A rare white buffalo known as 'Donald Trump' has been transferred from Bangladesh’s National Zoo to the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) in Savar. The zoo’s director, Dr. Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Talukder, confirmed on Monday that the relocation followed an administrative decision. The move aims to enhance the animal’s conservation, research, and breeding programs, and the entire process was carried out under official supervision.

The white buffalo gained public attention for its unusual name and distinctive appearance, which made it a major attraction at the National Zoo. Previously, the animal had been kept at a farm in Narayanganj and became widely discussed on social media after being named 'Donald Trump' due to its hair resembling that of the U.S. president. The government later decided to preserve the animal instead of using it for sacrifice and moved it to the National Zoo on May 27. Following the latest administrative order, it has now been relocated to BLRI for further care and research.

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam said that environmental pollution is mainly caused by human self-interest. He made the remarks on Monday while attending the 2026 Environment Debate Competition organized by the Narayanganj Sadar Upazila administration at the Narayanganj District Shilpakala Academy. The minister urged students to make their parents aware of pollution and emphasized that everyone must work to protect life and nature.

He praised the organizers for arranging the event and said that children are the future leaders of the country, stressing that becoming good human beings is more important than any profession. Referring to his experience abroad, he noted that awareness and discipline are key to environmental protection, citing examples from Japan and Singapore. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to keep schools clean and encouraged children to avoid mobile and drug addiction while engaging more in debates, cultural activities, and sports.

The minister reiterated that building the nation is a collective responsibility and that citizens must fulfill their duties responsibly.

A mild earthquake was felt in Dhaka and several parts of Bangladesh on Monday night at 9:28:54 pm. The Earthquake Observation and Research Center reported a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter scale, with the epicenter located in Rupganj, Narayanganj, about 16 kilometers east of Agargaon in Dhaka. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured the quake at magnitude 4.4, with a depth of 10 kilometers. No immediate reports of damage were received, though residents in many areas rushed outdoors after feeling the tremor.

Rubaiyat Kabir, director of the Earthquake Observation and Research Center, said the quake felt stronger because its epicenter was close to Dhaka but emphasized that such mild tremors occur frequently worldwide and are not cause for alarm. BUET civil engineering professor Dr. Mehedi Ahmed Ansari noted that similar minor quakes occurred several times last year and warned that Bangladesh remains at risk of a major earthquake due to lack of preparedness. He urged the government to take proactive measures to mitigate potential large-scale damage.

Experts reiterated that while small tremors are common, the absence of major quakes in the region for over a century could signal accumulating seismic pressure, underscoring the need for readiness.

A school campaign was organized in Dinajpur by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) to raise awareness among students about the harmful effects of single-use plastics. The event took place on Monday morning at the conference hall of Dinajpur Jubilee High School, where participants discussed the environmental and public health risks associated with plastic pollution.

The session was presided over by acting head teacher Akram Hossain, with speeches from assistant teachers Sufia Begum and Jyotirmoyee Sarkar, as well as student representatives Ayesha Siddika and Rittika Pal. BELA network member Konkon Karmakar conducted the program. A total of 51 students attended the campaign.

At the end of the event, participants were urged to become more conscious about environmental protection and to take active roles in building a plastic pollution-free, safe, and sustainable future.

The Singra Upazila administration in Natore conducted a drive on Monday afternoon at Sarkarpara area of Singra municipality, seizing and destroying illegal Chinese fishing nets worth over Tk 2 million. The operation was carried out based on intelligence provided by the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and led by Executive Magistrate and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdullah Al Rifat.

During the mobile court operation, three individuals were penalized for using and selling the illegal nets. Ekabbar Hossain was fined Tk 20,000, Shahidul Sardar received a two-month jail term and a Tk 5,000 fine, and a regular case was filed against Rajib Hossain. The confiscated nets were later burned in the presence of local officials, including the senior fisheries and agriculture officers, police, and NSI members.

According to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, the operation aimed to protect fish resources and biodiversity in the Chalan Beel area, and similar enforcement actions will continue.

A research team from Khulna University’s Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology (FMRT) Discipline has achieved success in cultivating giant freshwater prawns and carp fish together using the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) method in low-salinity coastal water. The environmentally friendly IMTA system, based on the principle of 'one’s waste, another’s food,' increased both production and nutritional value of the fish.

The five-month experiment was conducted in twelve 120-square-meter earthen ponds, where lotus, guppy grass, and freshwater mussels were added to improve water quality and nutrient recycling. Results showed higher growth, survival, and production rates for prawns and G3 carp compared to conventional methods. Profit margins rose from 41% in traditional farming to 74% in the most successful IMTA treatment. The fish and prawns produced contained higher levels of essential amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Lead researcher Professor Dr. Md. Lifat Rahi stated that the IMTA system offers a sustainable and profitable solution for small-scale farmers in Bangladesh’s increasingly saline coastal regions, while also providing consumers with safer and more nutritious protein sources.

Two farmers were killed by lightning in Kanchannagar area of Jamirta Union under Singair upazila in Manikganj district on Sunday evening, June 21, 2026. The victims were identified as Kabir Hossain, 30, son of Newaz Uddin, and Shahidul Islam, 25, son of Rafi Mistri, both residents of Kanchannagar village. The incident occurred while they were working in the field during sudden bad weather.

According to police and local sources, the two men were engaged in agricultural work when a thunderstorm began. They were struck by lightning and sustained severe injuries. Locals rescued them and took them to Jamal Clinic in Hemayetpur, Savar, where doctors declared them dead upon arrival.

Singair Police Station Officer-in-Charge Majharul Islam confirmed the incident and said police had been sent to the scene. He urged people to remain cautious during storms, warning that staying in open fields during rain is highly dangerous.

A recently renovated road in Kaliganj municipality of Jhenaidah has collapsed again, rendering it unsafe for public use. The one-kilometer block road, built at a cost of nearly one crore taka from the front of the Kaliganj food warehouse to the hospital, was reconstructed under a World Bank-funded project. Residents report that the road, repaired with concrete blocks, began to deteriorate within months of completion.

According to local accounts, irregularities and substandard materials were used during the renovation. The contractor, Hannan-Mithu Enterprise of Jhenaidah, reportedly carried out the work between August 2023 and February 2024. Locals allege that a student leader with business ties to the Kaliganj mayor influenced the project and used low-quality materials. Despite repeated complaints, the contractor’s team ignored public concerns. The road had previously collapsed during heavy rains in February 2025 and is now deteriorating again.

Residents fear that the ongoing monsoon will worsen the damage, posing serious risks for those traveling to the hospital and nearby educational institutions.

Bangladesh’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Center has warned that four northern districts—Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Rangpur—may face flooding within the next 72 hours due to continuous rainfall and water inflow from India. Rising water levels in the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers could cross danger marks, temporarily inundating low-lying areas. The center’s Sunday forecast noted that river levels in Rangpur Division have been rising and may continue to do so over the next three days.

The report added that while most major rivers remain below danger levels, several points in the Teesta, Surma, Kushiyara, and Someshwari rivers are flowing near warning levels. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been recorded in parts of Chattogram, Rangpur, and Sylhet divisions, as well as in India’s Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Arunachal regions. Local Water Development Board officials in Kurigram confirmed gradual river level increases and warned of short-term flooding in lowlands.

In Sunamganj, continuous rain and upstream water have already flooded several areas, disrupting transport and damaging homes. Authorities have temporarily closed the Sadapathar tourist site in Sylhet’s Companiganj for safety until weather conditions improve.

Water levels in the Teesta River continued to rise on Sunday due to heavy upstream flow from India, causing anxiety among residents along the riverbanks in Lalmonirhat. At noon, the river was flowing 15 centimeters below the danger level at the Teesta Barrage point, and authorities warned that it could cross the threshold at any time. To manage the situation, 44 sluice gates of the barrage have been opened, and officials are monitoring the water flow continuously.

According to the Water Development Board, both the Teesta and Dharla rivers are still below danger levels, but preparations are in place for any emergency. The control room reported that within the next 72 hours, Teesta’s water might flow above the danger mark, potentially causing short-term flooding in low-lying areas. Heavy rainfall in India’s Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts has worsened the situation, even though there has been little rain in Bangladesh’s Teesta basin.

Earlier, the Water Resources Minister had assured that the Teesta Master Plan was progressing toward implementation, but the current water rise has renewed public concern in the region.

A short spell of heavy rain measuring 58 millimeters on Sunday evening submerged large parts of Dhaka, causing severe waterlogging and traffic congestion. The rainfall began around 5 p.m. and continued intermittently into the night, disrupting movement across major roads such as Green Road, New Market, Malibagh, Mirpur, and Karwan Bazar. Commuters faced long delays, while vehicles broke down in flooded streets. The downpour, though initially bringing relief from days of sweltering heat, quickly turned into widespread inconvenience for city dwellers.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the rainfall qualifies as heavy precipitation, with the highest recorded in Nilphamari’s Dimla at 87 millimeters. The department attributed the weather to an active southwest monsoon and forecast further heavy to very heavy rainfall in Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions. Dhaka North and South City Corporations deployed rapid response teams to drain water, with over 5,000 workers engaged in cleanup operations.

Meteorologists noted that the rain helped reduce humidity and temperature, offering temporary relief, though more rainfall is expected in the coming days.

Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee has announced that Bangladesh is reviewing existing treaties and agreements related to transboundary water sharing. Speaking in the National Parliament on Sunday, he said the government is committed to securing the country’s fair share of water from international rivers and has included this issue in its election manifesto. The review aims to strengthen the Joint Rivers Commission and promote integrated management with India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China.

The minister acknowledged that upstream infrastructure in neighboring countries has reduced water flow into Bangladesh during the dry season. He also cited natural and climate change factors as contributing to declining water availability. In response to parliamentary questions, he detailed ongoing and planned projects, including excavation or re-excavation of 366 kilometers of canals by June under a 180-day program and a five-year plan to excavate or re-excavate 9,046 kilometers of waterways nationwide.

Anee further emphasized the importance of the Padma Barrage Project for national interests, water resource management, agriculture, fisheries, environment, and regional economic development, noting that it has been approved after thorough evaluation.

A section of the Teesta embankment near Mahipur Bridge in Gangachara, Rangpur, began collapsing after India opened the gates of the Gajoldoba barrage, causing the river’s water level to approach the danger mark. Between Saturday afternoon and Sunday noon, about 50 meters of the embankment were washed away, creating a hole over 70 meters deep. Local residents warned that without urgent protective measures, the second Teesta Bridge and the Rangpur–Lalmonirhat regional road could face severe damage.

Around 30,000 to 35,000 people use the Mahipur Teesta road bridge daily, and the sudden erosion has caused widespread fear among locals. Over a thousand families in three villages of Lakshmitari Union are now at direct risk of isolation due to potential road disconnection. Lakshmitari Union Parishad Chairman Abdullah Al Hadi blamed previous negligence by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) for the worsening situation, saying earlier bamboo piling works had failed.

Gangachara Upazila Executive Officer Jesmin Akter said the site had been inspected and LGED was informed for necessary action.

Water levels in the Teesta River continue to rise due to hill runoff from India, causing concern among residents along the riverbanks in Lalmonirhat. Farmers in the Aditmari area said that whenever floods occur in India, large volumes of water are released through the Gajoldoba Barrage into Bangladesh, creating anxiety for thousands of people living in the Teesta basin.

Local farmers expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises regarding the Teesta Master Plan, saying that despite assurances before elections, implementation has not progressed. Officials from the Water Development Board (WDB) reported that water levels at the Dalia Barrage point were flowing 15 centimeters below the danger mark at noon on Sunday, though fluctuations continue.

According to WDB engineers, 44 gates of the barrage have been opened to control water flow, and the situation is being closely monitored. Authorities warned that within the next 72 hours, the Teesta’s water level could rise above the danger mark, potentially causing short-term flooding in low-lying areas near the river.

Continuous rainfall and hill runoff from India’s Meghalaya have caused a rapid rise in river water levels across Sunamganj district. Several low-lying areas have already been inundated, with reports of roads and markets going underwater. The Anwarpur–Sunamganj road in Tahirpur is submerged, and water has entered parts of Sadar, Dowarabazar, Tahirpur, and Bishwambharpur upazilas. The Khasiamara River has overflowed into nearby localities, affecting villages along the haor regions.

According to the Water Development Board, water levels in the Surma, Boula, Jadukata, and Rakti rivers have risen significantly, with the Surma River increasing by 64 centimeters in 24 hours. Although still 60 centimeters below the danger level, officials warned that continued heavy rain over the next two days could push it to or above that threshold. Executive Engineer Mamun Hawlader stated that if rainfall persists for 48 hours, flooding in low-lying areas is likely.

The district administration has taken precautionary measures, advising residents near rivers and haors to stay alert and prepare essential documents, dry food, and emergency supplies in advance.