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.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate two canal excavation projects in Jhenaidah and Feni this month as part of the nationwide canal excavation program. Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie announced the plan after a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at the Secretariat. He said that excavation work in a canal at Kaharol in Dinajpur has already begun, and the new initiatives will extend the program to two more districts.

The minister stated that the Prime Minister will personally visit both districts to launch the projects, while ministers and state ministers will oversee activities in other areas. The meeting discussed completing the excavation within 180 days and achieving the target of 20,000 kilometers of canals. He noted that many rivers have been damaged by encroachment and pollution, posing challenges to implementation.

According to the minister, strict measures have been taken to recover occupied canals, and coordinated efforts are underway to overcome obstacles. He also mentioned that the Teesta Master Plan remains under technical discussion and that the technical team continues work on the Ganges Treaty with India.

Local BNP leaders in Fatullah, Narayanganj, have been accused of illegally extracting soil from the Dhaleshwari and Buriganga rivers and selling it to nearby brick kilns. The activity reportedly takes place openly using grab dredgers, with around 150,000 cubic feet of soil removed daily from the Dharmaganj and Baktabali areas. Despite the absence of official permission for dredging, the report alleges that some BIWTA officials and river police have been influenced to allow the operations.

The unplanned soil extraction has put surrounding farmland, roads, and villages at risk of erosion. Residents say the illegal dredging is damaging the rivers’ navigability and environmental balance, threatening homes and businesses. The syndicate allegedly includes both BNP and Awami League figures, with specific local leaders named as participants.

Narayanganj-4 MP Abdullah Al Amin condemned the illegal activity, warning that it endangers riverside communities. BIWTA’s director declined to comment, while the local river police officer-in-charge said he had recently joined and would investigate the matter and take strict action.

In Raiganj of Sirajganj, the once-familiar sight of tall palm trees is rapidly disappearing, raising concerns about increasing lightning strikes and other natural disasters. The decline has been attributed to agricultural expansion, unplanned tree cutting, and insufficient replanting. Local residents have reported more frequent lightning-related deaths of farmers and livestock during recent monsoon seasons, heightening fear and frustration in the community.

Environmental activists from the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) in Sirajganj warn that palm trees not only enhance natural beauty but also act as protection against lightning. Their loss threatens biodiversity, particularly the habitat of the baya weaver bird, and disrupts the ecological balance. Palm trees also hold economic and cultural value, providing nutritious fruit and raw materials for rural crafts such as mats, fans, and other cottage products.

Experts caution that the disappearance of palm trees could erode both environmental stability and rural heritage, diminishing the aesthetic and ecological identity of traditional Bangladeshi villages.

A modernization project costing about Tk 21 crore at Dhaka University’s Mall Chattar has drawn criticism after the area turned hazardous for students and pedestrians. Following recent rainfall, an electric shock incident killed a dog near Surya Sen Hall around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, raising alarm among witnesses who narrowly avoided a larger accident.

Students alleged that the square’s electrical wiring and lighting were installed without proper planning, creating electrocution risks whenever rainwater accumulates. Poor drainage and inadequate maintenance have worsened the danger. Some lamp posts have reportedly been stolen, leaving exposed wires temporarily patched with tape. The project, launched for the university’s centenary celebration, included lighting, drainage, seating, and aesthetic structures but has faced criticism over design flaws and safety lapses.

Acting Chief Engineer Kazi Md. Akram Hossain said some lights had been disconnected after thefts, and the sudden rain caused the incident. Newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.B.M. Obaidul Islam called the situation alarming and instructed the engineering department to take immediate safety measures.

A Tk 14 crore sanitary landfill and waste treatment plant in Kishoreganj town remains non-operational three years after its completion, leaving the facility buried under heaps of garbage. Located beside the Bhairab–Mymensingh regional highway, the site emits a strong stench, polluting the environment and damaging nearby farmland. Despite being built with Asian Development Bank funding in late 2022, the project’s modern pumps and filtration systems now lie idle and deteriorating.

Kishoreganj Municipality’s administrator, Zebun Nahar Shammi, acknowledged the problem and said the project became defunct because waste was not properly separated into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories. She added that reviving the facility would cost nearly as much as its original construction but assured that efforts are underway to resolve the issue quickly. Meanwhile, 20 to 25 truckloads of municipal waste continue to be dumped daily beside the highway, worsening pollution.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon’s Kishoreganj district president, Advocate Hamida Begum, warned that without a permanent solution, the environmental and public health situation could become even more severe.

Kenya’s National Police Service reported on Saturday that the death toll from weeks of heavy rain and flooding has risen to 108. The floods, which began on March 6, have caused extensive damage across the East African nation, sweeping away vehicles, disrupting air travel, and damaging electrical infrastructure. Authorities said more than 2,700 families have been displaced nationwide.

Although rainfall intensity has decreased in some areas, police warned that poor drainage and waterlogging continue to pose flooding risks. In early March, overnight downpours in Nairobi led to flash floods that killed at least 23 people, swept away dozens of cars, and disrupted flights at the city’s main airport. Since then, fatalities and damage have continued to rise throughout the month.

Meteorologists and environmental scientists cited global warming as a factor worsening floods and droughts across East Africa. A 2024 World Weather Attribution study found that climate change has doubled the likelihood of destructive rainfall in the region.

In Kano, northern Nigeria, second-hand electronics imported from Europe, America, and Asia are flooding markets like Sabon Gari, where low-income buyers seek affordable appliances. Many of these goods, often near the end of their lifespan, arrive damaged or fail shortly after purchase, worsening the country’s growing electronic waste problem. According to the United Nations, about 60,000 tonnes of used electronics enter Nigeria annually, with at least 15,700 tonnes already defective upon arrival.

The trade, largely driven by exporters from Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, China, the United States, and Ireland, often violates the Basel Convention, which restricts hazardous waste exports to developing nations. Informal recyclers in Kano dismantle broken devices without protection, exposing themselves to toxic substances such as mercury and refrigerant gases banned in Western countries. Health experts warn of serious respiratory, neurological, and reproductive risks linked to such exposure.

Despite Nigeria’s environmental regulations and inspections, weak enforcement and loopholes allow mislabeled shipments to enter the country. Environmental advocates and traders call for stricter border checks, certification systems, and international accountability to curb the inflow of unsafe electronic waste.

In Netrokona’s haor region, several crop protection embankments have collapsed and developed cracks following light rainfall, causing panic among local farmers. The embankments, built annually under the government’s Kabita project through the Water Development Board (Paubo), are meant to protect boro crops from early flooding. This year, construction and repair work began late, and residents allege that inexperienced committees were formed under the scheme, leading to poor-quality work.

Reports indicate that embankments in Khaliajuri upazila’s Chakua union, including the Chautara haor and PI river embankments, have been damaged. Some projects allegedly involved minimal soil work, and protective measures such as sandbags and bamboo reinforcements were not completed on time. Paubo officials acknowledged the damage and said repair work was underway. Local officials, including the upazila executive officer and district administration, have instructed immediate repairs and regular monitoring.

According to official data, 202 project implementation committees were responsible for maintaining 136.798 km of embankments across five upazilas, covering about 134,000 hectares of farmland. The total estimated cost was around 310 million taka.

Phulbaria upazila in Mymensingh, covering 399 square kilometers, is rich in natural and historical resources but remains underdeveloped as a full-fledged tourist destination due to insufficient government and private initiatives. The area features the country’s largest enclosed wetland, Barabila, and the mysterious Nabaikuri, which attract visitors with lotus blooms and migratory birds. Nearby stands the legendary site of King Anai’s palace, tied to a local folktale that continues to intrigue tourists.

Santoshpur forest, with its dense sal and gazari trees, wildlife, and a large rubber plantation, offers another attraction. The area’s “social monkeys,” known for their friendly behavior with visitors, have become a highlight. Other notable sites include the privately owned Deepto Orchid Garden in Dulma village, the historic Tamaltala Guptabrindaban, and a privately developed park in Betbari. Visitors can reach Phulbaria from Mymensingh for a modest travel cost.

Locals believe that with proper planning and investment, Phulbaria could emerge as one of Bangladesh’s most appealing tourism zones, generating significant annual revenue.

Two farmers were killed and four others injured when lightning struck an onion field in Kharibaria village under Umedpur Union of Shailkupa upazila in Jhenaidah on Saturday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Apu Biswas, 20, son of Prokash Biswas of Kharibaria village, and Samir Biswas, 40, son of Sushil Biswas of Laxmipur village. The injured included Ranjit Biswas and Prokash Biswas among others.

According to Shailkupa Police Station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir Molla, the farmers were working in the field when the lightning struck, killing two on the spot and injuring four others. Locals rescued the injured and took them to Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex, where two received primary treatment and were later released.

Duty doctor Ehtesham Shahid at the health complex said the victims suffered severe burns from the lightning strike.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Office has issued a warning that strong storms with wind speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour may sweep across 19 districts. The advisory, valid until 1 a.m. on Saturday night, also forecasts rain or thundershowers in the affected areas. The districts include Rangpur, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Tangail, Dhaka, Faridpur, Mymensingh, Jashore, Kushtia, Madaripur, Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chattogram, and Sylhet. River ports in these regions have been instructed to hoist warning signal number one.

A separate weather bulletin noted that an extension of a low-pressure area lies over West Bengal and nearby regions of India, while the seasonal low remains over the South Bay of Bengal. Under these conditions, temporary gusty winds accompanied by lightning and rain or thundershowers are likely across all divisions of the country over the next few days.

The forecast indicates unstable weather patterns, suggesting possible disruptions to river transport and outdoor activities in the affected districts.

A farmer was killed and two others were seriously injured when lightning struck a wheat field in the Shihara Union border area of Patnitala upazila in Naogaon on Saturday morning, March 28, 2026. The deceased was identified as Ashraf Hossain, 38, son of Ainal Haque of Shitalmat village. The injured, Tarek Hossain, 35, and Sharif Hossain, 36, were taken to Sapahar Upazila Health Complex in critical condition.

Local residents said the three farmers were harvesting wheat when the lightning struck suddenly. The incident caused panic in the area as all three victims were from the same village. Shihara Union Parishad Chairman Tofazzal Hossain confirmed that one person died on the spot due to the natural disaster, while the other two were hospitalized.

Patnitala Police Station Officer-in-Charge Asaduzzaman Asad also confirmed the death and injuries resulting from the lightning strike.

Seven people were killed and five others injured in a series of avalanches that struck the Srinagar-Leh National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. The incidents occurred between Zero Point and Minimarg, where several vehicles were buried under snow and debris. The casualties were reported as rescue efforts continued in the affected area.

India’s federal minister and Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader Jitendra Singh confirmed the deaths and injuries in a post on social media platform X. He also expressed condolences to the families of the victims. The avalanches disrupted traffic and caused significant damage along the highway, a key route connecting Srinagar with Leh.

Authorities are monitoring the situation as weather conditions remain unstable in the region, raising concerns about further avalanches and travel disruptions.