Heavy rainfall and hill runoff have caused the Maharshi River in Sherpur’s Jhenaigati upazila to overflow, flooding low-lying areas and the main market since Saturday morning. Water entered many shops, disrupting business activities and causing hardship for traders and residents. Several roads were submerged, though immediate information on damage was unavailable.

Local residents blamed the absence of a protective embankment for the recurring floods during the monsoon season. Officials from the Water Development Board reported that the river’s southern bank overflowed in the morning but later subsided. Rainfall was recorded at 24.50 millimeters in Sherpur, 35 millimeters in Nalitabari, and 180 millimeters in Nakugaon. In Nalitabari’s Chellakhali River, water was flowing two centimeters above the danger level, raising concerns about worsening conditions.

Member of Parliament Mahmudul Haque Rubel stated that he had raised the issue of constructing a permanent embankment in the national parliament and expressed hope that a sustainable structure would soon be built to reduce public suffering.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds in many areas of Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, and at a few places in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Barishal divisions. The 24-hour forecast issued on Sunday morning also warned of moderate to heavy rainfall in some parts of the country.

According to the synoptic situation, an extension of a low-pressure area stretches from Gangetic West Bengal to the northwestern Bay of Bengal. The monsoon is moderately active over Bangladesh and weak to moderate elsewhere over the north Bay. The forecast added that daytime temperatures may fall slightly while nighttime temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged.

The highest temperature recorded on Saturday was 36.7 degrees Celsius in Ishwardi, while the lowest on Sunday morning was 22.5 degrees Celsius in Sandwip and Sylhet. Mymensingh experienced the highest rainfall in the past 24 hours with 104 millimeters. In Dhaka, wind speed was 10 to 15 kilometers per hour from the south and southeast, with 88 percent relative humidity at 6 a.m.

The Titas River in Brahmanbaria, once known for its abundant water and vibrant waves, is now facing a severe existential crisis due to decades of encroachment and pollution. Field visits revealed that the river is clogged with water hyacinth, surrounded by illegal structures, and filled with waste from nearby markets and households. The lack of waste treatment has led to toxic water conditions, threatening public health and disrupting navigation.

Local residents expressed deep concern over the river’s deterioration, recalling its past economic and cultural significance. They urged authorities to take immediate action to restore the river’s flow and remove illegal occupations. Officials from the Water Development Board acknowledged that while 90 kilometers of the river were dredged in 2023, the urban section was excluded due to earlier navigability. They now plan a coordinated project to save the river and remove encroachments.

The district administration and BIWTA have pledged to demarcate the river’s boundaries based on cadastral surveys and take necessary steps against illegal structures, aiming to restore the Titas to a sustainable state.

A half-hour spell of heavy rain on Saturday afternoon submerged most major roads in Dhaka, causing severe waterlogging and traffic paralysis across the city. The rainfall, recorded at 35 millimeters within thirty minutes, led to flooding in key areas including Mirpur, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Malibagh, and Motijheel. Even areas near the Prime Minister’s Office and Jahangir Gate were inundated. Although the water gradually receded by evening, residents faced major disruptions, with commuters and students struggling through flooded streets and transport shortages.

According to the Meteorological Department, the day’s rainfall was slightly less than the previous day’s, yet the waterlogging was worse due to poor drainage. Experts attributed the situation to unplanned urbanization and the city’s weak sewage system, citing clogged drains and encroached canals as key reasons for slow water discharge. Despite repeated assurances from Dhaka’s city corporations, the problem persists every monsoon.

The weather office warned that monsoon rains are likely to continue over the coming days, raising concerns about further flooding in low-lying areas of the capital.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on every citizen of Bangladesh to plant at least one tree sapling, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a pollution-free environment for future generations. He made the appeal on Saturday after inaugurating a nationwide program to plant 250 million trees at the Dulahazara Malumghat reserved forest. The initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability and cleaner air across the country.

During the event, the Prime Minister recalled his election pledge to launch a large-scale tree planting campaign if elected. He reaffirmed the government’s target of planting five crore trees annually, totaling 25 crore over the next five years. Rahman urged all citizens to participate actively in the campaign to transform Bangladesh’s air into a cleaner and healthier atmosphere.

He also directed district administrators to take initiatives to turn their respective areas into green sanctuaries. The Prime Minister expressed hope that collective efforts would ensure a safe and pollution-free environment where future generations could breathe freely.

Heavy rainfall and upstream hill runoff caused flooding in low-lying areas of Sherpur’s Jhenaigati upazila on Saturday morning, as the Maharshi River overflowed into the Jhenaigati town market and nearby areas. Roads were submerged, and local residents and traders faced severe disruption. The extent of damage could not be immediately confirmed.

Residents complained that the absence of a protective embankment leaves the market and surrounding lowlands vulnerable to flooding every monsoon. Traders reported water entering their shops, forcing them to protect goods and disrupting normal business activities. In Nalitabari upazila, the Chellakhali River at Batkuchi point flowed two centimeters above the danger level, raising concerns of worsening conditions along riverbanks.

Officials from the Water Development Board said rainfall was recorded at 24.50 millimeters in Sherpur, 35 millimeters in Nalitabari, and 180 millimeters in Nakugaon. Local authorities noted that water levels began to recede by midday. The area’s Member of Parliament stated that a proposal for a permanent embankment on the Maharshi River has been raised in the national parliament to reduce future suffering.

A rare species of turtle weighing about 10 kilograms was caught in a fishing net in the Kholpetua River at Gabura Union of Shyamnagar upazila in Satkhira. The incident occurred on Friday when a local fisherman found the turtle trapped in his net and later kept it at his home. Following reports of the catch, local youths rescued the turtle on Saturday afternoon and handed it over to the Forest Department through members of the Community Patrolling Group.

The turtle was delivered to the Kolagachia Forest Station under the Satkhira Range of the West Sundarbans. Forest officer Saiful Islam confirmed that the turtle is now in the department’s custody and further action will be taken according to higher authorities’ instructions. He described the turtle as a rare species but said its exact classification could not be immediately confirmed.

Experts will determine the species after further examination, according to the Forest Department.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md. Abdus Salam inaugurated the National Tree Plantation Program 2026 at Shaheed Matiur Rahman Park in Gulistan. The initiative, launched simultaneously in ten DSCC regions, aims to plant 300,000 trees between 2026 and 2030. On the opening day, 500 trees were planted as part of the program.

During his address, Abdus Salam emphasized that the fight against climate change is now a national priority, urging citizens to plant more trees and ensure their proper care. He expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for announcing a nationwide plan to plant 250 million trees and highlighted the importance of greenery in combating rising temperatures and declining groundwater levels in Dhaka. He also encouraged residents to leave open spaces for grass when constructing new buildings.

The administrator announced annual awards for rooftop farmers and mentioned plans to discuss tax rebates for them. Under DSCC’s zero-waste initiative, 18,000 trees have already been planted on road medians and traffic islands, and a central nursery is being developed at Osmani Udyan to distribute free saplings to citizens.

A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines' Mindanao island earlier this week, raising the death toll to 61, according to a report by GMA News on Saturday. Authorities said rescue operations continue in the worst-hit areas, where landslides and collapsed buildings have trapped people under debris. The Office of Civil Defense confirmed that ongoing aftershocks, unstable structures, and damaged roads are hampering rescue efforts.

The Disaster Response and Monitoring Information Center reported that about 553,000 people have been affected across the Mindanao region. Among them, 9,393 people are staying in evacuation centers, while 54,274 have taken temporary shelter with relatives or friends. Preliminary assessments show that 8,865 houses were completely destroyed and 36,691 partially damaged.

General Santos City and Sarangani province are among the most severely affected areas. Authorities have declared a state of calamity in these regions to expedite relief and rehabilitation operations.

A tree planting program organized by the Narsingdi District Council was inaugurated on Saturday afternoon along the Putia Itakhola road in Shibpur upazila. The event was held under the initiative of the district council as part of its local environmental activities.

The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Abdul Wahab Rashed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Narsingdi District Council. Local Member of Parliament Manjur Elahi and the district council’s administrator, freedom fighter Tofazzal Hossain Master, jointly inaugurated the program. Assistant engineers Nur-e-Ilham and Jannatul Ferdous, along with several others, were present at the event.

The program reflects the district council’s ongoing efforts to promote environmental conservation and community participation in tree planting across Narsingdi.

Nine years after the devastating landslide that struck Kaptai in Rangamati on June 13, 2017, around 500 families continue to live in hazardous conditions at the base and slopes of hills. The 2017 disaster, triggered by heavy rainfall, killed 18 people and injured over a hundred, destroying homes and farmland across several unions including Chandraghona, Wagga, Raikhali, and Chitmaram.

Local officials report that many residents in Dhakaiya Colony under Kaptai Union, as well as in Wagga and Raikhali unions, remain in danger during the monsoon season. Kaptai Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Latif said that people take shelter in nearby centers during heavy rain but need permanent relocation. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Raihanul Islam stated that authorities are creating a database of at-risk residents to determine land ownership and provide assistance for safer housing.

Former Upazila Chairman Dildar Hossain recalled leading rescue operations in 2017 and urged permanent resettlement for those still living in risky areas, particularly in Dhakaiya Colony.

A new study has identified a large cooling zone in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Greenland and Iceland, known as the 'cold blob' or 'warming hole'. While global ocean temperatures are rising, this region has cooled by about one degree Celsius since 1900. Researchers now confirm that the phenomenon signals a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a vital ocean current system that transports warm water northward and cold water southward.

The study, led by Professor Stefan Rahmstorf of Germany’s Potsdam University, combined satellite data, ocean instruments, and climate models to show that the cooling extends deep below the ocean surface, beyond the influence of atmospheric factors. Other studies indicate that AMOC is now at its weakest in a thousand years. Scientists warn that human-driven global warming and melting ice are disrupting the delicate balance of heat and salinity that sustains the current.

If AMOC collapses, researchers caution it could trigger severe global consequences, including rising sea levels along the U.S. East Coast, extreme cold in Europe, and prolonged droughts in Africa.

The Forest Department has arrested eleven honey collectors with 1,000 kilograms of honey for allegedly collecting it illegally in the Sundarbans. The arrests took place on Friday morning in the Pinmari canal area under the Tengra Khali forest patrol station of the Satkhira range in the western Sundarbans. Two boats used by the group were also seized, and cases were filed under forest laws before sending them to court.

All detainees are residents of Sora village in Gabura Union of Shyamnagar upazila, Satkhira. Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Mashiur Rahman stated that the group entered the forest during a restriction period and were caught while returning with honey. However, the arrested individuals claimed they had entered the forest after making a financial agreement with a person they identified as a broker linked to the Forest Department. The ACF said the allegation would be investigated.

The Forest Department has imposed a three-month ban from June 1 on all entry and resource collection in the Sundarbans to protect its biodiversity and wildlife.

A mobile court in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj fined a Union Parishad member Tk 300,000 for illegally cutting a hill and selling soil. The penalty was imposed on Friday evening in the Madhupur hilly area. The convicted official, Shamim Ahmed, a member of the Satkapon Union Parishad, was also sentenced to six months of simple imprisonment in case of non-payment.

According to the upazila administration, the fine followed proof that soil was being sold after cutting a hill in the Madhupur area. The operation was led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Ujjal Roy, who stated that the action was taken based on allegations of environmental damage and destruction of natural land structure caused by the illegal activity.

The case highlights the local administration’s enforcement efforts against environmental violations in hilly regions of Habiganj.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard (West Zone) is conducting continuous operations to ensure the security of the Sundarbans, preserve biodiversity, and protect Mongla Port. Media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon stated on June 12, 2026, that the force is maintaining strict vigilance and professionalism to combat forest banditry, illegal activities, and infiltration in coastal areas. Under government directives, two special operations—‘Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans’ and ‘Operation Mangrove Shield’—are underway to eliminate bandit groups and safeguard local communities.

Since February 12, 2026, the Coast Guard has seized 42 firearms, ammunition, and equipment, arrested 39 bandits, and rescued 41 hostages. The force also enforces a three-month tourist ban to protect biodiversity and coordinates with other law enforcement agencies for joint missions. A new station has been established in Joymonir Ghol, a former bandit stronghold, to block supply routes.

On June 11, 2026, miscreants attacked the Joymonir Ghol station, injuring several Coast Guard members. Authorities have launched a joint investigation and pledged to continue operations with determination and professionalism.