The Government of Bangladesh has outlined several environmental and development initiatives in its proposed national budget, including the construction of the Padma Barrage to improve agriculture, environment, and water management in the southwest region. The project is expected to benefit about 37 percent of the country’s population once implemented.

In addition to the barrage, the government plans to launch large-scale environmental programs to address climate change and promote sustainability. These include a five-year target to plant 2.5 billion trees and create approximately 3,500 green jobs. Authorities are also considering a 'One Child, One Tree' initiative that would add another 10 million trees under the same plan.

The government further aims to reduce plastic waste by 30 percent within five years through the 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' (3R) policy framework, reinforcing its commitment to environmental protection and resource efficiency.

The government-imposed 58-day fishing ban aimed at protecting hilsa breeding and marine biodiversity ends at midnight on June 11, 2026. Thousands of fishermen from Patuakhali’s coastal areas are preparing to return to the sea for hilsa fishing. At major landing stations in Mahipur and Alipur, activity has resumed as fishermen clean trawlers, repair nets and engines, and stock up on ice and food supplies.

According to the fisheries department, the annual ban period was previously set from May 20 to July 23 but was revised last year to April 15 to June 11 to align with neighboring India and address fishermen’s concerns. During the ban, all fishing, transport, storage, and sale of fish were prohibited in marine and coastal areas.

Local fishermen expressed both hope and frustration. Some said they struggled to sustain their families despite government rice aid, while others complained about not being listed for incentives. Fish traders expect business to revive as fishing resumes, and officials hope the ban will boost hilsa production and stabilize market prices.

Bangladesh’s government has proposed allocating Tk 100 crore to the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust in the 2026–27 fiscal year budget, Finance Minister announced in Parliament on Thursday. The government also finalized a plan to plant one crore trees under the ‘One Child, One Tree’ initiative to combat the effects of climate change.

The Finance Minister said Bangladesh remains one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, facing challenges from rising temperatures, sea-level rise, salinity intrusion, cyclones, and floods. To ensure a livable future, the government has set a target of planting 25 crore trees nationwide over the next five years, which is expected to create about 350,000 green jobs. The budget also includes detailed targets for block, strip, mangrove, and homestead plantations.

Additional measures include bringing 50 percent of coastal mangrove forests under carbon trading, implementing a circular future model for waste management, establishing ten modern vehicle inspection centers to reduce pollution, introducing electric bus services, and issuing updated e-waste management guidelines to cut plastic waste by 30 percent within five years.

In Nilphamari’s Jaldhaka upazila, unscrupulous fishermen are reportedly using improvised power systems known as ‘IPS’ to catch fish in local rivers, putting native species at risk of extinction. The practice is widespread in the Teesta, Buri Teesta, and Charalkata rivers, where electricity generated from IPS devices is released into the water at night, electrocuting fish and other aquatic life within a radius of several meters.

Residents report that the activity intensifies during the monsoon season when river water levels rise. Locals from Dawabari and Golmunda unions said organized groups operate boats at night, killing mother fish and fry alike, leading to a sharp decline in native fish populations. The demand for local fish remains high in markets, but supply from rivers has drastically fallen.

Jaldhaka Upazila Fisheries Officer Ariful Islam confirmed awareness of the issue and said that public awareness campaigns and legal measures are under consideration to curb the illegal practice.

Ferry and vessel operations on the Daulatdia-Paturia route across the Padma River were suspended on Thursday evening after a sudden storm made navigation unsafe. Authorities halted all types of river transport, including ferries and launches, from 6:15 p.m. as strong winds and high waves created hazardous conditions. The decision was taken to prevent accidents amid the turbulent weather.

According to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), the suspension will remain in effect until further notice. The Daulatdia terminal’s commercial assistant manager, Jesanul Islam Tapu, confirmed that all ferry services have been stopped due to the storm. He added that operations will resume once weather conditions improve.

The suspension affects a key river crossing between Rajbari’s Daulatdia and Manikganj’s Paturia, an important route for vehicles and passengers. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and will restore services when it is deemed safe.

Heavy rainfall and hill runoff have caused the Teesta River’s water level to rise rapidly in Lalmonirhat, putting nearby low-lying areas at risk of flooding. To manage the situation, the Water Development Board has opened all sluice gates of the local barrage. At the Dalia point, the river was reported to be flowing 35 centimeters below the danger level, with 44 gates kept open to control the flow.

Residents of riverbank and char areas in Hatibandha, Patgram, Aditmari, and Sadar upazilas are living in fear of possible flooding, especially if India releases water from the Gajoldoba Barrage upstream. Locals expressed frustration over recurring flood threats and the lack of visible progress in the long-discussed Teesta Master Plan, urging its quick implementation.

Officials confirmed that while the water level remains below the danger mark, continuous rainfall and upstream inflow could worsen the situation, prompting authorities and residents to remain on alert.

A newly released United Nations report warns that the world’s oceans are under rapidly increasing pressure due to human activities. The report, titled the Third World Ocean Assessment, reveals that global sea levels have doubled over the past ten years. It attributes this to pollution, large-scale commercial fishing, and other human-induced factors. The assessment involved 600 scientists from 86 countries who monitored ocean conditions between 2021 and 2025, following an earlier study covering 2016 to 2021.

According to the report, the rate of sea level rise accelerated from two millimeters per year in 2015 to 4.3 millimeters in 2023. Since 1955, ocean temperatures have risen by an average of 16 percent globally, with the Atlantic Ocean warming the most, followed by the Indian and southern Pacific Oceans. Each year, about 52.1 million tons of plastic enter the oceans, affecting the habitats of over 4,000 marine species.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that oceans can no longer be considered limitless and called for urgent global cooperation to protect marine ecosystems through science-based and law-governed international partnerships.

In Narsingdi’s Baburhat, illegal shops are being built on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, reportedly under a multimillion-taka land trade scheme. The report says a group involving local land officials and market committee leaders is collecting three to four lakh taka per plot for temporary shop foundations. This activity is narrowing the river and damaging the heritage of Baburhat, the country’s largest wholesale fabric market.

According to the source, the initiative is allegedly coordinated by the Shilmandi Union land officer and the Baburhat traders’ association president, who is also a local political leader. Despite previous eviction drives and warning signs from the district administration, new tin-shed and even multi-storey structures are being erected without approval. Victimized traders claim they are forced to pay for illegal plots while officials deny wrongdoing.

Narsingdi Deputy Commissioner Israt Jahan Keya stated that the administration, along with the river protection committee and the Department of Environment, is taking action against illegal encroachment and will investigate the Baburhat case further.

The Netherlands, long regarded as a global leader in water management, is confronting growing pressure to modernize its flood defense systems as sea levels rise faster than expected and extreme weather events become more frequent. Experts warn that the country’s advanced Delta Works infrastructure, built after the devastating 1953 North Sea flood, may struggle to keep the nation safe without major upgrades. Delta Program Commissioner Co Verdaas likened the country to a bathtub nearing its limit, emphasizing that technological solutions alone are reaching their boundaries.

The Delta Works, a vast network of dikes, levees, and storm barriers stretching over 1,000 kilometers, has protected the Netherlands for decades. However, reports from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute indicate that barriers like the Oosterscheldekering and Maeslant Barrier may need to close far more often due to rising water levels, increasing mechanical strain. Authorities are investing heavily in modernization, with the Delta Fund allocating €1.9 billion in 2026 and total program costs projected at €38 billion by 2050.

Officials are also experimenting with nature-based solutions such as using tidal flows and sediment to strengthen coastlines, while cities like Rotterdam are adopting floating infrastructure and water-resilient urban designs to adapt to a changing climate.

The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service announced on Wednesday that the likelihood of an extremely strong El Niño weather pattern forming later this year is increasing. Director Carlo Buontempo told AFP that all models had raised their forecasts between May 1 and June 1, indicating a higher probability of a strong or potentially record-breaking El Niño event.

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon that causes warming of surface waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, leading to global shifts in wind, pressure, and rainfall patterns. According to the latest Copernicus update, 75 percent of participating global meteorologists expect sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific to rise by 2.5 degrees Celsius or more above average by November.

Historically, since the first major El Niño recorded in 1877–78, temperatures have exceeded the 2-degree Celsius threshold only three times—in 1982–83, 1997–98, and 2015–16.

Thousands of residents in Ramganj upazila of Lakshmipur are suffering severe hardship due to long-delayed road repair works left incomplete for months. Locals allege that negligence by contractors and the road department has turned several key roads into dangerous traps. The renovation of the 7-kilometer Sonapur–Paniyala–Uttar Bhatra road and the 3-kilometer stretch from Jor Kobor to Sonapur Bridge remains unfinished, forcing daily commuters to travel under risky conditions.

Residents report that the roads, dug up about six months ago, have since deteriorated further, with potholes expanding and rainwater accumulating to knee depth. Frequent accidents have been reported, affecting students, pedestrians, and transport users. The roads serve as vital links to educational institutions, markets, hospitals, and other key facilities in the area.

Local engineers have stated that repair work will resume soon, but no specific timeline has been provided. This uncertainty has intensified public frustration, with residents demanding urgent government intervention to complete the repairs and restore safe road communication.

An unusual hybrid hog plum tree in Baro Kaibartakhali village of Rajapur, Jhalakathi, has become a local sensation after producing hundreds of fruits in each cluster. The small tree, planted three years ago by local driver Masud, began bearing fruit this year, astonishing villagers with its dense clusters that some estimate contain over a thousand fruits. The tree, grown without chemical fertilizers, has drawn large crowds after videos of it went viral on social media.

Masud said he used only cow dung as fertilizer and is now seeking advice from the Rajapur Upazila Agriculture Office to prevent branches from breaking under the heavy fruit load. Visitors from distant areas have been arriving daily to witness the phenomenon, taking photos and videos in disbelief.

According to Upazila Agriculture Officer Shahida Sharmin Afroze, the extraordinary yield may be due to proper care and balanced hormone distribution. The tree, now dubbed the “Hazari Amra,” is inspiring local farmers and youth to explore commercial cultivation, signaling new potential for the rural economy.

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, vice president of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation (ZRF) and a noted cardiologist, inaugurated a month-long tree plantation program and the 'Future Scientist Search Science Fair 2026' in Dhaka on Wednesday. The events were organized to commemorate the 45th martyrdom anniversary of late President Ziaur Rahman. The inauguration took place at Curzon Hall of Dhaka University, where she planted a neem sapling, followed by the opening of the science fair at the Department of Botany’s Central Gallery. Similar tree plantation activities were also launched at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University and Sylhet Agricultural University on the same day.

In her speech, Zubaida Rahman emphasized the importance of tree planting for environmental protection and sustainable living. She urged teachers and students to contribute to scientific innovation addressing national challenges and proposed initiatives such as green volunteerism, climate youth fellowships, and environment-based startup funds. She also called for integrating environmental awareness into school curricula to inspire future scientists.

The event was presided over by Professor Dr. Morshed Hasan Khan and attended by university officials, faculty members, and students, reflecting broad institutional participation in the foundation’s commemorative programs.

Iran is experiencing an acute water crisis as prolonged drought, reduced rainfall, and unsustainable water use have depleted reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater. The situation has worsened following Israeli attacks that damaged desalination plants, pipelines, and other civilian water infrastructure. The World Resources Institute has classified Iran as a country under 'extremely high' water stress, using over 80 percent of its renewable water resources annually.

Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran, once spanning about 6,000 square kilometers in the 1990s, has shrunk to just 581 square kilometers. Drought, excessive irrigation, river diversion, and groundwater extraction have turned much of the lakebed into salt flats. More than 60 dams on feeder rivers have further reduced water flow, while inefficient irrigation systems waste large amounts of water.

In 2025, Iran’s population of 92 million used around 100 billion cubic meters of water—13 billion more than renewable supply. Agriculture consumes about 91 percent of total water use, while desalination provides only 3 percent, mostly limited to southern coastal cities.

Ferry and launch services on the Daulatdia-Paturia route resumed normal operations after being suspended for 20 minutes due to adverse weather and strong winds. Authorities halted vessel movement around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday to prevent accidents as the storm intensified. Operations restarted at 4:50 p.m. once conditions improved, restoring regular ferry traffic between Rajbari’s Daulatdia and Manikganj’s Paturia.

According to the BIWTC Daulatdia terminal’s assistant manager (commercial), Jesanul Islam Tapu, the suspension was a precautionary measure following sudden rough weather that caused strong currents and large waves. He confirmed that ferry services resumed once the weather stabilized. Currently, 15 ferries of various sizes are operating on the route to transport vehicles across the river.

The brief disruption highlights the sensitivity of river transport operations to weather conditions in the region, though services have now returned to normal.