A mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping across 27 districts of Bangladesh, including Khulna and Rajshahi divisions, causing severe discomfort in Dhaka and other regions. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that the heatwave, which expanded from 17 districts the previous day, is expected to persist until Sunday. On Friday, Chuadanga recorded the highest temperature at 39.7°C, while Dhaka reached 36.4°C. The department warned that temperatures could rise further by 1–2°C nationwide over the next two days.

Meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque stated that although the heatwave’s extent has increased, it is likely to be less intense than in 2023 and 2024 due to intermittent rainfall. In those years, heatwaves lasted 22 and 26 consecutive days respectively. Doctors have reported a rise in heat-related illnesses, particularly among children, and advised caution during the humid spell.

Meteorologist Tariful Newaz Kabir forecasted possible relief starting Monday, with scattered rain, gusty winds, and isolated hailstorms expected for three to four days across parts of the country.

A mild to moderate heatwave is currently sweeping across the northwestern region of Bangladesh, causing widespread discomfort amid rising temperatures. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the heatwave expanded on Friday to cover districts in Khulna and Rajshahi divisions as well as Tangail, Manikganj, Faridpur, and Nilphamari. The department forecasts that the situation may persist until Sunday, with daytime and nighttime temperatures expected to rise by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius.

Meteorologists said that Chuadanga recorded the highest temperature on Thursday at 38.5°C, followed by Mongla at 38°C and Rajshahi at 37.5°C. The lowest temperature was 19.7°C in Tetulia. The department also noted that this year’s heatwave is likely to be less intense than in 2023 and 2024, when heatwaves lasted 22 and 26 consecutive days respectively, as intermittent rainfall is expected this time.

The weather office further predicted that two to four mild to moderate heatwaves and one to two severe ones may occur later in April, with temperatures possibly reaching 40–42°C. Some areas in Sylhet and Chattogram divisions may experience scattered rain, gusty winds, or hailstorms during this period.

Extensive waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall and blocked drainage has submerged vast areas of Boro paddy fields across Sunamganj, leaving farmers in distress. Field visits revealed that many haor lands are under waist-deep water, with paddy stems rotting. Farmers blame the Utharia embankment for trapping water despite the presence of sluice gates. Some demand cutting the embankment to release water, while others fear it could flood the area further. The Water Development Board acknowledged waterlogging as a recurring issue and suggested new plans including sluice gates and canal excavation.

Farmers from multiple upazilas, including Tahirpur, Dirai, Jamalganj, and Madhyanagar, reported crop damage and sleepless nights fearing more rain. Many said hybrid paddy varieties are more vulnerable to submersion compared to traditional tall varieties. The Department of Agricultural Extension confirmed that 1,189 hectares of land are already submerged and advised farmers to drain water quickly. The district administration held meetings with farmers and representatives to discuss long-term solutions and informed the government of the need for new water management plans.

This season, Boro cultivation covered about 223,000 hectares in Sunamganj, targeting 1.4 million metric tons of production, now at risk due to persistent waterlogging.

Supreme Court senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir has written an open letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging him to take effective measures to resolve waterlogging caused by rain in the Haor regions, including Sunamganj. The letter, posted on Facebook on Friday morning, appeals to the prime minister to visit the affected areas by helicopter and take immediate action to protect farmers whose single annual crop is being destroyed by stagnant water.

In his message, Monir emphasized that residents of Haor areas depend on one crop for their livelihood, which is now at risk due to persistent waterlogging. He requested the prime minister to consider deploying army personnel if necessary and to strengthen administrative efforts for drainage improvement across Sunamganj, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, and Netrokona. He also highlighted the need for increased canal excavation in Dirai-Shalla and warned that unplanned embankments are causing significant damage.

Monir concluded by expressing hope that the government’s ongoing canal excavation program would bring lasting relief to the region’s farmers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that as global power competition intensifies, water will become the most strategic and valuable resource of the future, overtaking oil and carbon-based fuels. He made the remarks on Thursday during a public event, emphasizing that climate change, drought, population growth, urbanization, and industrialization are putting increasing pressure on global water resources.

Erdogan highlighted that 2.2 billion people currently lack access to safe drinking water, and according to the World Water Development Report, nearly 6 billion people may face shortages of clean water by 2050. He noted that only 2.5 percent of the world’s total water supply is fresh water, while the global population has risen from 3 billion in 1960 to over 8 billion today, with rainfall levels remaining unchanged.

He warned that as demand for clean water rises, rapid consumption and pollution are accelerating the depletion of water resources, making water a visible factor in regional armed conflicts.

Bangladesh is witnessing sharply contrasting weather conditions, with a heatwave intensifying across five divisions including Dhaka, while the northern district of Panchagarh remains shrouded in dense fog and cold air. On April 2 and 3, residents in Panchagarh experienced misty mornings, dew-covered fields, and a noticeable chill, unusual for the late spring season. The Bangladesh Weather Observation Team (BWOT) reported that temperatures in parts of Dhaka, Barishal, Rangpur, Khulna, and Rajshahi divisions could rise to between 36 and 39 degrees Celsius.

Local residents in Panchagarh expressed surprise at the return of cold weather, while doctors reported a rise in cold-related illnesses among children and the elderly. According to the Tetulia weather office, increased humidity and lower temperatures have caused steam fog formation, driven by active monsoon winds and sudden rainfall.

BWOT forecasts that the current heatwave may persist until April 6, with scattered thunderstorms offering brief relief. The national weather office also warned that a cyclone could form in the Bay of Bengal later in April, alongside severe nor’westers and hailstorms that may push temperatures up to 41 degrees Celsius.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu announced that 445 shelters have been identified across Dhaka North and South City Corporations to prepare for potential earthquakes. He shared the information on Thursday afternoon after a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat.

The minister stated that the government is considering including earthquake awareness in the national education curriculum as part of broader preparedness efforts. Teachers will also be brought under training programs to enhance their capacity in disaster response. In addition, a draft list of 145,000 volunteers from various organizations has been prepared to assist in managing post-earthquake situations.

These initiatives reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster readiness and community resilience in the capital city.

Honey collectors have started their seasonal honey harvesting in the Sundarbans after receiving 14-day government permits. Beginning on Wednesday, April 1, they entered the forest in groups through designated points under the supervision of the Forest Department. Despite following official procedures, collectors expressed concern over possible bandit activity, wildlife attacks, and natural disasters during their work.

According to local sources, banditry has long been a serious problem in the Sundarbans, with past incidents of fishermen and honey collectors being kidnapped for ransom. Although law enforcement operations have improved the situation, locals say fears of renewed bandit activity persist. Bagerhat District Forest Officer Rezaul Karim stated that necessary instructions have been issued to ensure the collectors’ safety, with forest guards maintaining constant monitoring and coordination with law enforcement agencies.

Local residents emphasized that as long as the threat of forest bandits remains, honey collectors continue to face significant risks and called for stronger protective measures.

Between March 14 and March 28, 2026, a total of 373 road accidents across Bangladesh caused 298 deaths and over 2,000 injuries, according to data compiled from hospitals and media reports. The Road Safety Foundation disclosed these figures in a press release issued on April 1. Among the victims were 46 women and 67 children. Motorcycle accidents accounted for nearly 39 percent of the fatalities, while 47 pedestrians and 36 drivers or assistants also lost their lives. Additionally, 11 waterway accidents killed nine people, and 29 railway accidents caused 41 deaths.

The report showed that the Chattogram Division recorded the highest number of accidents and deaths, with 93 incidents and 74 fatalities, while Barishal Division had the lowest with 12 deaths. More than 10 million people traveled from Dhaka and about 40 million moved within the country during the Eid period. Despite reduced congestion, passengers faced overcharging on roads, railways, and waterways.

The Foundation recommended restructuring the National Road Safety Council, enforcing vehicle safety technology, removing outdated vehicles, and improving driver training to ensure safer transport nationwide.

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s North Maluku Sea region early Thursday, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake’s epicenter was located about 127 kilometers west-northwest of Ternate city at a depth of roughly 35 kilometers. Following the tremor, the US tsunami warning system issued alerts for possible waves within 1,000 kilometers of the epicenter, affecting coastal areas of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

Authorities warned that waves between 0.3 and 1 meter above normal tide levels could hit parts of Indonesia’s coast, while smaller waves under 30 centimeters were forecast for Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Japan’s meteorological agency said only minor sea-level changes were expected, and Australia’s weather bureau confirmed no tsunami threat to its mainland or islands.

An AFP journalist in Manado, North Sulawesi, reported that residents rushed outdoors in panic as the shaking lasted for a long time, though no major damage was observed. Indonesia, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

A severe nor’wester struck Nilphamari district late Tuesday night, causing extensive damage across four unions in Jaldhaka and Kishoreganj upazilas. More than 200 houses were destroyed and 38 hectares of maize fields were heavily affected. Power supply from the Kishoreganj NESCO office to Jaldhaka’s Tengonmari area remained cut off through Wednesday afternoon due to damaged electric lines and leaning poles.

In Kishoreganj’s Putimari Union, around 100 houses were destroyed and nearly 200 more tilted, while about 200 hectares of maize fields were flattened. Local officials reported that many tin roofs were blown away and trees fell on houses. The Upazila Agriculture Officer said 150 hectares of maize fields were affected, with 12 hectares at risk of total loss. In Jaldhaka, the storm hit Khutamara, Dharmapal, and Golna unions, damaging about 100 houses and 26 hectares of maize.

Officials from both upazilas said field assessments are underway to finalize damage reports, while power restoration efforts continue in affected areas.

Residents of Alikadam upazila in Bandarban are facing a severe shortage of safe drinking water as a long-delayed water purification project remains incomplete. The project, launched about ten years ago with funding from the Bandarban Hill District Council and implemented by the Department of Public Health Engineering, was halted within six months due to financial constraints. Despite repeated development initiatives in the district, the crucial project has not resumed.

Field reports indicate that for the past three months, Alikadam town and nearby hilly areas have been experiencing an acute water crisis. In response, the Bangladesh Army’s Alikadam Zone has been distributing drinking water to affected residents. Locals allege that small-scale ring-well projects are approved annually but are only implemented after the rainy season begins, limiting their effectiveness.

A local primary school headteacher said that both drinking and household water are scarce in the Panbazar area. The local public health engineer confirmed hearing about a new allocation of 4.6 million taka for the unfinished purification project, but work has yet to restart.

Continuous heavy rainfall has submerged vast areas of haor land in Sunamganj’s Madhyanagar upazila, leaving farmers in deep concern as their nearly ripe Boro paddy fields are now underwater. The flooding has caused significant crop damage, with many fields already showing signs of rot. Farmers in Togor and Rupeshwar haors reported that about half of their farmland is submerged, and the lack of effective drainage has made it impossible to save the crops.

Local farmers have installed irrigation machines in several haor areas, including Kailani, Rupeshwar, Goraduba, and Banchapra, to pump out water, but continuous rain has kept the situation critical. Many farmers said that proper sluice gates and river dredging could have prevented such waterlogging. The Madhyanagar agriculture office confirmed that 13,620 hectares were cultivated this season, with at least 250 hectares already affected, though locals claim the damage is greater.

Officials stated that they are monitoring the situation and taking necessary steps. The district administration emphasized long-term solutions such as canal dredging and sluice gate construction to prevent future flooding and protect farmers’ livelihoods.

A sudden Kalbaishakhi storm accompanied by heavy rain and hail struck Dhaka and surrounding areas on Wednesday night, April 1, 2026. The sky turned dark after evening, and around 7 p.m. strong gusts of wind and dust swept through several parts of the city. By 8 p.m., heavy rainfall began, soaking areas including Banglamotor, Shahbagh, Moghbazar, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, and Tejgaon. Hail and lightning with loud thunder were also reported, causing difficulties for pedestrians and roadside vendors.

A weather alert issued for inland river ports until 1 a.m. warned that regions including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Pabna, Faridpur, Mymensingh, Tangail, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, and Sylhet could experience temporary gusty or squally winds from the west and northwest at speeds of 45–60 kilometers per hour. The alert also forecast rain or thundershowers and advised ports in these areas to hoist cautionary signal number one.

The storm disrupted normal evening activities in the capital, with reports of temporary inconvenience due to heavy rainfall and lightning.

Bangladesh’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo met with Nepal’s Ambassador Ghanshyam Bhandari at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday. During the courtesy meeting, both sides discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas including environment, forestry, climate change, energy, education, and tourism.

Minister Mintoo emphasized that both Bangladesh and Nepal are climate-vulnerable nations, highlighting the need to expand greenery and adopt environmentally friendly technologies in the energy sector. He also mentioned the government’s initiatives for environmental protection and climate-resilient development planning. Ambassador Bhandari noted Nepal’s success in forest management, stating that about 45 percent of the country’s land is forested, and expressed optimism about strengthening cooperation on climate change.

Officials from both countries agreed to expand mutual collaboration in environmental conservation, forest management, and climate change response, with potential joint initiatives under the BIMSTEC framework also discussed.