In Atrai upazila of Naogaon, the Atrai River has reportedly dried up due to the unplanned construction of sluice gates, causing severe water shortages across vast agricultural lands. The crisis has led to the disappearance of native fish species and left many fishermen unemployed. The problem stems from the 1980s, when a single-gate sluice was built on the wide Atrai River near the upazila complex, while a ten-gate sluice was constructed on a narrow canal at Kashiyabari, about two kilometers away. Residents have questioned the planning behind these decisions.

Local farmers from several villages, including Parkasunda, Narikelbari, and Khajura, said they have suffered for years from water scarcity that hampers crop production. The president of the local fishermen’s cooperative, Profulla Chandra Hawlader, stated that hundreds of fishing families have lost their livelihoods and now live in hardship. When contacted, Naogaon Water Development Board’s executive engineer Asif Ahmed said the sluice gates were built long before his tenure and promised to look into the matter.

The drying of the river has affected nearly 30 kilometers of its course, impacting numerous villages and threatening the region’s agricultural and ecological balance.

Tourist travel to St. Martin’s Island in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar will be suspended for nine months starting Sunday, February 1, under a decision by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The current tourism season will end on Saturday, January 31. Normally, visitors are allowed from October 1 to March 31 each year, but this season has been shortened due to environmental risks. According to Additional District Magistrate Imran Hossain, ships carrying tourists will make their final trip to the island today, and no tourist vessels will be permitted from Sunday onward.

The decision has caused concern among local business owners and residents who depend on tourism. M.A. Abdur Rahman, president of the St. Martin Hotel-Motel-Resort Owners Association, said many investors have failed to recover their investments and are facing losses. Union Parishad Chairman Foyezul Islam stated that most islanders rely on tourism and are disheartened by the long closure.

Authorities indicated that the government may revise the decision later, depending on future considerations.

A distinctive bird fair was held on January 31, 2026, at Rajshahi University’s Buddhijibi Chattar, featuring preserved bird specimens displayed through taxidermy. Organized by the university’s Bird Conservation Club with support from the Zoology Department and partners, the daylong event aimed to promote awareness under the theme “See birds, love birds, protect birds.” Visitors observed rare and extinct species, while school students participated in a drawing competition to engage with wildlife conservation themes.

The exhibition included various species such as pigeons, parrots, herons, and owls, along with detailed explanations of preservation methods. Former zoology student and taxidermist Md. Delowar Hossain shared insights into the scientific process of taxidermy and noted that such fairs are regularly held at Rajshahi and Jahangirnagar universities. Professor A.M. Saleh Reza, convener of the Bird Conservation Club, emphasized the importance of familiarizing students with native birds and fostering empathy toward wildlife.

Organizers highlighted that the fair serves as an educational platform to inspire responsible behavior toward migratory and local birds and to encourage scientific conservation practices.

The Dhonagoda River in Kali Bazar area of Matlab North upazila, Chandpur, has become virtually unusable due to dense water hyacinth, illegal structures, and encroachment, halting all boat movement. The five-kilometer stretch from Srirayer Char Bridge to Kali Bazar is completely blocked, leaving eight launch terminals inactive. Locals and students now cross the river using makeshift bamboo bridges, risking their safety daily.

Residents report that illegal fishing traps along both banks have obstructed the river’s natural flow, causing water hyacinth to accumulate and turn the river into a green wasteland. The river once served as a vital trade route connecting Matlab North, Matlab South, Gazaria, and Daudkandi with Dhaka, Munshiganj, and Narayanganj, but now stands nearly dead due to pollution and unplanned occupation.

Local authorities have acknowledged the issue. Matlab North Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahamuda Kulsum Moni stated that the matter is under review and coordination is underway with relevant departments to remove water hyacinth, clear illegal structures, and restore navigability.

At least five people have been killed as powerful storm Christine swept through central and northern Portugal, causing widespread flooding, landslides, and severe damage. The storm, which struck on Wednesday, left more than 850,000 people without electricity and forced the closure of schools and colleges. Civil Protection authorities reported wind speeds reaching up to 150 kilometers per hour and more than 3,000 incidents across the country.

According to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), the Leiria district was the hardest hit, where three deaths occurred. One person was struck by a metal sheet, another was trapped under a collapsed house structure, and a third died when a tree fell on a car in Vila Franca de Xira. Another fatality was reported in Marinha Grande. The storm also severely disrupted transportation, blocking major highways and rail lines between Lisbon and northern regions.

The event follows a series of storms that have battered Portugal in recent days, including one over the weekend that caused flooding and claimed another life.

Professor Dr. Md. Fakhrul Islam described a recent visit to Cox’s Bazar, where he observed a large plastic sculpture at Sugandha Point built to raise awareness about plastic pollution. He highlighted how plastic waste has become a growing environmental threat to the world’s longest natural sea beach, with single-use plastics from tourists and businesses accumulating in the sand and sea. The professor warned that plastic waste is breaking down into microplastics, entering the marine food chain, and ultimately affecting humans.

He noted that despite a legal ban on polythene in Bangladesh, enforcement in Cox’s Bazar remains weak. Hotels, restaurants, and beach vendors continue to use plastic due to its low cost and availability. The article calls for strict monitoring, fines, and promotion of affordable eco-friendly alternatives. It also emphasizes community-based waste management, recycling initiatives, and environmental education for children and tourists.

The professor further pointed out the problem of stray dogs and animal waste on the beach, urging authorities to take immediate measures. He concluded that protecting Cox’s Bazar requires coordinated national action to preserve its natural beauty and ecological balance.

A devastating landslide in Indonesia’s West Java province has killed at least 50 people, with 32 others still missing as of Wednesday, according to local media reports. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors despite adverse weather and difficult terrain. Heavy machinery and tracking devices are being used to locate those trapped under mud and debris.

Authorities reported earlier in the day that 48 people had been confirmed dead and 32 remained missing, citing the state news agency Antara. The disaster has displaced at least 685 residents, who have been moved to safer areas. The landslide struck a village in West Bandung Regency on Saturday, burying numerous homes.

Separately, Indonesia’s Navy Chief of Staff Muhammad Ali said that 23 naval personnel were caught in the landslide during a training exercise in the same area. Four of them have been confirmed dead, while 19 remain missing. Rescue operations are ongoing despite the challenging conditions.

A devastating snowstorm has paralyzed life across 14 U.S. states, with the death toll rising to 38. The storm has blanketed roads in the central and eastern regions under thick snow, severely disrupting transportation and leading to the cancellation of thousands of flights. The U.S. weather agency has warned that the extreme cold is expected to persist for several more days.

Temperatures have dropped below freezing in Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina, with forecasts indicating further decline by Wednesday night. The National Weather Service has cautioned that conditions could worsen in the eastern United States on Friday and Saturday, with another winter storm expected to hit parts of the East Coast and record low temperatures predicted as far south as Florida.

More than 550,000 homes and businesses have lost power, including over 135,000 in Nashville, Tennessee. Local authorities there reported that homeless shelters are full, and police and firefighters are working extended hours to manage the crisis.

A major portion of Mamar Ghat, an important river transport hub under Mongla municipality in Bagerhat, has collapsed into the Pashur River due to severe erosion. The incident has left around 10,000 daily commuters facing acute travel disruptions, while fear and uncertainty spread across the area. Residents along the riverbank are relocating homes and belongings to safer places as the erosion continues.

According to local accounts, the erosion has been ongoing for three years but intensified recently due to heavy upstream runoff that raised river levels and increased current pressure. Illegal sand extraction along the riverbank has worsened the situation, destabilizing the river’s natural flow and embankments. Locals allege that unregulated sand lifting over the past decade has triggered the current crisis, severely affecting transport to the nearby Export Processing Zone (EPZ).

Mongla municipal administrator and Upazila Executive Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi said sand-filled geobags are being placed to curb the erosion. Residents, however, question why preventive measures and enforcement against illegal sand mining were not taken earlier.

An Oxford University study published in the British journal Nature Sustainability warns that nearly half of the world’s population could suffer from extreme heat by 2050 if fossil fuel use continues at the current rate. The research, based on a projected two-degree Celsius rise in global temperature from pre-industrial levels, found that 41 percent of people—about 3.79 billion—would be exposed to dangerous heat, up from 23 percent in 2010.

The study, led by Dr. Jesus Lizana of Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science, highlights a sharp contrast between national temperature averages and actual living conditions. It identifies India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Philippines as particularly vulnerable to severe heat exposure. The findings also show that regions with high population density will experience over 3,000 cooling degree days, indicating a growing demand for air conditioning and other cooling systems.

Researchers noted that extreme cold conditions will decline globally, with the share of “severely cold” populations dropping from 14 percent to 7 percent. This shift will increase cooling needs in tropical countries while reducing heating requirements in northern nations such as Canada and Russia.

The long-anticipated Padma Barrage construction project, valued at Tk 50,444 crore, has been halted at the final stage after it was not presented for approval at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting. The project aimed to restore biodiversity across 26 districts and 123 upazilas in Bangladesh’s southwest region, severely affected by India’s upstream water withdrawal. The Planning Ministry confirmed that despite all preparations, the project was not tabled for reasons not disclosed.

Geopolitical analysts view the delay as a sign of the interim government’s concession to India, while experts stress that India’s unilateral withdrawal of water from shared rivers has caused severe environmental and agricultural damage in Bangladesh. The Planning Ministry stated that the government’s current priority is to ensure a free and fair national election, after which the elected administration will decide on the project.

Documents show that India has repeatedly objected to the project during bilateral and technical discussions. Officials indicated that the proposal may be reconsidered in a future ECNEC meeting or by the next elected government.

Indonesia’s navy confirmed that 23 marines were killed after being trapped in a landslide in West Java province. The incident occurred early Saturday in Pasir Langu village of Bandung Barat district, about 100 kilometers southeast of Jakarta. Navy spokesperson First Admiral Tunggul said the marines were participating in a training exercise linked to patrol preparations along the Indonesia–Papua New Guinea border when heavy rain triggered the landslide.

According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, the death toll from the landslide had risen to 20 by Tuesday afternoon, with 42 people still missing. It was not immediately clear whether the military casualties were included in that figure. Around 800 rescuers, including soldiers and police, along with nine excavators, were deployed to search for the missing. Authorities evacuated 685 residents from the affected village to local government buildings for shelter.

The disaster struck during the peak of the rainy season across Java, which has recently experienced widespread flooding. Two months earlier, floods and landslides on Sumatra island caused about 1,200 deaths and displaced more than one million people.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has challenged the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), claiming that every bus operated by the state-run company emits black smoke. She made the remarks on Tuesday at the BRTC Training Institute in Tejgaon during the inauguration of a training program aimed at improving driver and worker skills and raising awareness about noise pollution.

Hasan expressed frustration over the delay in finalizing the government’s scrap policy, which was supposed to be completed on October 28 of the previous year. She said she had repeatedly contacted officials over the past ten months about the issue. The adviser emphasized that without strict action against polluting vehicles, no real progress could be achieved. She also urged BRTC and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to take coordinated steps to ensure proper maintenance of old buses.

She added that while replacing old buses may take time, operators should at least maintain their vehicles properly, noting that after 54 years of operation, there is no reason for further delay in addressing pollution from public transport.

According to data from international air quality monitoring firm IQAir, released on Tuesday morning, Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) score of 299, placing it at the top of the world’s most polluted cities list. Dhaka ranked fifth with a score of 220, while Kolkata stood seventh. Both Delhi and Dhaka’s air quality levels were categorized as 'very unhealthy'. The data was collected around 8:30 a.m., when dry winter weather typically worsens air pollution in the region.

The IQAir ranking also placed Dakar, Senegal, second with a score of 243; Cairo, Egypt, third with 229; Hanoi, Vietnam, fourth with 221; and Krasnoyarsk, Russia, sixth with 201. The report noted that AQI scores between 201 and 300 are considered 'very unhealthy', prompting health advisories for children, the elderly, and those with illnesses to stay indoors and for others to limit outdoor activities.

The report highlighted that during the dry winter season, Dhaka often experiences persistently high pollution levels, contributing to its position among the world’s most polluted cities.

A powerful snowstorm has caused widespread disruption across the United States, leaving at least 30 people dead and millions without electricity. The storm has led to the cancellation of thousands of flights and prompted weather-related emergency declarations in at least 25 states, according to the Associated Press. The extreme cold and heavy snowfall have affected areas from New York and Massachusetts in the northeast to Texas and North Carolina in the south.

Snowfall reached up to 18 inches in some regions, with temperatures dropping to minus 18 degrees Celsius. The storm directly impacted about 118 million people, while more than 150 million were advised to remain cautious. New York reported the highest number of fatalities, with five deaths. Governor Kathy Hochul deployed the National Guard in New York City, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to assist those in need. Deaths were also reported in Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Massachusetts, and Kansas.

The U.S. National Weather Service said the storm’s main system was moving toward the Atlantic Ocean but warned that new Arctic air could bring more snow and rain to the northeast in the coming days.