Once a clear and vibrant natural reservoir, Foy’s Lake in Chattogram has become heavily polluted and toxic due to years of environmental mismanagement, encroachment, and industrial activity. The century-old lake, formerly home to at least 50 species of wildlife and a key water source for thousands, now shows signs of severe ecological collapse. Following a 2005 lease agreement between Bangladesh Railway and Concord Group for tourism development, unregulated construction, hill cutting, and motorized boat operations have destroyed the lake’s natural balance.

Field inspections and laboratory tests by Chattogram WASA and Railway labs found alarming levels of chemical contamination, with biological oxygen demand dropping and chemical oxygen demand rising sharply. Experts report that most aquatic plants and animals have vanished, and the lake’s water has turned green-gray with oil layers blocking oxygen flow. Despite a 2017 lease cancellation, Concord continues operations under legal protection, while illegal settlements and waste dumping persist around the lake.

Environmentalists and legal experts warn that the situation poses serious public health risks and call for immediate enforcement of environmental and lease conditions to restore the lake’s ecosystem.

The River Police of Bangladesh have reported a major success in their ongoing nationwide operations to protect river-based fisheries and restore discipline on waterways. Over the past seven days, officers seized 43.27 million meters of illegal fishing nets, 4,158 kilograms of fish, 657,000 shrimp fry, 15,000 bagda shrimp larvae, and 1,328 kilograms of jelly-mixed shrimp. A total of 279 individuals were arrested, and 133 illegal river obstacles were destroyed during the operation.

According to a statement issued by the River Police Headquarters on April 16, 83 bulkheads lacking valid documents faced prosecution in the naval court. Authorities filed 69 cases, including 46 under the Fisheries Act, nine for reckless navigation, and others related to sand extraction, drugs, theft, special powers, and abduction. Twelve bodies were also recovered during the campaign.

The seized illegal nets and jelly-mixed shrimp were destroyed, while shrimp fry were released back into the water to support natural growth. The recovered fish were distributed to local orphanages. The River Police stated that similar operations will continue to strengthen river safety and protect aquatic biodiversity.

Five people, including a school student and a woman, were killed by lightning strikes in three districts on Thursday. The incidents occurred in Munshiganj, Chuadanga, and Maheshpur of Jhenaidah. In Munshiganj’s Tongibari upazila, two young men, Rizwan Dhali and Arafat Khan, died after being struck by lightning during a nor’wester storm. Both were taken to Tongibari Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared them dead.

In Chuadanga, two people, including a ninth-grade student, died in separate lightning incidents. The victims were identified as Rasel from Jibannagar’s Ghoshnagar village and Tajimuddin, a student of Memnagar BD Secondary School in Damurhuda. Tajimuddin was struck by lightning while working with his father in a field. In Maheshpur of Jhenaidah, a housewife named Rozina Khatun died after being hit by lightning while working near her kitchen.

Local police confirmed the deaths in all three districts and stated that the bodies were handed over to the families as no complaints were filed.

Frequent power outages have severely disrupted daily life in Khulna, where residents are struggling with extreme heat and repeated electricity cuts. The outages, occurring both day and night, have made it difficult for people to sleep and carry out daily activities. Children, the elderly, and the sick are suffering the most, while businesses are also facing operational challenges due to unannounced power interruptions.

Local residents have accused the electricity distribution authorities of failing to take effective measures to stabilize the situation. However, officials from the West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDCO) stated that the outages are temporary and caused by a shortfall in power generation compared to demand. On April 16, Khulna’s electricity demand reached 653 megawatts, while supply stood at 550 megawatts, resulting in a 103-megawatt shortfall. The previous day, the deficit was even higher at various times.

Affected residents have urged authorities to take urgent steps to ensure stable electricity supply and reduce load-shedding during the ongoing heatwave.

The Middle East, particularly the Persian Gulf region, holds the world’s largest oil and gas reserves due to unique geological conditions formed over millions of years. The area contains more than 30 supergiant oil fields, each with at least five billion barrels of crude oil, and produces two to five times more oil per well than top fields in the North Sea or Russia. These vast hydrocarbon resources have made the region both a blessing and a source of geopolitical tension, as global energy markets react sharply to regional conflicts.

Geologists attribute this abundance to the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which created folded and fractured rock structures ideal for trapping hydrocarbons. The region’s limestone formations, rich in organic material from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, serve as high-quality source and reservoir rocks. Saudi Arabia’s Ghawar field and the South Pars–North Dome gas field are among the largest examples.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, despite over a century of extraction, the Arabian Peninsula and Zagros Mountains may still hold around 86 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 9.5 trillion cubic meters of gas, with new drilling technologies offering potential for increased production.

A video showing the public slaughter of a spotted deer near the Mirsarai Economic Zone in Chattogram has gone viral on social media. The seven-second clip, recorded on April 11 in the Muhuri Project area of Ichakhali Union, shows two men restraining and attempting to slaughter the animal while another person stands nearby. The footage, which spread online on April 14, sparked widespread criticism and calls for the arrest and punishment of those involved.

According to the Forest Department, the coastal mangrove forest in Mirsarai once stretched about 20 kilometers and was home to thousands of deer and other wildlife. However, deforestation linked to the establishment of the national special economic zone has drastically reduced wildlife populations. Locals said the deer likely strayed into the locality after being separated from its herd due to forest clearing.

Forest officials confirmed that three individuals were involved in the incident and that a drive is underway to arrest them. They believe the suspects work at nearby farms.

The government of Bangladesh has imposed a 58-day ban on all fishing activities in the Bay of Bengal starting from midnight on April 15 until June 11. The measure aims to protect marine biodiversity and ensure the free breeding and growth of 475 fish species. The restriction applies to all types of fishing vessels, including industrial trawlers and coastal engine-powered boats.

Since 2015, the government had enforced a 65-day annual fishing ban from May 20 to July 23 under the Marine Fisheries Ordinance. However, due to dissatisfaction among local fishermen, who claimed foreign fishermen exploited the closure, the duration was reduced to 58 days last year to align with India’s fishing ban period. The same schedule continues this year.

During the ban, 311,062 registered sea-going fishermen across 14 coastal districts and Chattogram city will receive 40 kilograms of rice per month under the VGF program. In 2025, authorities conducted 3,585 operations during the ban, seizing illegal nets and vessels, and imposing fines and jail terms for violations.

BNP Chairperson’s adviser Dr. Ziauddin Haider has warned that 80 percent of Bangladesh’s waste currently ends up in rivers and canals, posing a severe environmental threat. Speaking to journalists after inspecting the Faridpur Municipality Waste Processing Center on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, he emphasized the need to transform waste into organic fertilizer and fuel through modern recycling instead of treating it as a problem.

Dr. Haider said that under the slogan “Bangladesh First,” the BNP identified eight priority sectors, with the environment being one of them. He stressed that proper waste management is essential to protect public health, as indiscriminate dumping has spread from rural to urban areas. He called for swift waste removal, initiatives to produce fertilizer or electricity from waste, and public awareness to dispose of garbage in designated places.

During the visit, he also instructed officials to ensure the safety and health of workers. The inspection was attended by Barishal City Corporation Administrator Advocate Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin, Practical Action Bangladesh Country Director Ishrat Shabnam, and local BNP leaders.

The Bangladesh government has enforced a 58-day ban on all types of fishing in the country’s maritime boundary of the Bay of Bengal, starting Wednesday, April 15, and continuing until midnight on June 11. The measure aims to conserve marine fish resources and ensure sustainable harvesting. The Department of Fisheries and local administrations, including those in Bhola district, have taken extensive preparations to implement the restriction.

According to the Bhola District Fisheries Office, about 63,954 registered sea-going fishermen across seven upazilas will be affected, with the highest number in Charfassion. To mitigate hardship, each registered fisherman will receive 77 kilograms of VGF rice as government assistance. Fishermen have already begun returning to shore with their nets and trawlers in compliance with the ban.

Local fishermen have urged authorities to strengthen patrols and operations during the ban to prevent foreign fishermen from entering Bangladesh’s waters. Officials stated that awareness campaigns and food aid distribution have been arranged to support compliance and enforcement.

A 70-year-old farmer named Saber Ahmed was killed in a wild elephant attack in Purba Gozalia Satgharia Para area of Islamabadh Union under Eidgaon upazila of Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on Wednesday when he was guarding his paddy field at night. According to local sources, he was sitting on a chair near a fire to protect his crops when elephants came from the nearby forest and attacked him, causing his death on the spot.

His daughter Monju Ara said that her father was the only earning member of their family, and the household depended entirely on his income. Local Union Parishad member Jubaid Ullah Jewel confirmed the incident as true.

The death highlights the continuing risk faced by rural farmers in areas adjacent to forest zones where wild elephants frequently enter farmland in search of food.

Allegations have surfaced that a multi-storey building is being constructed illegally on reserved forest land in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar. According to local sources, the construction is taking place at Swarnapahar in Kutupalong East Para under Rajapalong Union. The sons of the late Ilyas, known locally as Rohingya Ilyas, are accused of occupying forest department land and building a five-storey structure, with three floors already completed.

Residents claim that an influential group has long been encroaching on forest areas to build various structures, causing environmental damage. Environmentalist and journalist Jasim Azad stated that forest encroachment, hill cutting, and illegal construction are increasing across the upazila, urging urgent action to protect the environment. Under the Forest Act of 1927, such encroachment and construction are punishable offenses, and the Environment Act of 1995 also provides penalties for environmental harm.

Forest department officials said about five acres of forest land were recently recovered, and regular drives are ongoing. Ukhiya Range Officer Mohammad Shahinur Islam confirmed that legal action is being prepared against the accused and that necessary measures will be taken promptly.

A steel Bailey bridge on the Sunamganj–Jagannathpur–Aushkandi–Dhaka regional highway collapsed again on Tuesday morning, April 14, 2026, when a freight truck was crossing it. Two steel planks in the middle section gave way, forcing authorities to suspend all passenger and heavy vehicle movement toward the capital. Only light vehicles such as CNG-run auto-rickshaws and motorcycles are moving cautiously, while fear and frustration spread among commuters.

Residents said the bridge has collapsed multiple times in recent years, including a fatal incident in August 2024 when a cement-laden truck plunged into the river, killing two people. Despite a strict ban by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) on vehicles carrying more than ten tons, overloaded trucks continue to use the bridge. Locals blame this disregard for safety rules for repeated accidents and fear more casualties if the bridge remains in use.

Although a permanent RCC bridge was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in September 2023, no visible construction has begun. The local RHD executive engineer said repair work on the planks is underway and traffic is expected to resume by evening, while the permanent bridge project remains in process.

Residents of the isolated river islands in Shibchar upazila of Madaripur district are enduring a relentless struggle for survival amid river erosion, poverty, and recurring natural disasters. The communities in newly emerged chars such as Charjanajat, Kathalbari, and Madbarer Char face severe shortages of roads, electricity, and safe drinking water. Many families have lost their homes and farmland to the Padma River’s erosion and wait years for new land to emerge where they can rebuild their lives.

Agriculture and fishing remain the main sources of livelihood, but income is uncertain due to floods, droughts, and sudden erosion. Transportation depends entirely on boats, which become scarce or dangerous during the monsoon, disrupting access to healthcare, education, and daily necessities. Local residents described the absence of schools, health centers, and reliable communication as major barriers to improving their lives.

Local representatives and residents emphasized the urgent need for sustainable embankments, improved transport links, electricity, clean water, and long-term development plans to ensure better living conditions for the Padma’s char communities.

Unplanned stone extraction is rapidly destroying farmland in Panchagarh, particularly in Tetulia upazila, as demand for construction materials rises. Farmers and contractors are digging 30–40 feet deep pits in cultivable land to extract stones, often without permission or regulation. The practice has already reduced agricultural land and production, prompting warnings from environmentalists that Tetulia’s farmland could be halved if immediate action is not taken.

According to local data, Tetulia upazila covers 18,912 hectares, of which 14,839 hectares are arable. However, much of this land is being converted for tea cultivation or left fallow after stone extraction. The Bangladesh Tea Board reports that 4,700 acres in Panchagarh are now under tea cultivation, mostly in Tetulia. Industrial land purchases and unutilized plots along highways have further reduced cultivable areas.

Environmental experts and local educators have urged stronger public awareness and enforcement of land-use rules. The district administration stated that it is maintaining strict monitoring to prevent farmland from becoming barren due to unregulated extraction.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that the mild to moderate heatwave currently sweeping across parts of the country may expand further. The 24-hour weather outlook issued on Sunday evening indicated that the heatwave is affecting Dhaka, Tangail, Faridpur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, and the Khulna division. The department warned that the heatwave could intensify and spread over the next few days.

According to the forecast, temporary gusty winds with rain or thundershowers may occur in a few places in the Chattogram and Sylhet divisions from Sunday evening. On Monday, scattered rain accompanied by strong winds is possible in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, while the rest of the country is expected to remain mostly dry with partly cloudy skies.

The weather office also noted that daytime temperatures may rise slightly across the country over the next two days, with nighttime temperatures increasing by one to two degrees Celsius. A slight drop in daytime temperatures is expected from April 14.