Authorities have removed the crocodile from the pond of Khan Jahan Ali (R.) Shrine in Bagerhat following a fatal incident. On Wednesday afternoon, the animal was taken to the Khulna Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Earlier in the day, forest department and administrative officials were present at the site, and the crocodile was captured around noon using bait before being transported to Khulna.

The decision to relocate the crocodile came after a child was killed in an attack three days earlier. An emergency meeting held Tuesday night at the district administration office determined that the animal should be removed for public safety. Local residents expressed relief after the removal, saying they had been afraid to approach the pond.

Wildlife expert Azad Kabir confirmed that the female crocodile, weighing about 600 kilograms, was safely rescued and will undergo examination at the rescue center before further decisions are made. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer stated that future steps regarding the crocodile will be decided after discussions.

A crocodile from Khan Jahan Ali (R.) Dighi in Bagerhat was removed on Wednesday afternoon and taken to the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Khulna. The operation began in the morning with forest and administrative officials present at the site. The crocodile was captured around noon using food as bait and then transported to Khulna by the Forest Department.

The decision to remove the animal followed the death of a child three days earlier in an attack by the same crocodile. An emergency meeting held Tuesday night at the district administration office approved the relocation. Local residents expressed relief after the removal, saying they had been fearful of the crocodile.

Wildlife expert Azad Kabir confirmed the rescued female crocodile weighs about 600 kilograms and will undergo examination at the Khulna center before further decisions are made. Bagerhat Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Atia Khatun said the removal was carried out for public safety, and future steps will be determined after discussions.

A 45-foot-long baleen whale has drifted near Kuakata in Patuakhali, Bangladesh. Locals spotted the whale around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, about two kilometers from the Zero Point area in the Bay of Bengal. Members of the Coastal Environment Protection Movement (UPORA) confirmed the whale’s presence after reaching the site by speedboat.

UPORA convener K.M. Bachchu stated that the whale’s upper skin had peeled off, suggesting it may have died five to six days earlier. Due to sea currents, it might take some time for the carcass to reach the shore. Mahipur Forest Range Officer Moniruzzaman said the Forest Department is aware of the situation, and field officers have already visited the site.

Authorities are consulting higher officials to determine necessary steps for handling the whale carcass and ensuring environmental safety in the coastal area.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that June 2026 will experience higher-than-normal temperatures and lower-than-average rainfall across the country. The long-term forecast, released on Monday, indicates two to three mild to moderate heatwaves may occur this month, with temperatures potentially reaching around 40 degrees Celsius. Despite the onset of the monsoon, rainfall is expected to remain below normal levels, and humid, uncomfortable weather conditions are likely to persist.

According to the department’s analysis, May recorded 7.4 percent more rainfall than usual, though some southern divisions saw less precipitation. Average temperatures in May were lower than normal. Meteorologist Dr. Md. Omar Faruk stated that the ongoing heatwave is part of the June forecast, with daytime and nighttime temperatures expected to stay above normal. On Tuesday, heatwaves affected 41 districts, causing widespread discomfort, worsened by power outages.

The department expects rainfall to increase gradually from June 4, with the southwest monsoon becoming active after June 5, which may bring some relief from the heat.

An unrefined oil dumping point has been set up next to Bakhra Government Girls Primary School in Kahalu upazila of Bogura district, putting more than 300 students at health risk. The site contains chemically mixed waste, and the school grounds are reportedly covered with oily water and garbage. Locals said thousands of white sacks filled with chemical residues have been dumped into a nearby pond, producing a foul smell and causing respiratory problems among residents.

Parents and community members expressed concern that the unhygienic environment could discourage them from sending their children to school. One parent reported that his daughter fell ill after contact with the contaminated water. Locals alleged that some ruling party members are involved in the dumping activities and demanded immediate relocation of the site to protect public health and the environment.

The school’s head teacher stated that he had filed a written complaint to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) after verbal requests failed. The district primary education officer confirmed that instructions had been issued for necessary action, while the newly appointed UNO pledged to investigate the matter seriously and take appropriate measures.

World Bicycle Day is being celebrated worldwide on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, including in Bangladesh. Various cycling organizations across the country have arranged awareness programs and bicycle rallies to mark the occasion. The day aims to raise public awareness about the importance of this environmentally friendly mode of transport.

The initiative for World Bicycle Day was led by U.S. professor Leszek Sibilski, who launched an international campaign to highlight the benefits of cycling and sought recognition from the United Nations. Starting as an academic project in 2015, the movement gradually gained global momentum. On April 12, 2018, the UN General Assembly unanimously declared June 3 as World Bicycle Day, with Turkmenistan playing a key supporting role and about 56 countries joining as co-sponsors.

Experts emphasize that bicycles are an effective, affordable, and sustainable means of urban transport. The observance symbolizes a global commitment to environmental protection and healthy living.

Residents of Dhunot upazila in Bogura formed a human chain on Tuesday morning demanding the construction of a sustainable and permanent embankment to prevent erosion of the Jamuna River. The event took place at Bhandarbari area near the riverbank, organized by displaced families and local residents living along the river. Hundreds of men and women from various professions joined the demonstration.

Speakers at the event included former Bhandarbari Union BNP president and ex-chairman Atikul Karim Apel, BNP organizational secretary Jahangir Alam, social worker Zahidul Islam, playwright Zahid Hasan Sagor, and Shafiqul Islam. Other local political and social leaders were also present. Participants criticized the ineffective placement of sand-filled geo-bags, claiming they were dumped in the middle of the char instead of along the riverbank.

The demonstrators urged the Water Development Board to take immediate steps to build a permanent embankment along the Jamuna River to protect their homes and farmland from further erosion.

Four boats sank at Ramna Banderghat in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram after a sudden storm and unusually high waves struck the Brahmaputra River on Tuesday afternoon. Several other boats and a speedboat were also damaged. Witnesses said the sky suddenly darkened before light rain and gusty winds began, creating unexpectedly large waves that battered the moored boats against the riverbank’s block pitching.

Two boats from the Roumari and Kodalkati routes and two from Chilmari were reported sunk, with their hulls ruptured by the impact. Around 50 sacks of urea fertilizer and passengers’ belongings were lost to the river. Boat owners described the event as abrupt and unlike anything they had seen before, noting that wind intensity was moderate but the waves were abnormally strong.

No casualties were reported. Owners of the damaged boats are attempting to recover their vessels and goods, while local administration and relevant authorities are monitoring the situation.

Dhaka University’s International Center for Ocean Governance and China’s First Institute of Oceanography jointly inaugurated a modern ocean observation and environmental modeling initiative in Bangladesh’s coastal waters. The daylong seminar marking the launch was held on June 2, 2026, at Dhaka University, with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam as chief guest. Participants included academics, researchers, students, and representatives from national institutions such as the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the Bangladesh Navy, and SPARRSO, alongside Chinese scientists.

Speakers emphasized the importance of international collaboration in marine science, coastal monitoring, and climate resilience. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the partnership between Bangladesh and China opens new opportunities for sustainable resource management and coastal risk mitigation. He highlighted that Bangladesh’s economy, coastal livelihoods, and biodiversity depend on sustainable ocean resource management.

The initiative will enhance researchers’ capacity in real-time buoy data analysis, oceanographic modeling, and environmental monitoring. It will also support scientific assessment of microplastic, heavy metal, and oil pollution, creating a platform for data-driven environmental decision-making.

A mobile court in Lakhai upazila of Habiganj fined two brick kilns a total of six lakh taka for operating without valid licenses. The operation took place around 3 p.m. on Tuesday at Morakuri Uttar Madanpur area, targeting Messrs Titas Bricks Field and CMC Brick Kiln. The drive was led by Lakhai Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Syed Murad Islam.

According to the report, the fines were imposed under the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, 2013, as both kilns had failed to renew their licenses. Each owner was fined three lakh taka. The upazila executive officer stated that the penalties were imposed in the public interest due to the absence of valid licenses.

He further mentioned that similar monitoring and enforcement drives would continue across the upazila to ensure environmental protection and compliance with government regulations.

The High Court has imposed a six-month interim injunction on Swadesh Properties Limited’s land-filling activities for its ‘Swarnali Abashon’ project in Dhaka’s Uttarkhan, Khilkhet, and nearby areas. The order was issued on Sunday by a bench comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice Md Asif Hasan. The court also issued a rule asking why the actions of the concerned authorities should not be declared illegal.

The writ petition, filed by local resident Md Delwar Hossain Dewan, alleged that Swadesh Properties had occupied the government-owned Boalia canal, built an unauthorized Bailey bridge, and filled agricultural land, wetlands, and flood flow zones with sand in violation of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP 2022–2035). The petitioner claimed that despite complaints, authorities failed to take effective action, prompting the legal move.

The court directed that no sand filling by dredger or any other means be carried out on specific mouzas for the next six months. Twelve individuals, including officials from various government agencies and Swadesh Properties, were made respondents in the case.

The United Nations has warned that the natural weather phenomenon El Niño is likely to return soon, potentially intensifying extreme climate and weather conditions worldwide. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported an 80 percent chance of El Niño forming before September and a 90 percent chance by November. The agency said the upcoming event could be at least moderately strong, though it declined to confirm predictions that it might become the strongest of the century.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called El Niño an “emergency climate warning,” urging countries to treat it as a global crisis. The WMO forecast indicates that nearly all regions could experience above-normal temperatures in the next three months, with heightened risks of droughts and heavy rainfall. Experts warned that agricultural production and food security could be severely affected, especially if extreme heat and drought persist.

The WMO noted that Pacific Ocean surface temperatures are already trending toward El Niño conditions. Analysts emphasized that fossil fuel use and global warming are making extreme weather more frequent and severe, calling for stronger early warning systems and faster transitions to renewable energy.

A severe heatwave has paralyzed daily life in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh, India, where temperatures have hovered between 47 and 48 degrees Celsius for several consecutive days. Residents describe the conditions as unprecedented, saying there is little difference between morning and night, with early hours already feeling like midday. Markets and outdoor work largely shut down by mid-morning, and perishable goods such as tomatoes are spoiling rapidly. Laborers have shortened their working hours to avoid the most intense heat, while many seek shade under water tankers or trees.

Local hospitals are treating 15 to 20 patients daily for heatstroke and related illnesses, particularly among children and the elderly. Experts warn that climate change has made Banda and surrounding areas increasingly vulnerable, citing deforestation, drying rivers, and falling groundwater levels as key factors driving the temperature rise. Studies show significant forest loss in the district between 1991 and 2022.

A brief spell of rain and dust storms recently brought temporary relief, but meteorologists caution that such respite will be short-lived, with heatwaves expected to become more frequent and severe, posing a growing humanitarian risk.

Irregularities have been reported before and after the approval of sand extraction for the Matarbari Deep Sea Port connecting road project in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar. The contractor, Tokyo-MIL-JV, was permitted to extract sand under 13 conditions but allegedly ignored them, using a 12-inch suction dredger instead of the required 18-inch cutter dredger. The company also failed to obtain environmental clearance or conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Officials from Max International Limited, the local partner, denied all allegations, claiming compliance with government terms.

Documents show that the Cox’s Bazar district administration approved sand extraction without tender or environmental clearance, setting a rate of Tk 6.94 per cubic foot while the government would pay Tk 4.56 per cubic foot as dredging cost. This arrangement allegedly allows the contractor to profit while the government bears the expense. Competing firms offering higher royalties were reportedly ignored. The district administration, led by Deputy Commissioner Md. A. Mannan, justified the approval as being based on a land ministry directive.

The Department of Environment confirmed that no application for clearance was submitted and warned of legal action if extraction continues without approval. The administration has asked the Water Development Board to verify whether the contractor is violating conditions.

Bangladesh is confronting renewed tensions over transboundary river management as the 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India, signed in 1996, approaches its expiry in December 2026. Technical teams from both countries have begun preliminary discussions, but India has informally suggested a new formula based on water flow at the Farakka point, which Bangladeshi experts deem unfair. The uncertainty over renewal has revived concerns about equitable water distribution, particularly as Bangladesh continues to suffer from reduced dry-season flows, salinity, and environmental degradation linked to upstream control.

The article highlights that India’s unilateral management of shared rivers has long disadvantaged Bangladesh, affecting agriculture, fisheries, and navigation. The Farakka Barrage, Teesta water-sharing deadlock, and Tipaimukh Dam project are cited as examples of India prioritizing its strategic and domestic interests over regional fairness. Bangladesh’s government is advancing the Padma Barrage project to retain dry-season water, though experts warn of potential ecological side effects.

The author urges Bangladesh to strengthen water diplomacy, enhance research capacity, and mobilize international support for binding transboundary river governance to safeguard national interests and environmental security.