A powerful earthquake struck southern Philippines on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake measured 6.7 on the Richter scale and occurred near the coastal region of Mindanao Island, about 27 kilometers east of Santiago city. The quake’s depth was recorded at approximately 58.5 kilometers below the surface. No tsunami warning was issued following the tremor.

Authorities reported that there were no immediate casualties or major damage from the earthquake. Local administration and emergency services are closely monitoring the situation to assess any potential aftereffects or structural impacts in the affected areas.

The absence of a tsunami alert and early reports of minimal damage suggest that the region may have avoided severe consequences, though monitoring continues to ensure public safety.

In Matlab North of Chandpur, a contractor demolished a fragile culvert during canal excavation and then disappeared, leaving 19 landless families stranded for one and a half years. The culvert, located over a Water Development Board canal in Dubgi village of Gazra Union, was the only access route for residents of a government-funded housing project built in 2019 between Kolakanda and Palalokdi villages. Since its destruction, the families have faced severe hardship, crossing the canal daily using a precariously placed palm tree.

Residents report multiple injuries from falls while attempting to cross, including a woman who broke her leg. A representative from the contractor’s firm, speaking anonymously, claimed their company was not responsible for rebuilding the culvert. Matlab North Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Chengarchar municipal administrator Mahmuda Kulsum Moni said she learned of the issue through the media and promised that the matter would be addressed urgently through the relevant department.

Local authorities have indicated that a new culvert will likely be constructed soon to restore safe access for the affected families.

A severe cold wave has gripped Naogaon, where the country’s lowest temperature of the season—6.7 degrees Celsius—was recorded on Wednesday, January 7, according to the local agricultural meteorological observatory. The temperature, measured at 6 a.m., marks the coldest point in Bangladesh so far this winter.

Despite relatively low fog density, chilly winds have intensified the cold, paralyzing daily life across both urban and rural areas. The cold weather has disrupted seasonal paddy planting and caused hardship for the homeless population. Residents have been enduring similar conditions for the past three days.

Mizanur Rahman, acting officer of the Badalgachhi Weather Observatory, said that adverse weather has affected public life for three consecutive weeks and that a moderate cold wave is currently sweeping the district. Temperatures may drop further in the coming days, he added.

Local residents in Ramgarh, Khagrachhari, have accused contractors of indiscriminately cutting hills to fill land for a land port project built primarily to serve India’s interests. Despite visible environmental destruction, they claim the administration has taken no effective action. Soil from at least three nearby hills was reportedly used to fill about 10 acres of land, violating tender conditions that required sand. The project, initiated under the former Awami League government, resumed full-scale construction after a brief slowdown following the 2024 uprising and government change.

Officials and experts have acknowledged the issue, with the local administration confirming limited fines and ongoing investigations. Engineers warn that using hill soil instead of river sand could compromise the project’s durability, risking subsidence and structural damage. The Tk 161 crore project includes customs, passenger, and warehouse facilities, with contractors blaming subcontractors for the violations.

Security analysts have also raised concerns that the port’s location near the Indian border could pose strategic risks for Bangladesh. The interim government has announced a review of the project’s costs and benefits, while construction nears completion.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department announced that a mild to moderate cold wave will continue over ten districts on Wednesday. The affected districts include Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Rangamati, Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. The forecast, issued Tuesday night, also noted that the country will experience dry weather with partly cloudy skies over the next 24 hours.

According to the weather bulletin, a low-pressure area has formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean region, which may move northwestward and intensify. Its extension reaches the northern Bay of Bengal, while a subcontinental high-pressure ridge lies over West Bengal and adjoining western Bangladesh. Moderate to dense fog is expected from midnight to morning, possibly lasting until noon in some areas, potentially disrupting air, river, and road transport.

Rajshahi recorded the season’s lowest temperature at 7 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, while Dhaka’s minimum temperature was 11 degrees Celsius. Although temperatures may rise slightly, the cold sensation is likely to persist due to foggy conditions.

A severe cold wave continues across northern and northwestern Bangladesh, with temperatures dropping to the season’s lowest levels. On Tuesday, Rajshahi recorded a minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The agency reported that mild to moderate cold waves are sweeping over Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia, where the chill is being felt most intensely.

Meteorologist Hafizur Rahman said that the mild cold spell persists in several areas and is likely to continue throughout the week. However, the intensity may gradually decrease after January 10. The five-day forecast indicates partly cloudy skies and dry weather nationwide, with moderate to dense fog expected from midnight to morning, sometimes lasting until noon.

The forecast also warns that dense fog on Tuesday and Wednesday could temporarily disrupt air, river, and road transport. Night and day temperatures may rise slightly today, remain nearly unchanged midweek, and fall again on Friday before stabilizing on Saturday.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Information and Broadcasting, and Water Resources Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan has emphasized finalizing a long-term sustainable management masterplan for the protection of Saint Martin’s Island. Speaking as chief guest at a high-level strategic consultation workshop titled “Strategic Consultation Workshop on Saint Martin’s Island Masterplan,” she said conservation must take priority over tourism to safeguard the island’s unique ecosystem.

The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Department of Environment with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The advisor stated that the masterplan should clearly outline actions and prohibitions to restore biodiversity and that tourism must be strictly regulated to prevent harmful dominance by outsiders. She also highlighted the importance of involving local communities in the plan’s implementation and creating alternative livelihoods such as fishing, dried fish trade, handicrafts, and controlled tourism.

The ministry’s secretary noted that several short- and long-term initiatives have already been undertaken during the interim government period, and a draft masterplan has been prepared. Participants were informed that despite its ecological importance, the island faces severe degradation from unregulated tourism, coral and shell collection, unsustainable fishing, and climate risks.

The committee responsible for the marine fisheries and ecosystem survey conducted by research vessel RV Dr. Fridtjof Nansen submitted its report to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser at a meeting held Tuesday morning at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The survey, carried out from August 21 to September 21 of the previous year, involved 25 scientists from eight countries, including 13 from Bangladesh. Professor Sayedur Rahman presented the findings, revealing the discovery of 65 new aquatic species and alarming signs of imbalance due to overfishing, such as excessive jellyfish growth and plastic found at depths of 2,000 meters.

The report indicated a decline in large fish compared to 2018 and warned that aggressive sonar-based targeted fishing by 70 of 270–280 deep-sea trawlers threatens fish stocks and coastal livelihoods. The Fisheries Adviser cautioned that such practices could deplete the Bay of Bengal and said the government would decide on sonar fishing. The Chief Adviser emphasized the need for research and policy support to utilize marine resources effectively and highlighted cooperation with Japan, Indonesia, and the Maldives for joint research.

It was also disclosed that the UK’s Royal Navy vessel HMS Enterprise is being transferred to the Bangladesh Navy to strengthen oceanographic research and data collection capabilities.

Unauthorized brick kilns are reportedly increasing in Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram district. According to the report, there are 18 brick kilns in the area, of which 13 are operating without approval. These unlicensed kilns are using topsoil from agricultural land to produce bricks and burning coal mixed with wood from various trees as fuel. The practice is said to be harming local biodiversity and public health.

Despite the growing number of illegal kilns, there appears to be no visible administrative action to stop them. The report notes that these operations continue openly, raising doubts among residents about the effectiveness of local authorities. The unregulated expansion of such kilns is contributing to environmental degradation and public concern.

The situation highlights a lack of enforcement of existing rules and the need for stronger oversight to protect farmland and community well-being in Nageshwari.

A moderate earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale struck Assam in northern India early Monday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred near the surface, with its epicenter located about three kilometers outside Dhing village, close to the Bhutan border. Tremors were felt at 4:17 a.m. local time (10:47 p.m. GMT on Sunday).

The USGS reported that although strong shaking was experienced in the area, the region’s relatively low population density is expected to limit the extent of damage. No immediate reports of casualties or major destruction have been received so far.

The Himalayan region is known for frequent seismic activity, with several major earthquakes recorded in India’s history. Notably, the 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake killed around 4,800 people, and the 1897 “Great Assam Earthquake” remains one of the most powerful in the country’s history, causing hundreds of deaths in remote mountain areas.

Ferry and all other vessel operations on the Daulatdia–Paturia river route resumed on Monday morning after being suspended for nearly seven hours due to dense fog. Authorities restored normal navigation around 7:15 a.m. on January 5, 2026, once visibility improved. The suspension had begun at 12:30 a.m. the previous night when thick fog over the Padma River made navigation lights unclear and created safety risks.

According to the terminal authorities, the fog intensified after Sunday evening, severely reducing visibility and prompting the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) to halt all ferry and vessel movement for safety. During the suspension, long queues of passenger buses, trucks, and private cars formed at both Daulatdia and Paturia terminals, leaving travelers stranded in the cold night.

With ferry operations now restored, vehicles are gradually crossing the river, easing congestion and bringing relief to passengers and drivers who had faced significant hardship overnight.

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Sylhet and several northeastern districts of Bangladesh early Monday, January 5, 2026, at 4:47 a.m. The tremor was also felt across border regions of India, Myanmar, Bhutan, and China. According to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and other international monitoring agencies, the quake originated at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The epicenter was located about 4 kilometers west of Dhing town in India’s Assam state and 76 kilometers northeast of Guwahati. Due to Sylhet’s proximity to the epicenter, the shaking was strongly felt in the city and surrounding areas, including Zindabazar, Ambarkhana, Tilaghar, Shah Paran, South Surma, Jaintapur, and Companiganj. Local residents reported the tremor but no immediate damage or casualties were confirmed.

Authorities and monitoring agencies have not reported any significant structural impact, and no emergency alerts were issued following the event.

A Royal Bengal Tiger was found trapped in a deer-hunting snare set by poachers in the Sundarbans near Shorki Canal in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat. The Forest Department began a rescue operation on Sunday morning with the help of specialists to free the tiger. Officials said the animal was discovered about half a kilometer inside the forest from the canal bank, and the area has been cordoned off to prevent public access.

Dipon Chandra Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests of the Chandpai Range under the Sundarbans East Forest Division, confirmed that a veterinary surgeon from Dhaka was brought in to assist in the rescue. The team may use a tranquilizer gun if necessary. If the tiger is found injured or unwell, it will be caged and sent to a rescue center in Khulna or Dhaka for treatment.

Local residents gathered near the site after hearing about the trapped tiger, but the Forest Department has restricted entry to ensure safety and smooth rescue operations.

The government has issued a gazette prohibiting the extraction of groundwater for irrigation in the Barind region, covering 4,911 mouzas across Rajshahi, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, and Natore districts. The order allows groundwater use only for drinking purposes. Farmers in the area, who depend heavily on groundwater for crop cultivation, have expressed deep concern, warning that the sudden ban without alternative irrigation systems or subsidies could reduce crop production by about 2.7 million tons this season and leave 2.54 million hectares of land uncultivated.

Experts and local farmers argue that the decision disregards the agricultural realities of the drought-prone Barind area, where the government itself had promoted deep tube-well irrigation since the 1980s through the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority. They say the ban shifts responsibility for groundwater depletion onto farmers while ignoring the state’s institutional role in creating the system. Officials and researchers have urged phased implementation, farmer consultation, and interim support to prevent economic and social crises.

The Barind region’s future agricultural stability remains uncertain as stakeholders call for reconsideration of the gazette and development of sustainable water management alternatives.

A mild cold wave has swept across Kurigram district, located near the Himalayas, severely disrupting daily life. The district recorded a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius with 99 percent humidity on January 3, according to the local agricultural meteorological office. Dense fog and cold winds have reduced visibility, halting agricultural work, slowing long-distance transport, and causing frequent accidents. Boat passengers in riverine areas have faced severe hardship as fog causes boats to lose direction.

Kurigram, home to about 2.5 million people, has a poverty rate of 71 percent. Many low-income residents are struggling to buy warm clothes, relying instead on cheap roadside garments. The Civil Surgeon’s Office reported that in December alone, 1,400 people were hospitalized with diarrhea and about 3,000 with fever, cold, and pneumonia, mostly children and the elderly. Authorities have advised special care for vulnerable groups.

District relief officials said 27,000 blankets have been distributed and each of the nine upazilas received six lakh taka in aid. The cold wave is expected to intensify in the coming days.