Starting January 25, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will impose fines and possible jail terms for honking in and around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. According to a public notice signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, violators may face a maximum fine of 10,000 taka or up to three months in jail. The enforcement will cover the airport area and a 1.5-kilometer stretch from Scholastica School to Hotel Le Méridien.

The DMP has declared the airport zone, along with Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan, as silent areas where honking is a punishable offense. The initiative aims to reduce noise pollution in these designated zones. The police announcement specifies that the rule will be strictly implemented from January 25.

To ensure compliance, special mobile courts will be operated jointly by the Department of Environment, BRTA, Civil Aviation Authority, Dhaka North City Corporation, and DMP magistrates, as stated in the police notice.

Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has experienced its heaviest snowfall in 130 years, leaving towns and cities buried under massive snowdrifts. Local authorities reported snow accumulation ranging from 10 to 40 feet, with some multi-story buildings covered up to the fourth floor. The severe blizzard has caused fatalities due to snow pressure and avalanches. On January 15, Mayor Yevgeny Belyayev declared a state of emergency in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the region’s administrative center.

The extreme weather has paralyzed transportation, forcing road closures and flight cancellations. Power outages have been reported across several areas, and schools, offices, and businesses remain shut, confining residents indoors. Shortages of essential goods such as bread, milk, and eggs have emerged as snow-blocked roads disrupt supply chains.

Meteorologists attributed the continuous heavy snowfall and strong winds to multiple low-pressure systems over the Sea of Okhotsk. They warned that the harsh conditions could persist for several more days, prolonging the region’s crisis.

Severe wildfires have continued for a third consecutive day in southern Chile, fueled by high temperatures and strong winds. Officials reported at least 20 deaths and widespread destruction across several towns. The fires began Saturday in the Ñuble and Biobío regions, about 500 kilometers south of Santiago, and quickly spread over an area comparable to the size of Detroit in the United States, destroying or severely damaging around 1,000 homes.

President Gabriel Boric said Monday that while some areas were under control, conditions remained “very active and dangerous” in others, with new fires emerging in nearby Araucanía. Both Ñuble and Biobío have been declared disaster zones, and the military has been deployed to assist. More than 3,500 firefighters were working to contain the blazes as temperatures dropped to around 25 degrees Celsius but the situation remained critical.

Experts cited climate change as a key factor behind the increasing frequency of extreme wildfires in central and southern Chile during the dry summer months. Past fire seasons in 2016–17, 2022–23, and February 2024 also caused severe destruction and loss of life.

Across Bangladesh, fertile topsoil from agricultural land is being sold and used in brick kilns, severely reducing arable land and threatening crop production. Despite repeated government crackdowns, the illegal trade continues in districts including Chandpur, Moulvibazar, Cumilla, and Lakshmipur. Officials report that much of the soil is taken from farmlands and riverbanks, leaving deep pits that later turn into water bodies.

In Faridganj of Chandpur, around 30 brick kilns, mostly illegal, are reportedly using topsoil from croplands. In Kamalganj of Moulvibazar, soil traders operate day and night despite administrative raids and fines. Similar illegal excavation continues along the Gomti River in Cumilla and in Raipur, Lakshmipur, where fertile land is being stripped to feed brick kilns. Local officials confirm ongoing mobile court operations, fines, and vehicle seizures.

Authorities have pledged continued enforcement and investigations, but the persistence of the trade indicates enforcement challenges. The ongoing loss of topsoil poses serious risks to agricultural diversity, economic stability, and food security in affected regions.

A severe cold spell continues in Nawabganj upazila of Dinajpur on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, with the lowest temperature recorded at 10.3 degrees Celsius at 6 a.m. The humidity level stood at 93 percent, intensifying the cold sensation across the district. Dense fog and chilly winds since dawn have brought daily life to a near standstill, particularly affecting laborers, farmers, day workers, and students. Road traffic has also slowed due to poor visibility caused by the fog.

According to Tofazzal Hossain, an official from the Dinajpur Meteorological Department, the cold conditions in the northern region have not yet subsided. The combination of low temperature and high humidity has made the cold more biting and prolonged the foggy conditions.

The persistent cold weather continues to disrupt normal activities in Nawabganj, with residents struggling to cope as the chill lingers across northern Bangladesh.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) announced that strict punitive measures will be taken against anyone honking in or around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The decision was detailed in a press release signed by Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman of the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division on Monday, January 19, 2026.

According to the release, the Dhaka North City Corporation declared the airport area and a 1.5-kilometer stretch from Scholastica School to Hotel Le Méridien, as well as Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan, as silent zones since September of the previous year. Under the Road Transport Act 2018 and the Noise Pollution (Control) Regulations, honking in these silent zones is a punishable offense, carrying a maximum fine of 10,000 taka or up to three months’ imprisonment.

The newly issued Noise Pollution (Control) Regulations 2025 authorize police to impose fines for honking or causing noise pollution in silent zones. The DMP stated that it will take strict disciplinary action against violators in these designated areas.

A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Pakistan’s northwestern Kashmir region on Monday, killing one person and causing several houses to collapse, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The quake’s epicenter was about 35 kilometers below the surface. The tremor triggered landslides that sent heavy rocks tumbling onto roads, damaging infrastructure and blocking access routes.

Regional Information Minister Ghulam Abbas said that in Gilgit-Baltistan province, multiple mud houses were destroyed or damaged. Falling rocks from surrounding mountains struck several roads, closing entry points and damaging a major highway. Government agencies quickly deployed machinery to clear debris and restore normal traffic flow.

Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage, and local alerts remain in effect in the affected areas as cleanup and recovery operations continue.

Uncontrolled sand extraction from the Teesta River’s char areas in Dakshin Kolkond of Gangachara upazila, Rangpur, has put the river protection groyne embankment at risk of collapse. According to local reports, a syndicate has been illegally removing and selling sand by cutting into the embankment. The groyne, originally built to protect homes, farmland, schools, roads, and infrastructure, is now being damaged by these activities. Police attempted to stop the illegal extraction on December 20, 2025, but were attacked by the accused while trying to seize sand-laden vehicles.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jesmin Akter stated that legal action will be taken against those cutting the embankment for sand extraction. Water Development Board Executive Engineer Mehedi Hasan warned that if the groyne is damaged, the Teesta River’s flow could shift, affecting not only Dakshin Kolkond but also wider areas including Rangpur city. Locals have demanded strict action against all members of the syndicate, including landowners, occupiers, and vehicle operators.

Residents fear that without immediate repair of the damaged groyne, the upcoming monsoon could bring severe river erosion and humanitarian disaster across greater Rangpur.

At least 19 people have been killed and more than 50,000 displaced as uncontrolled wildfires swept through southern Chile’s Ñuble and Biobío regions, about 500 kilometers south of Santiago. Fueled by strong winds and high temperatures, the fires have destroyed homes, vehicles, and infrastructure over two days, leaving towns like Penco and Lirquén in ruins. Most of the deaths occurred in Penco, while residents in Lirquén described flames spreading within seconds.

President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency in the affected regions, enabling the deployment of armed forces to assist nearly 4,000 firefighters battling the blazes. He visited Concepción to oversee firefighting efforts and imposed a nighttime curfew in the hardest-hit areas, calling the situation extremely difficult. The national disaster agency reported that most evacuations took place in Penco and Lirquén, home to about 60,000 people.

Officials warned that weather conditions remain unfavorable, with high temperatures and strong winds complicating containment efforts. The report noted that climate change has intensified wildfire risks in central and southern Chile in recent years.

The Forest Department has recovered and destroyed more than 200 traps used for deer hunting in the Satkhira range of the western Sundarbans. The operation took place on Sunday morning through noon in the Phulkhali area under the Kolagachhia patrol outpost. Forest officials and members of the local Community Patrolling Group (CPG) participated in identifying and dismantling the traps.

Forest Ranger Md. Fazlul Haque stated that regular foot patrols in the forest can help protect wildlife. He noted that poachers often enter the forest using various tactics to set traps in convenient locations, endangering deer and other important wildlife species. The operation was led by foresters Taibur Rahman and Shahinur Rahman, along with CPG members.

Fazlul Haque expressed hope that strengthening regular foot patrols would significantly reduce wildlife poaching in the Sundarbans, contributing to the protection of its biodiversity.

Professor Dr. M. Shahidul Islam emphasized that Bangladesh must adopt and implement a strategic plan for green technology and renewable energy to ensure long-term sustainable economic development. Currently, about 95 percent of the country’s energy system depends on high carbon-emitting fossil fuels, producing roughly 0.7 kilograms of carbon per kilowatt-hour of electricity. This dependency poses structural challenges to sustainability and directly contributes to climate change, threatening public health, ecosystems, and biodiversity.

The article highlights that energy security is a fundamental right linked to food security, water management, industrialization, and employment. Bangladesh holds about 3 billion tons of high-quality coal and has renewable energy potential of around 75,000 megawatts from solar, wind, hydro, and biomass sources. The proposed in-situ underground coal gasification (UCG) method could convert deep coal into syngas without mining, reducing environmental damage and carbon emissions.

Economic analysis shows UCG could achieve up to 85 percent thermal efficiency and cut emissions to below 0.1 kilograms per kilowatt-hour. The author calls for pilot projects, research, and skilled workforce development to overcome geological and technical challenges, ensuring a balanced, low-risk energy transition for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has reported an unusual rise in daytime temperatures across the country, with readings two to three degrees Celsius higher than normal for January. The department noted that while daytime temperatures are increasing, nighttime temperatures remain nearly unchanged. Only Tetulia in Panchagarh recorded a temperature below 10°C, marking the end of the recent cold wave. The current weather pattern, described as the most abnormal in 30 years, may continue until January 25–26, with a brief dip around January 22–23 before rising again.

Meteorologist Dr. Omar Faruk explained that a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal last week absorbed moisture from surrounding areas, leading to the sudden temperature increase in Bangladesh and neighboring countries. Another expert, Kazi Zebunnesa, said that the disappearance of dense fog and increased sunlight have contributed to the warming trend. The capital, Dhaka, has already experienced a noticeable decline in cold intensity.

According to the weather office, this pattern suggests that winter may end earlier than usual, possibly within January itself, as the country transitions toward warmer conditions.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Information and Broadcasting, has called for an end to unnecessary honking to control noise pollution. She made the remarks while inaugurating a motor rally against honking, jointly organized by the Department of Environment and Dhaka Metropolitan Police under the ‘Integrated and Participatory Project for Noise Pollution Control’. The event took place in Dhaka, where the adviser emphasized that both legal measures and behavioral change are needed to address the issue.

Hasan noted that the ‘Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2025’ have been gazetted, assigning responsibilities to both the Department of Environment and the police to take immediate action against offenders. Several areas in Dhaka have already been declared silent zones, and monitoring will be strengthened there. She identified honking and fireworks as major sources of noise pollution and suggested designating specific areas for New Year fireworks. The adviser urged media professionals to promote awareness and called on youth to build a social movement against noise pollution.

The rally, themed “No more noise pollution, let healthy life prevail,” concluded a ten-day mobile court and campaign held at ten key points in Dhaka since January 5, supported by Green Voice volunteers.

Severe flooding caused by continuous heavy rainfall has killed more than 100 people across southern Africa, according to a report by Al Jazeera on Saturday. The floods have affected South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, where rivers have overflowed and infrastructure has collapsed, cutting off communication in many areas. In South Africa’s Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, at least 30 people have died, prompting the deployment of army helicopters to rescue stranded residents. A border checkpoint near Zimbabwe was evacuated after being surrounded by floodwaters.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited affected areas in Limpopo, reporting nearly 400 millimeters of rain in less than a week and the destruction of 36 houses in one district. Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba said more than 1,000 homes were damaged. In Zimbabwe, the disaster management agency confirmed at least 70 deaths since the start of the year, with over 1,000 homes destroyed and multiple schools, roads, and bridges washed away.

The World Food Programme (WFP) stated that over 200,000 people have been affected, with 70,000 hectares of farmland submerged, raising fears of worsening food insecurity for small farmers in the region.

A joint operation by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Upazila Fisheries Department in Matlab North, Chandpur, recovered 850 kilograms (21 maunds 10 kilograms) of illegally transported jatka fish from a passenger vehicle on Friday, January 16, 2026. The operation took place between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. as part of the government’s enforcement of the jatka fishing ban. The seized fish were immediately distributed among local orphanages and underprivileged residents.

Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Bijoy Kumar Das, Mohanpur Outpost Contingent Commander M. Sanoar Haque, and Fisheries Field Assistant Mosharraf Hossain were present during the raid. Das stated that despite a complete ban on catching and transporting jatka, some groups continue illegal activities, posing a serious threat to the national hilsa fish population. He emphasized that protecting jatka ensures the future of hilsa production.

Authorities have intensified surveillance on both river and road routes to prevent jatka smuggling, according to the fisheries department.