges Bangladesh to adopt stronger water diplomacy and advocate internationally for equitable transboundary river management under global conventions such as the UN Watercourses Convention and the Helsinki Rules.

The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) is preparing a 25-year master plan to transform the port city into a sustainable, disaster-resilient, and environmentally friendly satellite city. The draft final report has been sent to the ministry for gazette publication ahead of a 60-day public hearing, with the plan expected to be released in December. The initiative, known as Master Plan 2025–2050, began in December 2022 with a budget of Tk 35.88 crore. CDA reports 87 percent physical and 59.67 percent financial progress, including digital mapping of 1,135 mouzas.

The plan aims to expand the city from 155 to 955 square kilometers by integrating Anwara and Karnaphuli areas across the river, following a “One City Two Town” model similar to Shanghai. It proposes 276 projects across 19 sectors, emphasizing environmental protection, flood control, and sustainable housing for 800,000 to 1 million people. Construction in 198.4 square kilometers of hilly areas will be prohibited.

Urban experts have welcomed the technical precision but warned that without institutional coordination, legal reform, and adequate funding, implementation may falter as in previous plans. CDA says it has begun inter-agency coordination and will operate under the new plan from December.

A culvert on the Nimgachi-Heutnagar road in Dhunat upazila of Bogura district suddenly collapsed on Monday morning following continuous rainfall. The incident caused no casualties but severed road communication for about 30,000 residents across at least 15 villages in Nimgachi and Kalerpara unions. The collapse occurred when soil beside the structure eroded under heavy water pressure during drainage from nearby fields.

According to local sources, the 15-meter-long culvert was built in 2001 under the Annual Development Programme to improve rural communication and water drainage. Residents alleged that substandard construction made the culvert unstable from the beginning, and no repairs were undertaken despite its risky condition. Continuous rain and poor maintenance ultimately led to its failure, forcing locals, students, and workers to take longer alternative routes.

Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) engineer Bakhtiar Hossain said a proposal for a new culvert has been prepared and sent to higher authorities. The upazila administration also instructed immediate measures to restore communication and later build a durable bridge at the site.

Residents of several villages in Raozan upazila of Chattogram have repaired a 600-foot stretch of road through voluntary labor after years of neglect. The Kulalpara-Gazipara road in East Raozan had remained in poor condition for decades, causing severe hardship for more than 20,000 residents. With no initiative from local representatives, villagers decided to take matters into their own hands and fund the repair themselves.

On Wednesday morning, residents from Kulalpara, Gazipara, Moular Bari, Adarshagram, Shilpara, Baruyapara, and Rupnagar joined the effort. Under the supervision of local social worker Mohammad Ali and with financial support from expatriates, around 200 to 300 people participated in the voluntary roadwork. Several community members and local figures were present during the repair activities.

The initiative highlights the community’s determination to address infrastructure problems independently when official action is lacking.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom Rita and Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu inspected canal excavation work in Kasadah canal of Shibaloy upazila, Manikganj, on Wednesday afternoon. During the visit, they also participated in a tree-planting program. Minister Dulu stated that rivers in Bangladesh are drying up due to water disparity caused by a neighboring country, adding that the government has undertaken the Teesta and Padma master plans to address the issue.

He emphasized that Bangladesh, being a riverine country, has seen many rivers turn into canals because of neglect and lack of maintenance. The government has a master plan for re-excavation of these waterways. Dulu noted that early rainfall has slowed excavation work, but incomplete projects will be finished in the next dry season.

Addressing corruption concerns, the minister said Bangladesh had been plagued by corruption for 17 years and that while it cannot be eradicated overnight, any specific complaints regarding canal excavation will be investigated and acted upon.

Authorities in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, have issued loudspeaker warnings urging residents living on hill slopes to move to safer areas as continuous heavy rainfall has raised fears of landslides. Hundreds of low-income families continue to live in these risky zones due to poverty and lack of alternative housing. The administration has begun identifying landslide-prone settlements and conducting awareness campaigns with NGO support.

Local residents reported that illegal hill cutting continues at night in several areas, worsening the risk of collapse during the rainy season. Over the past year, more than a hundred new houses have been built on 12 highly vulnerable hills, now home to thousands of people. Officials said about 50,000 people, including displaced Myanmar nationals, are living illegally across 20 risky hills and 11 hillocks in the upazila.

The Forest Department stated that no new illegal settlements are being allowed and that relocation efforts are underway. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer confirmed that precautionary measures and public announcements are ongoing to prevent casualties during the monsoon.

Authorities in Durgapur upazila of Netrokona have installed solar-powered street lights to deter increasing wild elephant attacks along the border. The installation work was inaugurated on Monday afternoon beside the hilly road in Dahapara area. The initiative includes setting up 20 solar street lights in border regions of Kullagara and No. 2 Durgapur unions to protect local residents and farmers from elephant incursions.

Every year, wild elephants crossing the border cause deaths and destroy crops, houses, and fruit orchards in the area. The project was undertaken following the death of a young man named Partha Rangsa in a wild elephant attack on May 5 in Bhabanipur area. The initiative was launched under the special direction of Deputy Speaker and local MP Barrister Kaiser Kamal, with the victim’s father inaugurating the installation work.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ahmed Sadat praised the project, saying it would enhance safety for both indigenous and Bengali farmers. Awareness programs are also being conducted through forest department volunteers to educate residents on how to respond during elephant encounters.

A severe heatwave sweeping across Europe has disrupted daily life in France, Spain, Italy, and Germany, with record-breaking temperatures prompting emergency alerts. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reported that at least 40 people have died in water-related accidents since Thursday as residents sought relief from the extreme heat. Among the victims was a 13-year-old girl who drowned in the Seine River. The Eiffel Tower closed early on Tuesday, and the Louvre Museum shortened its visiting hours through Saturday due to the heat.

France recorded its highest-ever average June temperature at 29.8°C, while Monday night was the warmest in its history with a minimum average of 21.6°C. Two children were found dead in a car in Carpentras, and a young footballer was hospitalized after being rescued from the Rhône River. Spain, Italy, and Germany also faced dangerous conditions, with Spain’s Andalusia region reaching 45°C and Italy issuing red alerts in 15 cities. Germany reported several drowning deaths linked to the heat.

Meteorologists expect slight cooling in the Iberian Peninsula from Wednesday, but warn that the heatwave could intensify in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany by Friday.

Flood conditions have deteriorated across Bangladesh’s northeastern and northern regions after India opened all gates of the Gajoldoba Barrage, releasing upstream water amid continuous heavy rainfall. The Teesta River crossed the danger level at Dalia Point in Nilphamari on Tuesday afternoon, prompting the Water Development Board to open all 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage to control water flow. Low-lying areas in Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha have been inundated, leaving thousands of families marooned.

According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, most major rivers are flowing below danger levels, but the Teesta, Surma, Kushiyara, and Someshwari rivers are at or near warning marks at several stations. Officials warned that heavy rainfall and upstream inflow may continue for the next two to three days, potentially worsening the flood situation in northern districts. Local residents expressed frustration over India’s release of water, urging action to prevent further inflow.

Authorities are monitoring embankments and roads in vulnerable areas while urging residents to remain alert as water levels continue to rise.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on world leaders to turn their climate commitments into concrete actions to protect millions of lives threatened by climate change. Speaking on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum’s 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, China, he urged that promises be translated into results so the world can face the future with confidence. He expressed hope that COP-31 would address these challenges and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s readiness to play its part.

Rahman emphasized that climate action should be viewed as an investment in prosperity and stability, not as a cost. He outlined three priorities ahead of COP-31 and COP-32: operationalizing the loss and damage fund, making climate finance more accessible to vulnerable nations, and ensuring adaptation alongside mitigation. He highlighted Bangladesh’s initiatives, including dredging 20,000 kilometers of rivers and canals, constructing the Padma Barrage, modernizing the Teesta Barrage, planting 250 million trees, and expanding renewable energy to 20 percent by 2030.

He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to becoming a climate-resilient nation and called on global leaders to overcome differences and honor their pledges under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.