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.

Authorities in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet have temporarily closed the Sadapathor tourist center following continuous rainfall and mountain runoff from India. The decision was confirmed on Sunday by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Robin Mia. The closure comes after floodwaters submerged nearby shops, creating hazardous conditions across the area.

According to the local administration, the move was taken to ensure the safety of visitors amid the deteriorating weather. Officials stated that tourists are being advised to avoid the site until conditions improve. Once the water flow decreases and the weather stabilizes, the tourist center will reopen.

The administration emphasized that the closure is a precautionary measure to prevent accidents during the current adverse weather. The site will be reopened to visitors as soon as the situation returns to normal.

France has imposed partial restrictions on alcohol consumption as a precautionary measure during a severe heatwave sweeping across much of Europe. Following an emergency meeting, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that drinking alcohol would be banned at public and open-air events, including the annual 'Fête de la Musique' festival, in 35 of the country's 96 departments under red alert. Temperatures in southwestern France, Paris, and Burgundy are expected to reach 39 to 40 degrees Celsius, with some areas possibly hitting 41 degrees. Paris authorities have ordered parks to remain open around the clock.

Germany has issued heat warnings across most regions, where temperatures are nearing 38 degrees Celsius, and its weather agency has cautioned about possible thunderstorms due to high heat and humidity. In Italy, temperatures are forecast to reach 36 to 37 degrees Celsius, affecting daily life and tourism, while Spain’s football federation has closed a fan zone in Madrid due to extreme heat.

Scientists cited in the report warn that climate change is making European heatwaves more frequent and intense, posing growing health and economic risks.

The government has imposed a one-month ban on fishing during the breeding season in Kishoreganj’s haor region, covering Austagram, Itna, and Mithamain upazilas from May 28 to June 26, 2026. The Department of Fisheries has launched limited awareness campaigns through banners, posters, and loudspeaker announcements to enforce the restriction. However, the absence of alternative livelihoods or government food assistance has left thousands of fishermen and their families in severe hardship.

According to official data, 33,190 fishermen are registered in the area, but local sources estimate the real number to be 45,000 to 50,000 families, including seasonal workers. Many depend solely on daily fish sales for survival. The sudden ban has disrupted their income, children’s education, and access to healthcare. The situation is worsened by recent crop losses in the single-harvest haor region, leaving both farmers and fishermen in crisis.

Local fishermen and officials have urged the government to provide food aid or financial incentives, arguing that without such support, enforcing the ban will be nearly impossible.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in several regions over the next two days due to the active southwest monsoon. According to a bulletin signed by meteorologist A K M Nazmul Haque on Sunday, June 21, rainfall between 44 and 88 millimeters, and in some places exceeding 88 millimeters, is likely in parts of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions within 48 hours from 9 a.m.

The department also issued a weather warning for inland river ports, stating that until 6 p.m. today, temporary gusty or squally winds at speeds of 45 to 60 kilometers per hour may blow over Mymensingh, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Chattogram, and Sylhet districts, accompanied by rain or thundershowers. River ports in these areas have been instructed to hoist cautionary signal number 1.

The forecast indicates continued monsoon activity across northern and northeastern Bangladesh, prompting authorities to alert local ports and residents to possible weather disruptions.

India has opened all gates of the Gajoldoba Barrage, causing a rapid rise in the Teesta River’s water level. At the Teesta Barrage point in Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat, the river is flowing just below the danger mark and may cross it at any time. According to the Water Development Board, heavy rainfall in India over recent days has led to increased water flow toward Bangladesh, raising fears of severe flooding in the district.

Officials reported that at 6 a.m. on Saturday, the water at Dalia point was five centimeters below the danger level. The flow, which had decreased earlier, began rising again from Saturday morning. Thousands of families living along the riverbanks in five upazilas of Lalmonirhat are at risk of being marooned as low-lying areas may soon be inundated.

Authorities have urged residents in riverbank areas to remain alert. The Teesta Barrage’s 44 gates have been kept open to manage the rising water, and the Water Development Board continues to monitor the situation closely.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has confirmed that the ancient 'Major Oak' tree in England’s Sherwood Forest, famously associated with the legend of Robin Hood, has died. The oak, estimated to be around 1,200 years old, had a trunk circumference of about 36 feet and was a major tourist attraction. Experts noticed its declining health over recent years, and the absence of new leaves this spring confirmed its death.

RSPB’s Sherwood Forest senior site manager Holly Drake described the loss as heartbreaking for those who cared for the tree and for visitors worldwide. The exact cause of death remains uncertain, though experts cited poor soil quality, root decay, and long-term use of metal supports as possible factors. Climate change, heatwaves, and droughts may also have contributed to its decline.

Although no longer alive, the Major Oak will remain standing as a symbol of natural heritage and a habitat for wildlife. RSPB noted that new saplings grown from its acorns and branches have been planted globally to preserve its legacy.

A new erosion has occurred at the Teesta bridge protection embankment in Mahipur area of Gangachara upazila, Rangpur. The bamboo piling, built last year at a cost of Tk 1.4 million after about 100 meters of the embankment were lost to the river, has reportedly failed to prevent further damage. According to the Water Development Board and local sources, the opening of 44 gates of the Dalia Barrage has caused the Teesta River to flow near the danger level, intensifying currents that damaged the piling. Around 20 meters of the embankment have already collapsed, creating a 40-foot-deep crater.

The collapse has placed the second Teesta Bridge and the Rangpur–Lalmonirhat regional road at serious risk. This key route serves 30,000 to 35,000 commuters daily. Residents fear that continued erosion could completely cut off road connectivity, severely disrupting local transport. Locals, including farmers, have expressed frustration that no permanent solution has been implemented despite repeated losses of farmland.

Local officials said the situation is being reviewed and higher authorities have been informed for urgent action. Residents are demanding a durable embankment to protect the bridge and regional road from further destruction.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam announced that two committees formed by Dhaka North and South City Corporations will remove illegal occupiers from 27 canals in the north and 29 in the south. The announcement came on Saturday during an inspection of waste removal at the Muslim Bazar canal in Mirpur-12, attended by the minister and DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan.

The minister said that after clearing the canals, boundaries will be demarcated and guide walls built on both sides to ensure permanent preservation. He emphasized that without protecting the canals, Dhaka could become uninhabitable, urging residents to cooperate. He noted that waste removal from all canals is ongoing, with about 450 truckloads already cleared from Muslim Bazar canal. The DNCC administrator added that since June 5, 416 truckloads of sludge and waste have been removed from the same canal.

Officials warned that anyone dumping waste after cleaning operations will face fines. They also pledged coordinated development with WASA and DESCO to avoid repeated road digging and to continue efforts to make Dhaka free from waterlogging and dengue.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of the Water Development Board has warned of short-term flooding in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, and Rangpur as river levels continue to rise due to heavy rainfall. The situation may persist for up to five days, according to officials. Additional alerts have been issued for Kamalganj in Netrokona, Kanaighat and Fenchuganj in Sylhet, and Mongla in Bagerhat, where localized flooding could also occur.

The centre reported that water levels in the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers have increased over the past 24 hours and may continue to rise for the next three days, potentially crossing danger levels in parts of the four northern districts. Although most major rivers remain below danger levels, ongoing rainfall in Bangladesh and upstream regions of India, including Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, and Meghalaya, is contributing to the rise.

The forecast also indicates that the Surma and Kushiyara rivers may reach warning levels within three days, posing temporary inundation risks in low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj.

Water levels in the Teesta River have risen sharply after India opened all gates of the Gajoldoba Barrage, causing concern in Lalmonirhat’s Hatibandha area. As of 6 a.m. Saturday, June 20, 2026, the river at the Dalia point of the Teesta Barrage was flowing just five centimeters below the danger level. Authorities warned that the river could cross the danger mark at any time, potentially triggering severe flooding in nearby low-lying areas.

According to the Water Development Board and local residents, heavy rainfall in India over recent days has increased upstream flow, pushing more water into Bangladesh. Although water levels had briefly decreased earlier in the week, they began rising again on Saturday morning. The Teesta River runs through five upazilas of Lalmonirhat, meaning even a small rise can inundate riverside areas across the district.

Officials have urged residents in low-lying regions to remain alert as continuous monitoring of the situation is underway. The Water Development Board has kept 44 barrage gates open to manage the flow.

Bangladesh banned plastic bags in 2002 to curb urban flooding and pollution, but two decades later the ban remains largely ineffective. Despite the law, plastic production and use continue across the country due to weak enforcement, lack of affordable alternatives, and the dominance of plastic in daily life. The problem becomes most visible during the monsoon when clogged drains cause severe waterlogging in cities like Dhaka.

The article explains that plastic manufacturing has become a major industry because it is cheap and widely available, making eco-friendly alternatives less competitive. Local producers and entrepreneurs face challenges such as limited raw materials, higher costs, and insufficient market support. The persistence of plastic use reflects both economic and behavioral barriers.

The author calls for stronger international cooperation, binding global agreements to reduce plastic production, and financial and technological support for developing countries. The piece concludes that combating plastic pollution requires collective action from governments and individuals alike, emphasizing that sustainable change depends on both policy and personal behavior.

The BNP-led government has initiated a major plan to make Bangladesh’s agricultural irrigation fully solar-powered. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, a policy decision is being prepared to convert all diesel and electricity-driven irrigation pumps to solar energy. The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) has been instructed to implement the plan, which includes a proposed five-year project from July 2025 to June 2030 to install 50,900 solar irrigation units across the country at a cost of about Tk 6,996 crore.

Field-level farmers have welcomed the initiative but raised concerns about technical challenges. Some reported that earlier solar pumps failed to provide sufficient water during cloudy weather or at night, forcing them to rely on deep tube wells. Experts and economists have supported the solar transition, noting potential savings in fuel imports, reduced carbon emissions, and long-term cost benefits for farmers.

If implemented effectively, the project could save hundreds of crores of taka in diesel costs annually and add around 150 megawatts of electricity to the national grid through net metering, easing pressure on Bangladesh’s energy supply.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku said the government is implementing infrastructure development projects across various regions as part of the Prime Minister’s announced development program. He stated that efforts are underway to ensure safe water for every citizen in urban and municipal areas. Tuku made these remarks on Friday while inaugurating the construction of a 680-cubic-meter capacity overhead water reservoir near the Eidgah field in Ward No. 6 of Tangail Municipality. The project is being implemented by the Department of Public Health Engineering under the Water Supply System Expansion and Development Project.

The minister said the government is working tirelessly to improve people’s living standards and that such projects will accelerate the pace of development. He added that once the overhead water tanks in Ward No. 6 and the Ashekpur Bypass area are completed, local residents will have access to safe and pure water, which will play a vital role in improving public health.

The event was attended by local officials, political leaders, and residents of the area.

France’s national meteorological agency, Météo-France, has placed 53 administrative areas under a heatwave alert starting Friday afternoon. The advisory covers a wide region stretching from the southwest to the northeast of the country. On Thursday, 26 areas were under an orange alert, and an additional 27 areas were added a day later.

According to Météo-France, this is the second heatwave of the spring season in France and is expected to be extensive, long-lasting, and intense. The agency forecast maximum temperatures between 34 and 36 degrees Celsius across the Massif Central to the northeastern regions, with temperatures possibly reaching 38 degrees Celsius near the French Riviera and Corsica. In Paris and the Île-de-France region, highs are expected to range from 36 to 37 degrees Celsius.

The alert underscores growing concerns about prolonged heat conditions across France, as residents in Paris and other regions seek relief from the rising temperatures.