A public hearing was held on Sunday at the Russian Cultural Center in Dhanmondi under the jurisdiction of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Region-1 to make civic services and development activities more dynamic, transparent, accountable, and participatory. The event was attended by citizens, civil society representatives, businesspeople, journalists, and officials from Dhanmondi, New Market, Kalabagan, and Shahbagh areas.

Road Transport, Railways, and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam, MP, attended as chief guest, while DSCC Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md. Abdus Salam presided over the session. Citizens raised issues related to waste management, infrastructure, waterlogging, cleanliness, trade licenses, holding tax, and public health. The minister said the government aims to establish a participatory and accountable system for ensuring civic services, citing the hearing as an example.

The DSCC administrator assured that citizens’ complaints and suggestions would be prioritized for improving urban services. He added that maintaining cleanliness requires both city authority initiatives and citizen cooperation. Similar hearings will be held across all ten DSCC regions.

An article published on June 7, 2026, highlights growing tension over transboundary river water sharing between Bangladesh and India. The report cites remarks by Indian Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Nishikant Dubey, who claimed that Indian farmers suffer losses because water from shared rivers flows into Bangladesh. His comments, made on social media, were interpreted as reflecting a dismissive attitude toward Bangladesh’s legitimate downstream water rights.

The article notes that India has built more than 30 dams and barrages on international rivers flowing into Bangladesh, disrupting natural water flow and violating the principles of international river law. Bangladesh, with 54 transboundary rivers, faces severe ecological and agricultural damage due to reduced water flow, including increased salinity, declining navigable waterways, and falling groundwater levels. The 1996 Ganges Water Treaty, the only formal agreement between the two countries, is set to expire this year.

The piece argues that India’s reluctance to sign new water-sharing agreements undermines regional cooperation. It urges Bangladesh’s new government to pursue equitable treaties under international norms to protect national interests and environmental sustainability.

The monsoon entered Bangladesh through the Teknaf coast on Saturday afternoon, marking the official onset of the rainy season in the Chattogram region, according to the Meteorological Department. The system is expected to take a few more days to spread across the entire country, with central areas likely to experience its effects within two days. Meteorologist Dr. Omar Faruk said that monsoon rains could begin nationwide around June 12 or 13.

Despite the monsoon’s arrival, temperatures rose on Saturday, with Noakhali recording the highest at 37.2°C and Dhaka reaching 35.2°C. The heatwave is expected to persist until the monsoon becomes fully active, with another spell likely between June 8 and 9. The department reported that the southwest winds are now replacing the summer northwesterlies, signaling a seasonal shift.

Experts noted that the monsoon’s arrival will benefit agriculture, particularly Aman rice cultivation, though farmers have been advised to protect vegetable fields from heavy rain. Rainfall across much of the country has already brought relief from the recent intense heat, easing public discomfort.

The southwest monsoon entered Bangladesh through the Teknaf coast on Saturday, becoming active over the Chattogram region, according to the Meteorological Department. This marks the official onset of the rainy season in that area. Meteorologist Dr. Omar Faruk said the monsoon could take until mid-June to spread across the country, with rain likely to begin around June 12 or 13. However, he noted that the ongoing heatwave may persist until the monsoon fully covers the country, with another spell expected between June 8 and 9.

The department reported that the highest temperature on Saturday was 37.2°C in Noakhali, while Dhaka recorded 35.2°C. Rainfall was recorded in most parts of the country, bringing relief after days of intense heat. The monsoon’s arrival is expected to increase rainfall and gradually reduce temperatures. Agricultural experts said the rains would benefit Aman rice cultivation but advised farmers to protect vegetable fields from heavy downpours.

Forecasts indicate moderate to heavy rain with gusty winds in Chattogram over the next 48 hours, and the monsoon is likely to advance toward central Bangladesh soon.

Cumilla-6 Member of Parliament Monirul Haque Chowdhury has emphasized that chemical waste from the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) must be treated in effluent treatment plants before being released into natural canals. He made the statement on Saturday, June 6, during a meeting with BEPZA officials at the Cumilla EPZ conference room, where he served as the chief guest.

During the meeting, chaired by Cumilla EPZ Executive Director Engineer Shafiqul Islam, Monirul highlighted the zone’s growing contribution to the national economy through increased foreign investment and satisfactory export performance. However, he warned that untreated toxic waste from industrial units is threatening the environment, biodiversity, and public health, while also harming nearby agricultural lands and farmers.

The MP called on authorities to take immediate and effective measures to ensure proper waste management and the efficiency of treatment facilities. He also discussed the need to expand the Cumilla EPZ southward toward the Dhaka–Chattogram highway and suggested exploring the possibility of establishing a new EPZ on the northern bank of the Gomti River.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized the importance of planting trees suited to local soil and environmental conditions to maintain soil quality and ecological balance. He made the remarks on Saturday morning during a meeting on tree plantation at his Tejgaon office, attended by senior officials including the Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Abdul Awal Mintoo.

Rahman noted that soil characteristics vary across regions, and selecting appropriate tree species will improve survival rates and support environmental stability. He highlighted that climate change impacts are becoming more visible, with noticeable shifts in seasonal patterns such as reduced rainfall in June compared to previous years. He attributed part of this environmental imbalance to the decline in forest cover and vegetation.

The meeting also discussed the implementation of a national program to plant 250 million trees over the next five years. The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the initiative on June 14 in Dulahazara, Cox’s Bazar, as part of efforts to combat climate change and ensure a safer planet for future generations.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Tirana, Albania’s capital, this week to protest a luxury resort project financed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The $1.6 billion complex is being built in one of the Mediterranean region’s most environmentally sensitive areas, where groundwork has already begun.

The site is home to nearly 200 bird species, including flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans. Public anger intensified after construction workers began laying concrete foundations and installing barbed-wire fencing around the project area. Protesters have voiced concerns over potential environmental damage and a perceived lack of political transparency surrounding the deal.

The controversy has drawn attention to the environmental and governance challenges facing large-scale foreign investment projects in Albania, though the government’s response to the protests was not detailed in the report.

A solidarity meeting was held in Rangpur demanding the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan to protect the river and environment. The event took place on Friday afternoon at the District Shilpakala Academy, organized by the Teesta Bachao Nodi Bachao Sangram Parishad. Participants emphasized the need for collective participation to safeguard natural resources and ensure sustainable development in the Teesta basin.

Nazrul Islam Hokkani, president of the organizing body, stated that the livelihoods, agriculture, and climate security of nearly two crore people in northern Bangladesh depend on the plan’s implementation. He criticized the lack of development in the region compared to large-scale projects in the south, noting that the financial burden of such projects ultimately falls on citizens. Hokkani also highlighted the importance of Teesta’s sand and stone resources for national development projects and opposed a complete ban on their extraction.

Local representatives, political leaders, lawyers, and journalists from the Teesta basin also addressed the meeting, expressing support for the plan’s realization.

A human chain was organized on Friday morning along the bank of the Old Gomti River in Cumilla to mark World Environment Day. The event was arranged by the environmental wing of the social and cultural organization Cumillar Jomin Family under the theme “No more plastic pollution, time to stop it.” Participants included people from various professions, journalists, teachers, environmentally conscious citizens, and representatives of social organizations.

Speakers at the event expressed concern over the country’s deteriorating environmental condition, citing encroachment and pollution of rivers, canals, and open spaces as major threats. They said the Old Gomti River, once vibrant and historically significant, has long suffered from neglect, occupation, and pollution, earning the name “Dead Gomti.”

Referring to the Hatirjheel project in Dhaka, speakers suggested that with proper planning and management, the Old Gomti River could be transformed into a modern urban recreation center, improving the city’s environment and creating new tourism opportunities. They also called on citizens to become more aware of environmental conservation.

Agricultural land in Sitakunda, Chattogram, is under severe threat due to unplanned industrial expansion. Factories are being built on fertile farmland, reducing cultivable areas and damaging soil fertility through toxic waste. As a result, crop yields have declined sharply, and agricultural production in the region has collapsed.

Once known for its lush paddy fields and seasonal crops, Sitakunda’s northern unions—Banshbaria, Barabkunda, Muradpur, Baraidala, and Syedpur—are now dominated by industrial sites, container yards, warehouses, and housing projects. Local residents allege illegal sand extraction, hill cutting, and wetland filling, with powerful industrial groups acquiring vast tracts of land. Many purchased lands remain unused, halting farming activities.

According to Sitakunda’s agriculture officer, about 24,000 acres of farmland remain, but rapid industrialization threatens to eliminate them. Locals have submitted a memorandum to the Upazila Executive Officer demanding farmland protection, while the Assistant Commissioner (Land) stated that filling farmland for factories is not permitted.

A meeting on the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan was held on Thursday afternoon at the Cabinet Division in the Prime Minister’s Office, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. After the meeting, Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee told reporters that the discussion focused on integrated water management in the Teesta basin. Ministers from the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, the State Minister for Water Resources, advisers, secretaries, and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

The minister said that the Teesta Master Plan had been presented to the nation as a pre-election commitment, and the government is now working to fulfill that pledge. Efforts are underway to accelerate the integrated water management process. He added that a team of experts has already begun work on the project, and an eight-member expert committee has been formed to support the implementation.

According to the minister, the committee is expected to submit its report within the next one to one and a half months, marking a key step toward advancing the plan’s execution.

Dinajpur recorded its highest temperature at 38.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday afternoon, according to the district meteorological office. The temperature was measured at 3 p.m., marking a slight increase from Wednesday, when Dinajpur also registered the highest temperature in the country at 38.5 degrees Celsius.

Officials from the Dinajpur regional meteorological office reported that the combination of rising temperatures and increased moisture in the air has intensified the feeling of heat across the area. The data indicates a continuing trend of high temperatures in the region, with humidity contributing significantly to discomfort among residents.

The sustained heat and humidity suggest that the region may continue to experience intense weather conditions in the near term, though no forecast details were provided in the report.

A widespread heatwave has gripped Bangladesh, with mild to moderate intensity recorded across 48 districts on Wednesday. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that the highest temperature was 38.5°C in Dinajpur, while Dhaka reached 36.8°C. Reduced rainfall and increased humidity have intensified the discomfort, disrupting daily life nationwide. The heatwave, which began earlier this month, has expanded from 41 districts the previous day.

Meteorologist Shahinul Islam stated that the current heatwave may continue for a few more days, with scattered rainfall likely from June 5 or 6 and increased precipitation expected around June 8 or 9, which could ease the heat. The department also forecast that June and July will see higher-than-normal temperatures and below-average rainfall, with two to three mild to moderate heatwaves likely during the month.

The combination of high humidity and frequent power outages has worsened public suffering, as people across the country struggle with oppressive heat and limited relief from rain.

A meeting on the Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) embankment was held on Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. According to Deputy Press Secretary Md. Sujauddoulla, the discussion focused on the long-standing waterlogging problems in the DND area and possible solutions.

After the meeting, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee stated that although a project launched in 2016 and completed in 2024 aimed to address the issue, residents have yet to experience significant benefits. He added that the completed project will be handed over to the city corporation within two weeks.

Anee further mentioned that new plans are being developed to improve the drainage system, including upgrading 30 kilometers of drainage infrastructure. He expressed optimism that under city corporation management and with collective efforts, the desired results will be achieved. Several ministers and officials, including the LGRD State Minister and the RAJUK Chairman, attended the meeting.

Chuadanga district experienced a sudden return of a moderate heatwave on June 3, 2026, with the temperature reaching 38 degrees Celsius and humidity at 47 percent. The heatwave followed a week of relatively lower temperatures after rainfall had eased conditions since May 18. On June 1 and 2, the district recorded temperatures of 37.8 and 36.5 degrees Celsius respectively.

According to the acting officer of Chuadanga’s first-class weather observatory, the temperature was recorded at 38 degrees Celsius at 3 p.m. on June 3. The official noted that a moderate heatwave is currently sweeping across the district and that the temperature may drop by one degree the following day.

Field observations showed that the intense sunlight caused difficulties for school students, day laborers, and rickshaw pullers working outdoors under the scorching heat.