All types of ferry and vessel movement on the Paturia-Daulatdia, Paturia-Kazirhat, and Aricha-Kazirhat river routes have been suspended. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) confirmed that operations were halted from 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday due to storms, rain, and adverse weather conditions. Several ferries that had already departed were anchored mid-river or at nearby terminals, while launches and speedboats remained docked at the ghats.

Passengers arriving from across the river took shelter in local shops and waiting sheds near the terminals as heavy rain continued. Many travelers were stranded and drenched, with children and elderly passengers facing the most hardship.

Authorities have not yet announced when ferry services will resume, as weather conditions remain unfavorable.

Hundreds of acres of government-owned agricultural land inside the Sirajganj town protection embankment have reportedly been illegally occupied for sand stockpiling and the construction of the Choyamoni Dockyard. The facility was allegedly built by Abdus Sattar, president of the Awami League’s Ward 10 unit in Sirajganj municipality. Officials from the Water Development Board warned that the dockyard could obstruct monsoon water flow and endanger the embankment’s stability, raising fears among residents.

Local landowners claimed that Sattar used political influence to seize land that had re-emerged after river erosion and silt deposition, building permanent structures and conducting sand trading. Sattar denied all allegations, asserting that he legally purchased the land and obtained clearance from the Department of Environment. However, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer stated that the land is classified as government property and that occupying or constructing on it is a punishable offense. An investigation has been initiated, and authorities plan to remove illegal structures.

Officials from the Water Development Board confirmed that no permission was granted for construction within the river area, adding uncertainty over the dockyard’s legal status.

Residents of Chapainawabganj municipality are facing a severe water crisis as boiling water and gas are emerging from several deep tube wells installed to supply safe drinking water. The issue has caused widespread concern among locals, who report that the water is unusually hot, salty, and emits flames when exposed to fire. The affected tube wells were installed a few years ago under a safe water and sanitation project funded by Japan’s development agency JICA, costing about 2.5 million taka.

The project aimed to provide arsenic-free and safe drinking water to areas suffering from long-term shortages. However, the recent anomalies have raised questions about the project’s effectiveness. Locals complain that the water is now unusable and poses health risks, forcing many to collect drinking water from distant areas. Laboratory tests found chloride levels in the water at about 1,280 milligrams per liter, more than double the normal range. Experts warn that excessive chloride can alter taste and harm health over time.

The Department of Public Health Engineering has collected water samples for testing and pledged to take necessary action once the cause is confirmed.

On May 24, a one-megawatt on-grid rooftop solar power system was inaugurated at Bangladesh’s National Parliament building. The project is described as both a power generation initiative and a symbol of the state’s commitment to renewable energy. It highlights the potential of utilizing unused rooftops across government, industrial, educational, and residential buildings to produce clean electricity and reduce pressure on the national grid.

Bangladesh’s geographic position provides strong solar potential, with most regions receiving 4.5 to 5 kilowatt-hours of solar radiation per square meter daily. The country’s Renewable Energy Policy 2025 targets at least 20 percent of total power generation from renewable sources by 2030. Rooftop solar systems are seen as a practical solution amid rising load-shedding and limited land for new power plants. They offer economic, environmental, and energy security benefits while creating new employment opportunities in installation, maintenance, and technical services.

The article notes challenges such as high initial investment, dependence on sunlight, technical maintenance needs, and administrative barriers. It calls for easier financing, quality standards, training programs, and public awareness to expand rooftop solar adoption nationwide.

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck southern Iran on Tuesday morning, shaking areas near Sargaz in the Hormozgan and Kerman provinces, according to Mehr News Agency. Initial reports indicated no casualties or major damage from the tremor.

Meanwhile, the Philippines continues to recover from a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the southern region a day earlier. The death toll there has risen to 37, with more than 150 people injured. Rescue teams in the Soccsksargen region have recovered 31 bodies from collapsed buildings, and several people remain missing. Authorities fear the number of casualties could increase as many structures were destroyed.

Footage captured on CCTV and mobile phones showed the scale of destruction across affected areas in the Philippines, where the quake struck during morning hours when workplaces and schools were occupied.

A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Philippines early Monday, killing at least 37 people and injuring more than 150 others. The quake hit at 7:37 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located about eight miles southwest of General Santos City in Mindanao at a depth of 6.2 miles. The Civil Defense authorities confirmed that 31 bodies were recovered from the debris in the Soccsksargen region, while several people remain missing. Over 10,000 residents have lost their homes due to the disaster.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the quake caused significant structural damage in affected areas. The U.S. Geological Survey also measured the tremor at magnitude 7.8. Shortly after the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert warning of possible waves up to 10 feet along parts of the Philippine coast and up to one meter along some Indonesian and Malaysian shores. The warning was later lifted after assessments indicated no tsunami threat.

Authorities continue rescue and recovery operations as search efforts persist for those still missing.

The United Nations has warned that the world’s oceans are under “intense and rapidly growing” pressure due to human activities, with the rate of sea level rise doubling over the past decade. The findings come from the UN’s third World Ocean Assessment, released on World Oceans Day, which highlights escalating threats from pollution and industrial-scale fishing that are severely damaging marine biodiversity and ecosystems.

Based on research by about 600 scientists from 86 countries between 2021 and 2025, the report shows that sea levels now rise by 4.3 millimeters per year, compared to 2 millimeters before 2015. Ocean temperatures have increased sharply, with 16% of the total rise since 1955 occurring after 2018. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged urgent global cooperation to protect marine ecosystems, emphasizing a science-based and law-governed approach.

The report notes progress such as the new High Seas Treaty, which aims to protect two-thirds of international waters, but warns that fragmented governance still hampers effective action. Greenpeace called the findings an urgent warning to world leaders, urging the creation of fully protected marine sanctuaries to restore ocean health by 2030.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the water treatment plant project under implementation in Narayanganj is progressing rapidly and will be fully completed within one year. Once operational, the project will enable the supply of 5 billion liters of safe water daily to Dhaka city. He made the remarks after visiting the Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project (DESWSP) site in Gandharbpur, Rupganj, Narayanganj.

According to the minister, about 97 percent of the main treatment plant and related infrastructure has already been completed. The project, costing around Tk 10,000 crore, aims to significantly reduce Dhaka’s dependence on groundwater. He added that after the first phase, another project is planned to supply an additional 5 billion liters of water daily, bringing the total to 10 billion liters of surface water per day.

Project officials stated that approximately 4.3 million people will directly benefit from the initiative, which will also help mitigate pollution risks from the Shitalakkhya River and ensure long-term, environmentally sustainable water management for Dhaka.

Bangladesh’s Food Minister Md. Abdul Bari informed the National Parliament that the country wastes about 3.5 million tons of food each year, citing data from the United Nations Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index 2024. He said this figure reflects the overall national food waste situation. The minister made the statement on Monday during the second day of the second session of the 13th National Parliament.

Bari explained that food grains collected and stored under the Food Ministry’s management experience some losses during distribution, but the amount has been reduced through improved storage and transport systems. He highlighted that modern silos and warehouses have been built and awareness among stakeholders has increased, leading to a gradual reduction in waste.

According to the minister, food grain losses in government management dropped from 21,329.88 metric tons (0.316%) in fiscal year 2023–24 to 18,887.347 metric tons (0.28%) in 2024–25. He added that the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority is working to ensure food security and raise public awareness to prevent waste.

In Sirajganj, construction of a dockyard by a local Awami League leader has reportedly put the town protection embankment at risk. The accused, Abdus Sattar, president of the party’s Ward No. 10 unit and a sand trader, is alleged to have built the 'Chhoayamani Dockyard' on government land near the Jamuna River. Locals claim he has been extracting sand and constructing permanent structures on the site, which lies adjacent to the embankment’s hard point.

Residents allege that Sattar forcibly occupied land that had re-emerged after river erosion decades ago, using it for sand trading and dockyard operations. A Water Development Board engineer confirmed the site falls under government ownership and warned that the construction could obstruct water flow and damage the embankment during monsoon. Sattar, however, insists he legally purchased the land and obtained environmental clearance.

The Sirajganj Upazila administration has initiated an investigation into the matter. Officials stated that illegal structures will be removed if found to be unauthorized.

A sudden appearance of a black bear in Utsunomiya, a city about 100 kilometers north of Tokyo, has caused widespread alarm. Authorities closed 94 primary and secondary schools after the bear was first seen near a park on Saturday. The animal was later captured on CCTV early Sunday running through the city center, and sightings continued into Monday morning near an industrial area. Officials urged residents to keep doors and windows shut, avoid approaching the bear, and seek shelter indoors. Police and local hunters have launched a joint search operation.

Reports indicate that Japan has recorded around 50,000 bear sightings this year, an unusually high number. Although bears are rarely seen so close to Tokyo, recent months have seen several attacks and encounters in nearby regions, including Okutama, Hachioji, and Fukushima. The incidents reflect a broader rise in bear encounters across Japan’s main island, Honshu, where an estimated 12,000 to 42,000 Asian black bears live.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as search efforts in Utsunomiya remain underway.

A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Philippines early Monday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 129 others. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the quake’s epicenter was located about eight miles southwest of General Santos City in Mindanao, at a depth of 6.2 miles. The tremor occurred at 7:37 a.m. local time and caused significant structural damage across affected areas.

Rodrigo Sosmenia, director of the local civil defense office, reported that 12 of the victims were residents of the Soccsksargen region, while three others died in Davao Occidental province. Police officer Robert Dagn said many buildings were damaged and rescue operations were underway. Authorities have warned residents not to enter damaged homes or structures due to the risk of aftershocks.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned of possible waves up to 10 feet along parts of the Philippine coast and up to one meter in Indonesia and Malaysia, but later confirmed there was no tsunami threat.

A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday morning, killing at least three people and injuring five others. The quake hit Mindanao Island at 7:40 a.m. local time, according to the United States Geological Survey. At least 37 buildings, mostly commercial structures, were damaged. Following the initial tremor, 138 aftershocks were recorded, ranging in magnitude from 1.3 to 6.7.

Tsunami warnings were issued across the region, including in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported tsunami waves in six areas of Mindanao and confirmed that the tsunami alert remained in effect. Philippine President Marcos urged residents to move to higher ground immediately after the quake, while Japanese Prime Minister Sanade Takachio called on citizens to follow tsunami advisories.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as aftershocks persist and coastal areas remain under alert for potential tsunami impacts.

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Philippine island of Mindanao at 7:40 a.m. local time on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake occurred at a depth of 35 kilometers, prompting tsunami warnings across multiple Asian nations.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that waves up to 10 feet could hit the Philippine coast, while Indonesia and Malaysia might experience waves exceeding 3 feet. Governments in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan issued tsunami alerts, warning of potentially dangerous large waves along coastal areas.

Philippine President Marcos urged residents to move immediately to higher ground, noting that several coastal regions in Mindanao were already feeling the effects. Japanese Prime Minister Sanade Takachio also called on citizens to follow tsunami warnings and evacuation instructions closely.

An earthquake was felt in Dhaka and several parts of Bangladesh on Sunday, June 7, 2026, around 11:40 p.m. According to initial reports, no casualties or damage were immediately reported following the tremor. The Android Earthquake Alert System indicated that the quake originated near Punakha in Bhutan, approximately five kilometers away, with a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter scale.

Preliminary information suggested that the earthquake was also felt in parts of Bhutan, India, and China. Authorities in the affected areas are monitoring the situation closely to assess any potential impact or aftershocks.

No further updates on damage or emergency measures were available at the time of reporting.