Rivers in southern Bangladesh are rapidly losing navigability with the onset of winter, severely disrupting key inland water routes including Dhaka-Barishal and Dhaka-Patuakhali. Several channels have developed sandbars, forcing large passenger vessels to travel at extreme risk or suspend operations entirely. Launch masters report that water depth in many areas has dropped to barely 1.5 meters, far below the 3-meter requirement for safe navigation.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has acknowledged the crisis, confirming that dredging operations are underway in multiple affected points. However, launch operators and passengers continue to face frequent strandings and delays. Veteran passengers note that the number of active routes has fallen from 20 to just a few dozen due to siltation and low water levels. Environmental groups are urging a long-term dredging master plan to restore navigability and prevent further economic and safety impacts.

If the situation persists, experts warn that the region’s inland water transport industry could face collapse, isolating communities and raising transport costs across southern Bangladesh.

A Bailey bridge on the Habiganj–Baniachong regional road collapsed on Friday morning when a stone-laden truck attempted to cross, causing two deck panels to give way and trapping the vehicle mid-bridge. The incident has completely halted road communication between Habiganj district town and the upazilas of Baniachong and Ajmiriganj, affecting residents of more than fifty surrounding villages.

Baniachong Upazila Executive Officer Mahamuda Begum Sathi confirmed that the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has already begun repair work. RHD Executive Engineer Zakir Hossain stated that the truck’s heavy load made removal difficult, requiring partial unloading before towing. He added that repair operations would continue overnight, with normal traffic expected to resume by Saturday morning.

Local authorities have urged commuters to use alternative routes until the bridge is restored. The collapse highlights the vulnerability of older Bailey bridges under heavy transport loads, prompting calls for structural assessments across the region.

A lion that escaped from its enclosure at Dhaka’s Mirpur National Zoo on Friday afternoon has been safely recaptured after being tranquilized. The incident occurred between 4:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., prompting zoo officials to evacuate visitors from nearby areas as a precaution. The lion remained within the zoo premises and did not enter any public zones, according to officials.

Zoo curator Dr. Atikur Rahman stated that the animal was kept calm with food before being sedated using an anesthesia dart. Director Dr. Rafiqul Islam noted that the escape likely occurred through the enclosure’s main access gate, though it remains unclear whether a lock malfunction or human error was responsible. An internal investigation has been initiated to determine the cause.

Authorities confirmed that the situation was under control throughout the incident. The zoo currently houses five lions, including the one that briefly escaped. Officials said safety protocols will be reviewed to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

A lion escaped from its enclosure at the Mirpur Zoo in Dhaka on Friday afternoon, prompting an immediate response from zoo authorities. The incident occurred around 4:45 p.m., according to Zoo Director Rafiqul Islam Talukder, who confirmed that the lion remained within the zoo premises and had not harmed anyone. Officials quickly evacuated visitors and deployed tranquilizer teams to capture the animal safely.

Talukder stated that the situation was under control and that staff were monitoring the lion’s movements closely. Preliminary assessments suggested that the animal may have exited through an unlocked door, as no signs of damage or broken grills were found. The zoo administration has launched an internal investigation to determine how the lapse occurred and to prevent future incidents.

Authorities expect to recapture the lion soon and are reviewing safety protocols across all enclosures. The temporary closure of the zoo is being considered until the situation is fully resolved.

Four officials of the Forest Department were injured after being attacked by a group of illegal hill cutters in the Korehat area of Mirsarai upazila, Chattogram, late Thursday night. The incident occurred when the officials attempted to stop the use of a shallow machine for unauthorized hill cutting at the Saibenikhil hill site.

According to Tariqul Rahman, Range Officer of the Korehat Range under the Chattogram North Forest Division, the attack was led by a man identified as Masud Kala. The injured officials—Alal Uddin, Enamul Haque Chowdhury, Ruhul Amin, and Shah Alam—received primary treatment following the assault. Authorities have filed a case with Jorarganj Police Station under forest and criminal laws.

Assistant Conservator of Forests Mohammad Harunur Rashid stated that the perpetrators used sticks and rods during the attack, emphasizing that no one would be spared for assaulting government officials. Police confirmed that legal action is underway, and investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest those involved.

Environmental, Forest and Climate Change, and Water Resources Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan has warned that many river-based infrastructure projects are inflicting irreversible environmental damage by ignoring rivers as living systems. Speaking virtually at a sub-regional workshop on ‘Water and Climate Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya’ held in Kathmandu, she highlighted that despite having policies and institutions, implementation gaps remain a major obstacle in South Asia. Rizwana emphasized the need for fair water sharing, river rights, and disaster risk management among Himalayan countries. She noted that 90% of Bangladesh’s rivers originate upstream, making the nation highly vulnerable to transboundary impacts such as floods, droughts, and salinity. Citing Bangladesh’s accession to the UN Water Convention, she called for stronger cooperation in data sharing and early warning systems. Rizwana also praised Nepal’s river restoration efforts and stressed that rivers are living entities whose rights must be protected through accountability and regional trust-based hydropower collaboration.

More than 60,000 African penguins have died from starvation along South Africa’s coast, according to a new study published in the journal Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology. The research found that between 2004 and 2012, over 95% of penguins at key breeding sites on Dassen Island and Robben Island vanished due to lack of food during molting periods. The decline is attributed to climate change and overfishing, which have drastically reduced sardine populations—the penguins’ main food source. Scientists from the University of Exeter’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation warn that similar declines are occurring elsewhere. Over the past 30 years, the African penguin population has dropped by about 80%, and the species was declared critically endangered in 2024, with fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remaining. Changes in ocean temperature and salinity have disrupted sardine spawning, while fishing pressure continues to rise, worsening the crisis for these seabirds.

A persistent cold wave has gripped Kurigram district for the past five days, severely disrupting daily life. The temperature dropped to 13.3°C on Friday, according to the Rajarhat Agricultural Weather Observatory. The biting cold and chilly winds have confined many residents, especially those living on the riverine islands (chars), to their homes. Day laborers, elderly people, women, and children are among the worst affected, as outdoor work has become nearly impossible. Many low-income families are struggling financially due to halted work opportunities. Residents report a lack of warm clothing, while cold-related illnesses such as fever and cough are spreading. Areas along the Brahmaputra River, including Ulipur, Chilmari, Roumari, and Char Rajibpur, are experiencing the harshest conditions. Authorities note that humidity levels remain high at 98%, with temperatures fluctuating between 12°C and 13°C over recent days.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast multiple cold waves and possible hailstorms across the country between December and February. The long-range three-month outlook predicts three to eight mild to moderate cold spells, with two to three potentially becoming severe as temperatures drop to between 4°C and 6°C. Despite the cold, overall rainfall is expected to remain normal, and daytime and nighttime temperatures may stay slightly above average. Dense fog is likely to form over river basins and other areas from late night to morning, occasionally lasting until noon. The forecast also warns of one or two days of hailstorms and thunderstorms in late February. The lowest temperature has already dropped to 12°C, signaling the onset of winter across the country.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast multiple cold waves across the country during the upcoming winter months from December to February. According to the seasonal outlook, two to three severe cold waves are expected, with temperatures possibly dropping as low as 4°C in some regions. Additionally, three to eight mild to moderate cold waves are likely, with temperatures ranging between 6°C and 10°C. The forecast also warns of moderate to dense fog, particularly in river basins and surrounding areas during late night and early morning hours, which could intensify the feeling of cold. The department further predicts that in late February, some areas may experience one or two days of hailstorms accompanied by thunderstorms. Authorities have advised citizens to prepare for the cold and take necessary precautions to minimize health and agricultural impacts.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck China's northwestern Xinjiang region on Thursday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). The quake occurred at 3:44 p.m. local time near Akqi County, close to the Kyrgyzstan-Xinjiang border, with its epicenter located about 10 kilometers underground. State media outlet Xinhua reported that as of 4:34 p.m. local time, there were no reports of casualties or building collapses. Local authorities confirmed that transportation, electricity, and telecommunications systems across Akqi County remained fully operational. The CENC recorded the epicenter at 41.13 degrees north latitude and 78.40 degrees east longitude. While the tremor was strong, initial assessments suggest minimal impact on infrastructure or residents in the affected area.

Dhaka has been ranked as the most polluted city in the world among 126 cities, according to Swiss-based air quality monitoring organization IQAir. As of Thursday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) score for Dhaka stood at 302, placing it in the 'hazardous' category. Several areas, including South Pallabi (374), Eastern Housing (354), Madani Avenue’s Base Edgewater (334), and Kalyanpur (304), recorded extremely poor air quality. Other zones like Grace International School in Gulshan (287) and Pirerbag Rail Line (202) were marked as 'very unhealthy.' The high pollution level is primarily due to excessive fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which was found to be over 27 times higher than the World Health Organization’s safe limit. Jahangirnagar University area in Savar recorded the country’s worst air quality with an AQI of 412, while Khulna also reported hazardous levels at 302. IQAir classifies AQI above 301 as dangerous for human health.

Following a series of mild earthquakes across Bangladesh in the past 20 days, including a 4.1 magnitude tremor felt in Dhaka on Thursday morning, the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department has issued safety guidelines urging citizens to remain calm and follow specific precautions during seismic events. The advisory, released on November 23, outlines eight key actions: staying calm, seeking open spaces if on the ground floor, using the 'drop, cover, hold' method in multi-story buildings, avoiding elevators, turning off gas and electricity after tremors, keeping away from windows and heavy objects, staying clear of trees and poles outdoors, and avoiding damaged structures after quakes. Citizens are also advised to keep emergency items like torches, helmets, medicines, and whistles handy, and to contact the 102 hotline for emergency assistance. The department emphasized preparedness over panic to minimize risks and ensure safety during future tremors.

A severe cold wave has gripped Kurigram, a northern border district of Bangladesh, disrupting normal life as temperatures dropped to 12.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning. Dense fog and chilly winds have reduced visibility, forcing vehicles to operate with headlights even after sunrise. The cold has particularly affected low-income workers, day laborers, and those dependent on daily wages, who are struggling to continue their livelihoods amid the biting weather. Residents report that the combination of fog and cold makes it difficult to leave their homes, while transport and local businesses are suffering from reduced activity. According to Subal Chandra Sarkar, acting officer at the Rajarhat Weather Observatory, the temperature recorded at 6 a.m. was 12.4°C and may drop further in the coming days, indicating that the cold spell could intensify.

A mild earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale was felt in Dhaka early Thursday morning, December 4. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the quake originated about 20 kilometers east of Tongi and 3 kilometers north of Narsingdi, with a depth of approximately 27 to 30 kilometers. The tremor occurred at 6:14 a.m. local time and caused brief shaking across parts of the capital and nearby districts. No immediate reports of casualties or property damage have been received. This follows a series of recent minor quakes in Bangladesh, including a 4.2 magnitude tremor in the Bay of Bengal on December 2 and another felt in Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram on December 1. Authorities are monitoring the situation but have not issued any warnings, as the seismic activity remains within low-risk levels.