Heavy rainfall and nor'wester storms have caused extensive damage across several districts in Bangladesh, submerging boro paddy fields, uprooting trees, and disrupting power and road connections. The incidents occurred over the weekend, leaving thousands without electricity and isolating several areas due to fallen trees and damaged infrastructure.

In Bhola and Pirojpur, storms uprooted trees and damaged power lines, cutting electricity in multiple unions. In Natore’s Singra upazila, early floods and continuous rain have threatened ripe boro crops, with only a small portion harvested so far. Habiganj’s Lakhai upazila saw hundreds of hectares of farmland submerged, while in Sylhet’s Beanibazar, most boro fields were inundated. In Chattogram’s Mirsarai, around 20,000 customers lost power after trees and poles collapsed. In Sunamganj and Tangail, breached embankments and heavy rain submerged large areas of farmland.

Local officials reported ongoing efforts to restore power and assess agricultural losses. Farmers in several regions are struggling to save their crops, with authorities promising immediate measures to mitigate further damage.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that May will experience normal rainfall, following April’s 75 percent above-average precipitation. The long-term outlook indicates that rainfall may decrease during June and July due to less active monsoon winds. The department also expects intermittent rain until May 10, with temperatures remaining normal before gradually rising. A heatwave is likely to begin around May 15 and last six to seven days.

Meteorologist Kazi Zebun Nesa explained that early western low pressure and the upward movement of southern winds caused heavy cloud formation over the Sylhet and Chattogram hill regions, leading to higher-than-usual rainfall before the monsoon. The forecast also mentions one to two low-pressure systems in May, with a low chance of cyclone formation, and five to six nor’westers, including two to three severe ones.

April recorded the highest rainfall in Barishal division, 169 percent above normal, while Dhaka saw about 80 percent more rain. The department noted that this year’s heatwaves were shorter and less intense than in 2023 and 2024.

Environmental and haor-based organizations have warned that the recent crop losses in Bangladesh’s haor region pose a grave threat to national food security. At a press conference held on Sunday at the National Press Club, they stated that around 75,000 hectares of Boro paddy fields were submerged after crop protection embankments collapsed, while hailstorms damaged another 800 hectares. The groups jointly organized the event under the banners of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), the Environment and Haor Development Organization, and Nagorik Udyog.

Speakers including BAPA President Professor Nur Mohammad Talukdar and Environment and Haor Development Organization President Kashmir Reza said farmers in the haor areas are facing severe humanitarian distress. Continuous rainfall from mid-March to late April has prevented harvested paddy from drying, causing rot and loss. ALRD Executive Director Shamsul Huda warned that the crisis will affect farmers’ livelihoods, debt repayment, education, and health, while livestock feed shortages are forcing distress sales.

The organizations presented a 15-point demand, including year-round food and cash aid for affected families, strict action against corruption in embankment projects, scientific research and long-term planning, and direct government purchase of at least one million tons of paddy from haor farmers.

Residents of Jamalpur city staged a blockade of both rail and road routes on Sunday afternoon at the Shekher Vita rail crossing to protest prolonged waterlogging in their area. The demonstration temporarily disrupted public movement, halting a commuter train from Dewanganj to Dhaka for about 40 minutes and suspending all traffic on the Jamalpur-Madariganj road, causing long traffic jams on both sides.

Police from Jamalpur Sadar Station, led by Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman, arrived at the scene and worked with municipal authorities to restore order. The protesters lifted the blockade after receiving assurances that the waterlogging problem would be addressed quickly. Local residents said they had been trapped in water for 10 to 12 days, facing severe difficulties in cooking, moving, and sending children to school.

Jamalpur Municipality Executive Officer Zahurul Haque stated that the municipal authority began drainage work immediately after learning about the blockade to relieve the affected areas.

A massive wildfire that spread across Japan’s Iwate region has finally been brought under control after 11 days of continuous efforts by firefighters and military personnel. Officials said it was the country’s second-largest wildfire in 30 years, burning about 1,600 hectares of mountainous forest—roughly five times the size of Central Park. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, at least eight buildings were damaged and two people sustained minor injuries, while thousands were evacuated for safety.

Otsuchi Mayor Kozo Hirano stated that the fire was contained through extensive aerial and ground operations combined with heavy rainfall, though he warned that small pockets of fire might still remain. Kyodo News also described the blaze as Japan’s second-largest in three decades.

Experts noted that increasingly dry winters are heightening wildfire risks. Scientists have long warned that climate change driven by fossil fuel use is intensifying droughts, potentially leading to more severe wildfires in the future.

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has emphasized the importance of citizen awareness in resolving the city’s waterlogging problem. During an inspection of the month-long canal and drain cleaning campaign in East Madarbari, West Madarbari, and Pathantuli wards, he said that a clean city cannot be achieved by the corporation alone and that residents must act responsibly.

The mayor noted that indiscriminate dumping of plastic, polythene, and waste undermines cleaning efforts. He mentioned that a sluice gate is under construction by the Water Development Board in Gulzar Khal, and temporary embankments have caused short-term waterlogging in nearby areas, including Agrabad Commercial Area. He expressed regret for the inconvenience and said the Bangladesh Army’s 34 Engineering Brigade and the Water Development Board have been instructed to complete the work quickly.

Dr. Hossain added that once the sluice gate and canal renovation projects are completed, waterlogging will significantly decrease. He urged citizens, local representatives, and political activists to maintain cleanliness and build a culture of weekly cleaning to make Chattogram more livable.

Heavy rainfall and upstream water flow have caused severe waterlogging in Valuka upazila of Mymensingh, submerging 260 hectares of Boro paddy fields. Many farmers are unable to harvest their crops despite offering higher wages, while some have abandoned hopes of saving their harvests. The flooding has left local farmers in distress as their nearly ripe paddy fields remain underwater.

Farmer Fayez reported that his 21 decimals of paddy land were almost completely submerged, and he had to pay 5,000 taka in wages to harvest what little could be saved. Another farmer, Mostufa, said his 1.5 acres of paddy were fully underwater just a week before ripening, after investing 45,000 taka in cultivation. He expressed despair over how to sustain his family after the loss.

According to Agriculture Officer Nusrat Jaman, Boro paddy was cultivated on 18,670 hectares in Valuka this year. Of that, 3,174 hectares have been harvested, while 260 hectares are completely destroyed by flooding.

NASA has released new satellite images showing that Mexico City is sinking at an alarming rate of nearly ten inches per year. The sprawling metropolis, covering about 7,800 square kilometers and home to roughly 22 million people, was built on the surface of an ancient lake. Many of its central streets were once canals, and the city’s foundation is now suffering from severe subsidence.

According to NASA’s latest report, some areas, including the main airport and the Angel of Independence monument, are sinking at an average rate of 0.78 inches per month. Geophysicist Enrique Cabral from the National Autonomous University of Mexico noted that the city has sunk more than 39 feet in less than a century due to excessive groundwater extraction and urban development. The shrinking aquifer has also caused a persistent water shortage.

For decades, authorities have largely ignored the problem except for stabilizing foundations under landmarks such as the Metropolitan Cathedral. Recently, as the water crisis worsens, the government has begun funding further research into the issue.

The historic saline Jhorjhari canal flowing through the southern part of Sitakunda municipality in Chattogram has become nearly dead due to encroachment, pollution, and mismanagement. Once a vital natural drainage route carrying mountain runoff from Chandranath Hill to the sea, the canal has lost its navigability and flow, causing severe waterlogging across the area during monsoon rains.

Local residents report that influential groups have occupied sections of the 7.5-kilometer canal, constructing shops, warehouses, and houses along its banks. Unplanned dumping of waste has filled the canal bed, blocking water flow and leading to prolonged flooding in low-lying areas such as Chaudhurypara, Hasan Gomosta Mosque area, Amirabad, and West Mirabad. Homes, roads, and even government offices, including the Upazila Executive Officer’s residence, have been inundated, raising concerns over damage to official documents.

Farmers say hundreds of acres of crops are destroyed annually due to waterlogging, harming the local economy. The Upazila Executive Officer stated that proposals have been sent under the national canal excavation program to restore the Jhorjhari and other canals once funding is approved.

A newly built bridge on the Majhigacha–Nindapur Ronger Bazar connecting road in Kachua, Chandpur, has started collapsing before its official inauguration. The approach to the 12-meter RCC girder bridge, built under the ‘Program for Supporting Rural Bridges’ project funded by the Bangladesh government and the World Bank, has partially caved in. The project, costing about 23.17 million taka, was implemented by contractor firm Messrs Harun & Sons. Field inspection revealed soil erosion under the guardwalls and large cracks and holes on the connecting road.

Local residents, including Abul Kalam Shikdar, Hazrat Ali, and Jilani, accused the contractor of using substandard materials and ignoring proper construction schedules. They claimed to have repeatedly complained to the Upazila Engineer and Assistant Engineer without any response. Residents demanded intervention from higher authorities of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).

Upazila Engineer Abdul Alim Liton stated that parts of the structure were damaged by rain and that the issue is under investigation. He added that the contractor has not yet received full payment, and the final bill will be settled after quality verification.

Once the world’s fourth-largest lake, the Aral Sea—spanning Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan—has now shrunk to less than one-tenth of its original size. Once a thriving source of fish and livelihood for local communities, the sea’s ports now stand abandoned, and its exposed seabed has turned into a toxic, saline desert. The United Nations Development Programme has described the situation as one of the twentieth century’s most severe environmental disasters.

The crisis began in the 1960s when Soviet irrigation projects diverted the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers to support cotton cultivation, drastically reducing water inflow. As evaporation outpaced replenishment, the sea fragmented into smaller bodies, and the newly exposed land became known as the Aralkum Desert, one of the world’s youngest deserts.

In response to the ongoing environmental degradation, Central Asian leaders recently convened in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, to discuss joint water resource management and strategies to prevent further damage to the region’s fragile ecosystem.

A severe nor'wester storm struck Bhola Sadar upazila on Saturday afternoon, uprooting several large trees and causing widespread disruption to road and power connections. The storm toppled six to seven trees around the upazila administration campus, cutting off communication and electricity for thousands of residents in the surrounding areas.

Witnesses said continuous rain had softened the soil around large rain trees, which collapsed when the storm hit. The incident blocked major roads linking Bhola town with eastern parts of the district, while fallen electric poles and snapped wires plunged the area into darkness. One house in Bapta union was damaged after a tree fell on it, and the roof of Bapta temple was blown away.

Local authorities managed to partially clear the roads after three to four hours of effort, though vehicle movement remains limited. According to the Bhola Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, losses amount to several lakh taka, and full restoration of normal conditions may take two to three more days as recovery work continues.

A 55-year-old farmer named Ahad Mia from Rampur village in Goalanagar Union, Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria, died after witnessing his ripe paddy fields submerged under water. According to family and locals, Ahad had cultivated six bighas of paddy during the Boro season with borrowed money. Heavy rainfall and upstream flooding caused his crops to go underwater. When he went to harvest the paddy with laborers, he collapsed upon seeing the damage and died on the way home.

Local union parishad member Ahmed Ali said the farmer could not bear the shock of losing all his crops. His nephew, Mohammad Faruk Ahmed, confirmed that the funeral and burial took place on Saturday afternoon. Upazila Agriculture Officer Imran Ahmed stated that an assistant agriculture officer was sent to the deceased’s home after receiving news of the incident. Nasirnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahina Nasrin said officials were preparing a list of affected farmers to bring them under government incentive programs.

Several low-lying areas of Chattogram were submerged again on Saturday afternoon after just 25 millimeters of rainfall, causing severe suffering for residents. The waterlogging affected key neighborhoods including Probortok, Mehedibagh, Panchlaish, and Katalganj, where water levels ranged from knee to waist height. The rain, recorded between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., was classified as moderate by the Patenga Meteorological Office.

This incident occurred only three days after authorities claimed that embankments blocking city canals had been removed to ease drainage. The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) and City Corporation had earlier stated that the army’s construction of retaining walls had temporarily obstructed water flow, leading to previous flooding. Despite the removal of 30 embankments, city officials admitted that sediment inside the canals had not yet been fully cleared, slowing water drainage.

According to the City Corporation, the remaining sediment caused temporary water stagnation in low-lying areas, but the water receded within a short time. Officials argued that the situation did not amount to full-scale waterlogging as seen in the previous week.

Continuous and intermittent rainfall since Friday night has caused severe waterlogging across Rangpur city, submerging roads, alleys, and homes under knee-deep water. The downpour left large parts of the city, including Lalbagh Railgate, Khamar Mor, Babu Khan, Senpara, and nearby areas, inundated. Residents reported water entering their houses, forcing them to move furniture to higher ground, while transportation became difficult due to flooded streets.

Locals blamed the long-standing unplanned and weak drainage system for the recurring problem, saying even moderate rain now leads to waterlogging. Many families in Shantibagh and other neighborhoods were trapped in their homes, and residents complained that no local representatives or officials had visited them. The stagnant water has also damaged roads, increasing the risk of accidents. Citizens demanded immediate drainage repairs, regular cleaning, and an effective water disposal system.

According to Rangpur City Corporation, emergency measures are underway to drain the water and restore normalcy. The local weather office recorded 68.8 millimeters of rainfall in the past 24 hours and warned that conditions could worsen if the weather does not improve.