Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher said that integrated spatial planning is essential to ensure planned, inclusive, and sustainable urban development amid rapid urbanization. Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar organized by the Urban Development Directorate at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Wednesday, he emphasized the need for science-based planning that balances development and environmental protection to create a safe and livable Bangladesh for future generations.

The minister noted that three ongoing projects prioritize farmland preservation, environmental protection, improved communication systems, expanded civic amenities, waterlogging prevention, disaster risk reduction, and local economic growth. These initiatives aim to build climate-resilient infrastructure, protect biodiversity, and improve citizens’ quality of life.

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahmad Sohel Monjur added that spatial planning is crucial for developing citizen-friendly and modern cities. He stressed the importance of ensuring effective implementation of the three projects presented at the seminar.

The 'Teesta Bachao Nodi Bachao Sangram Parishad' has demanded that the government implement the Teesta Master Plan with domestic funding, a one-time allocation, and a time-bound roadmap. The demand was made by the organization’s president, Nazrul Islam Hakkani, at a press conference held on Wednesday morning at a community center in Rangpur city. He emphasized that the Teesta River is vital to the agriculture, economy, environment, and livelihoods of millions in northern Bangladesh, where erosion, drought, and sudden floods have caused severe hardship.

Hakkani noted that despite an earlier announcement in January 2025 by the interim government’s water resources adviser, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, to begin work on the Teesta Master Plan, no visible progress has been made. The organization presented five demands, including a separate national budget allocation for the project, formation of a ‘Teesta Management Authority’ with experts and movement representatives, introduction of a ‘Teesta Bond,’ and adoption of river and agricultural protection plans.

The group announced a series of public outreach programs along the Teesta from May 21 to 26, followed by a special prayer after Eid, a citizens’ rally on June 5, and a month-long awareness campaign.

Meteorologists in Bangladesh have described the current summer as highly unusual, noting that despite frequent rainfall, the country is experiencing intense humidity. According to weather experts A.K.M. Nazmul Haque and Shahinul Islam, in their 14 years of service they have not seen such a combination of heavy rain and persistent muggy heat during April and May. Although temperatures have not risen sharply, the high moisture in southern winds is causing discomfort across the country.

Data from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department show that the highest temperature this year was 40°C in Rajshahi on April 22, compared with 42°C and 43.7°C recorded in Chuadanga in 2023 and 2024 respectively. On Tuesday, the national maximum temperature dropped to 36.6°C from 38°C the previous day, while rainfall reached 86 millimeters in Rangamati and 16 millimeters in Dhaka. However, Rangpur and Mymensingh divisions saw no rain.

Health experts report an increase in respiratory illnesses among children and the elderly due to fluctuating weather. Forecasts suggest that humidity and irregular rainfall may persist through June and July.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presided over a high-level meeting on the development and environmental conservation of the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake. The meeting was held on Tuesday, May 19, at the Cabinet Division in the Prime Minister’s Office at the Secretariat. Officials discussed measures to prevent water pollution, maintain ecological balance, enhance the lake’s beauty, and improve civic amenities around the area.

During the meeting, relevant officials presented the current condition of the lake and shared their opinions on sustainable development plans and initiatives. The session was attended by Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Suman, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, administrators of Dhaka South and North City Corporations, and senior officials from related ministries and departments.

The discussions focused on coordinated efforts among government agencies to ensure long-term environmental protection and urban improvement around the lake area.

Unplanned and unauthorized housing projects are rapidly expanding across Khulna city, making it increasingly unfit for habitation. These developments, often built on agricultural land without proper roads, drainage, water, or electricity connections, are being viewed as a looming crisis for the city’s future. Experts have urged immediate coordination among relevant agencies to ensure planned and environmentally sustainable urban development.

The concerns were raised at a seminar titled “Housing Projects and Urban Management in Khulna: Actions for Environmental Protection,” organized by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) at a city hotel on Tuesday morning. The keynote paper was presented by Dr. Ahsanul Kabir of Khulna University, with Professor Anwarul Kadir moderating. Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju attended as chief guest, alongside senior officials from KCC, KDA, KUET, and BELA.

Representatives from KCC, WASA, KDA, and the Department of Environment participated in the seminar, emphasizing the need for integrated planning to prevent further environmental degradation in Khulna.

A mobile court in Lama upazila of Bandarban district sentenced Lokman Hossain, aged 35, to six months of imprisonment for illegally cutting hills. The operation took place on Tuesday afternoon in the Bashkhaillya Jhiri area following a report published in the newspaper Amar Desh. Lokman Hossain, son of Saleh Ahmed from Yangcha area, was found guilty of using two excavators to cut and sell soil from about 10 acres of hill land for brick kiln construction.

The report titled “Preparation to build brick kiln by cutting 10 acres of hill in Lama” was published on Monday on Amar Desh’s online edition, drawing the attention of the upazila and district administrations. Following this, the administration conducted the drive and took legal action against the offender.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Md. Moin Uddin stated that there would be no leniency for those destroying the environment and that such drives would continue in the public interest.

Bangladesh has approved the long-discussed Padma Barrage Project to address the country's worsening water crisis caused by reduced flow from the Ganges, known locally as the Padma. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council has given final approval to the project, with an estimated cost of Tk 50,443.64 crore. The government has allocated Tk 34,497.25 crore for the first phase. Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anwar stated that there is no need for discussions with India regarding this project, which aims to store about 2,900 million cubic meters of water in the Padma River.

The project seeks to revive five rivers—Hisna-Mathabhanga, Gorai-Madhumati, Chandana-Barasia, Baral, and Ichamati—by supplying around 800 cubic meters of water per second during the dry season. It is expected to benefit nearly 2.9 million hectares of farmland across southwestern Bangladesh and generate 113 megawatts of hydroelectric power. Experts believe the barrage will help mitigate salinity and waterlogging in the Sundarbans region.

Analysts note that India’s water diversion through the Farakka Barrage has long reduced Bangladesh’s river flow. The new project is seen as a strategic response to safeguard national water resources and agricultural productivity.

One person was killed and three others were injured in separate lightning strikes in Khoksa upazila of Kushtia district on Monday evening. The incidents occurred around 6:30 p.m. in Joyonti Hajra, Kalishongkorpur, Biljani, and Holudbariya villages. The deceased, Hazrat Ali Pramanik, was a farmer from Joyonti Hajra village. He was struck by lightning while gathering harvested paddy near his home and was later declared dead at the Khoksa Upazila Health Complex.

According to family members, Hazrat Ali collapsed in his field during heavy rain and thunder. He was taken to the hospital by relatives but could not be saved. The injured—10-year-old student Antora from Kalishongkorpur, housewife Dolly Khatun (20) from Biljani, and housewife Sima Parvin (25) from Holudbariya—are receiving treatment at the same health complex.

Emergency department physician Sharmin Akter Rima confirmed that Hazrat Ali had died before reaching the hospital, while the three injured victims remain under medical care.

A major collapse occurred in the river protection embankment along the Dhanu River in Singpur Union of Nikli upazila, Kishoreganj, before the completion of construction work. The incident caused about 70 to 80 feet of the embankment, including blocks and geo-bags, to sink into the river, washing away a nearby road and putting the Singpur market at risk.

According to the Water Development Board, around Tk 30 crore was allocated for a 1,200-meter riverbank protection and wave protection project, which has already received two deadline extensions due to delays. Local residents reported that the embankment blocks were gradually sinking and the soil beneath the geo-bags was eroding into the river. One resident alleged that poor-quality work contributed to the collapse.

Executive Engineer Md. Sajjad Hossain of the Kishoreganj Water Development Board stated that the embankment protection work is ongoing and that a team has inspected the collapsed area. He assured that all necessary support will be provided to stabilize the damaged section.

In Lama upazila of Bandarban district, around 10 acres of hilly land have been leveled allegedly to prepare for a new brick kiln. The activity reportedly took place in the Bashkhaillya Jhiri area of Fasiakhali Union under the name of Lokman Hossain, a resident of Satkania. Local resident Md. Osman Gani filed a written complaint with the Department of Environment on Sunday, accusing Lokman Hossain of illegally cutting hills to build the kiln.

According to the complaint, the hill cutting has damaged natural forests, streams, water flow, and biodiversity. Osman Gani claimed that although the land was jointly purchased, it was later flattened through deceit, and a hilly stream was filled in. Locals fear that unregulated hill cutting could increase the risks of landslides, water shortages, and environmental degradation. They have demanded a prompt investigation and legal action against those responsible.

Lokman Hossain denied the allegations, calling them false and motivated by personal disputes. An inspector from the Department of Environment stated that legal measures would be taken if hill cutting is confirmed.

Toxic waste and foul water from Rohingya camps in Teknaf are severely polluting nearby canals, wetlands, and the Naf River. The contaminated water, flowing through canals such as Alikhali, Muchhni Chhuri, Jadimura, Unchiprang, and Omar, has turned black and unusable. Local farmers report that crop production has been disrupted, while fish yields in canals and rivers have declined. The pollution is also affecting salt cultivation, as saline farmers cannot use the foul water for irrigation.

According to local sources, six Rohingya camps in Hnila Union house around 180,000 people within a four-square-kilometer area. About 70 percent of the camps’ waste, including sewage, flows directly into nearby canals and rivers. Residents say the water remains discolored even during the monsoon and that many locals are suffering from waterborne diseases. Farmers and residents have urged the Department of Environment and local administration to establish proper waste management systems.

Officials have acknowledged the problem, emphasizing the need for modern treatment facilities to prevent further environmental and health damage in the region.

Continuous rainfall and upstream water flow from India have caused the Teesta River’s water level to rise, raising fears of flooding in northern Bangladesh. As of Monday morning, water at the Dalia Barrage point in Lalmonirhat was flowing 60 centimeters below the danger level, according to the Water Development Board. Officials said the river began swelling on Sunday night and the increase continued through Monday.

Residents along the Teesta River expressed concern that the situation could worsen if India releases more water through the Gajoldoba Barrage in West Bengal. Locals accused the barrage of acting as a “death trap” for Bangladesh, alleging that India closes the gates during dry seasons and opens all 54 gates during monsoon periods, causing floods downstream. The barrage, located in India’s upstream section of the Teesta, is controlled by the West Bengal state government.

People in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Rangpur, and Gaibandha districts are now living in fear of potential flooding as rainfall continues and river levels remain high.

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck China’s southwestern Guangxi region early on Monday, May 18, killing at least two people and leaving one missing. More than 7,000 residents were evacuated from Liuzhou city following the tremor. State media outlets CCTV and Xinhua reported that the deceased were a 63-year-old man and his 53-year-old wife. Four others were injured and hospitalized, though none were in critical condition.

CCTV said at least 13 buildings collapsed as a result of the quake. Videos released by local media showed panicked residents rushing out of high-rise buildings and debris scattered across several areas. Rescue teams were searching through the rubble using sniffer dogs and heavy machinery to locate the missing person and clear debris.

Rail authorities reported potential transport disruptions as they inspected rail lines and infrastructure for damage. However, Chinese media confirmed that electricity, communications, water, gas, and road networks remained normal.

A prolonged and intense heatwave has swept across Pakistan and India, leaving millions struggling with extreme temperatures. In Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, daytime temperatures have frequently exceeded 44 to 46 degrees Celsius, forcing residents indoors and severely affecting daily wage earners, transport workers, and farmers. Similar conditions have been reported in India’s Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and northern and central regions, where authorities have issued heat alerts due to health risks, power shortages, and disruptions to daily life.

In Karachi, temperatures have repeatedly surpassed 40 degrees Celsius, reaching a recent high of 44.1 degrees, the city’s highest since 2018. Coastal communities such as Ibrahim Hyderi are facing worsening conditions due to power outages and water shortages. Local hospitals have reported a sharp rise in child patients suffering from dehydration and infections linked to unsafe water. Climate experts attribute the recurring heatwaves to human-induced climate change and rapid urbanization, warning that summers are becoming longer, harsher, and less predictable.

Experts urge immediate government action, including establishing cooling centers, ensuring safe drinking water, strengthening emergency healthcare, and expanding urban tree cover to mitigate future heat impacts.

Authorities in Babuganj upazila of Barishal demolished the chimney of an illegal brick kiln during an operation on Sunday afternoon. The mobile court, led by the local administration, dismantled two drum chimneys of the Care Brick Kiln and imposed a fine of Tk 150,000 on the owner, Md. Mehedi Hasan. Additionally, raw bricks were soaked in water and destroyed during the raid.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Kamrun Nahar Tamanna confirmed the incident and stated that illegal brick kilns using drum chimneys cause severe environmental damage. She emphasized that such operations against unauthorized and environmentally harmful brick kilns will continue in the area.

The action reflects the administration’s ongoing efforts to curb illegal industrial activities that violate environmental regulations in Barishal district.