Residents from Bangladesh’s haor regions living in Dhaka have placed nine demands, including scientific research on crop protection embankments and compensation for farmers affected by early floods. The demands were announced during a human chain held on Saturday in front of the National Press Club, organized by Haoranchalbasi, Dhaka. The group’s chief coordinator, Dr. Halim Dad Khan, said that three rounds of rainfall between mid-March and late April caused embankment breaches, submerging about 45,000 hectares of farmland.

Speakers added that hailstorms damaged another 800 hectares of crops and that ongoing rainfall in the haor areas and Meghalaya hills could worsen the situation. They noted that Boro rice is the only source of income for local farmers, many of whom cannot dry their harvested paddy due to continuous rain, leading to spoilage.

The nine demands include effective waterlogging solutions, year-round food support for affected farmers, dredging of rivers and canals, halting unplanned road and embankment construction, ensuring accountability for corruption in embankment projects, loan installment waivers, and combining local experience with scientific expertise for sustainable solutions.

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam said the government is working to resolve the water crisis in coastal areas. He noted that salinity has worsened due to climate change, making the problem more complex. The government has already implemented several development projects and adopted long-term plans to ensure safe water for coastal residents. He made these remarks on Saturday morning at a dialogue held at Mongla Upazila Parishad auditorium, organized by the Upazila administration, Climate Action Forum, and NGO Leaders.

The event was chaired by Additional Secretary of the ministry Dr. Fahmida Khanam, with Barrister Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain and Executive Engineer Jayanta Mallik as special guests. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi said the freshwater crisis has become severe due to rising salinity and can be solved through coordinated efforts by the government and development organizations.

After the dialogue, the State Minister, the Deputy Commissioner, and the Additional Secretary visited several private water projects in Mongla Upazila.

Continuous rainfall and flash floods from upstream have submerged about 11,300 hectares of ripe paddy fields in Habiganj, according to the District Department of Agricultural Extension. As of Saturday, a preliminary list of around 20,000 affected farmers has been prepared by the district agriculture office.

Additional Deputy Director Dipak Kumar Pal stated that favorable weather earlier in the Boro season had raised hopes for a good harvest. This year, 123,644 hectares of Boro paddy were cultivated in the district, including 46,954 hectares in haor areas. However, sudden heavy rainfall and flash floods quickly worsened the situation, particularly in the haor regions of Ajmiriganj, Baniachang, Lakhai, and Nabiganj, where water entered before the harvest, causing severe losses and despair among farmers.

District Commissioner Dr. G. M. Sarfaraz has formed an emergency monitoring cell to address the disaster. The agriculture department reported that while about 58 percent of the paddy has been harvested, the remaining fields were submerged before harvesting, putting farmers at significant financial risk.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the re-excavation of the historic Basiya River in Kandigaon Union of Sylhet Sadar upazila on May 2, 2026. The river flows through four upazilas of Sylhet, originating from the Surma River and merging into the Kushiyara. The Basiya River was first excavated in 1977 under the initiative of then-President Ziaur Rahman. The new project marks the first re-excavation in 49 years.

During the inauguration, Prime Minister Rahman stated that the majority of Bangladesh’s population lives in rural areas, and empowering them remains a central goal of his government. He emphasized that his administration, elected by popular vote, is accountable only to the people and is committed to fulfilling its electoral promises.

According to the Prime Minister, 23 kilometers of the river’s total 40-kilometer length will be re-excavated. Once completed, the project is expected to directly benefit about 80,000 farmers and indirectly assist another 1.5 million farmers across the region.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across 32 districts in four divisions. The alert, released on Saturday, indicated that from 1 p.m. on May 2 for the next 48 hours, parts of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions may experience rainfall ranging from 44 to 188 millimeters within 24 hours. The department also cautioned that landslides could occur in some hilly areas of the Chattogram division.

According to the weather office, the continued formation of thunderclouds over the country is likely to cause temporary waterlogging in affected areas. The warning emphasized the potential for landslides in hilly regions due to the intensity of the expected rainfall.

The advisory urged residents in vulnerable zones, particularly in Chattogram’s hill tracts, to remain alert as the heavy rainfall may persist for two days.

All ferry and vessel operations on the Daulatdia-Paturia river route have been suspended due to adverse weather conditions. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) announced that the suspension took effect from around 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The decision affects all types of water transport, including ferries and launches, operating between Daulatdia in Rajbari and Paturia in Manikganj.

According to BIWTC sources, the suspension will remain in place until further notice. The assistant manager (commercial) of the BIWTC Daulatdia terminal, Jesanul Islam Tipu, stated that ferry services will resume once weather conditions improve and are deemed safe for navigation.

The temporary halt in operations is intended to ensure passenger safety and prevent accidents during the ongoing period of inclement weather.

Several crop-protection embankments in Madhyanagar upazila of Sunamganj have collapsed following continuous rainfall, submerging large areas of farmland. On Saturday morning, an embankment of the Guraduba subproject in Boala Haor broke, after similar incidents earlier in the week at Kailani, Jamgara canal, and Jinarya Haor. Rising water levels in the Someshwari River intensified pressure on local embankments, causing breaches near a madrasa that began to collapse as water rushed in.

Local farmers reported severe crop losses, with many unable to harvest their paddy in time. Some alleged irregularities in embankment construction and demanded investigations against responsible officials. According to the local agriculture office, of 13,470 hectares of farmland in Madhyanagar, about 10,000 hectares have been harvested, while 13 percent was already waterlogged. The latest breaches have damaged around 31 hectares of paddy fields.

Officials from the Water Development Board and the upazila administration said efforts were underway to protect remaining structures and assess the extent of damage.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced that the government has initiated a canal excavation program aimed at preventing waterlogging and ensuring proper water management. He made the statement on Saturday at a civic gathering organized by the Sylhet City Corporation. The initiative seeks to reduce flooding during heavy rainfall and retain water during the dry season.

During his address, the Prime Minister also noted that constructing new roads could lead to the loss of agricultural land. To address this, the government is considering expanding rail connectivity across the country, including plans to introduce a double rail line on the Dhaka–Sylhet route. He emphasized that sustainable development is not possible without a corruption-free administration and labor-friendly policies.

The announcement coincides with the inauguration of a 40-billion-taka mega project designed to alleviate waterlogging, reflecting the government’s broader focus on infrastructure and environmental management.

The water level of the Teesta River has risen slightly in Lalmonirhat following continuous rainfall and upstream flow from India. As of 9 a.m. on Saturday, the river at the Dalia point of the Teesta Barrage was flowing 75 centimeters below the danger level. Local residents and the Water Development Board reported that the increase began early Saturday morning due to heavy rain and mountain runoff from across the border.

The Teesta River flows through five upazilas of Lalmonirhat, and even a small rise in water level can flood riverside areas across the district. Residents expressed concern that further increases could submerge new areas. Nurul Islam, in charge of the Dalia control room, confirmed the current water level, while Executive Engineer Amitabh Chowdhury said the flow remains below the danger mark despite the rise.

Locals remain anxious as the situation could worsen if upstream water continues to rise, potentially leading to flooding in low-lying areas.

Residents living near the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna, have expressed growing fears about safety as the facility nears operation. Many locals, including fishermen and families in nearby villages, worry that radiation or heat from the plant could make the area uninhabitable. Rumors about health risks and livestock loss have spread, deepening public unease. Some residents said they have not received clear communication or awareness programs from authorities about safety procedures or emergency plans.

Experts and project officials, however, insist that the Rooppur plant incorporates multiple layers of modern safety systems. Nuclear scientists explained that the VVER-1200 reactor model used at Rooppur includes containment structures and automatic monitoring to prevent radiation leaks even in extreme scenarios. The plant’s management stated that awareness programs have been launched to educate local communities and that international safety standards are being followed under IAEA oversight.

Officials acknowledged that maintaining a strong safety culture and skilled management will be crucial for the plant’s long-term safe operation, emphasizing continuous improvement and transparency in safety practices.

A fire broke out at the substation of the 350-megawatt Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) power plant in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, on Friday around 5:30 p.m. The incident was confirmed by Miron Mia, station master of the Adamjee Fire Service. Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise from inside the substation before thick smoke appeared and flames spread to part of a transformer. Panic spread in the surrounding area as plant staff took safety measures and alerted the fire service.

Two units from the Adamjee EPZ Fire Service arrived promptly and managed to bring the fire under control within a short time, preventing a major accident or explosion. Authorities said security was tightened around the power plant and substation after the incident. The exact cause and extent of damage were not immediately known, though initial assessments suggested a technical fault or overheating in the transformer.

Fire service officials stated that about 100,000 liters of oil were stored in the transformer, and quick action helped save equipment worth around Tk 300 crore. The situation has since returned to normal.

Continuous heavy rainfall and flash floods have submerged large areas of ripe Boro paddy in the haor regions of Nabiganj upazila in Habiganj district. Farmers in villages such as Fatehpur have seen their nearly harvested crops go underwater as embankments broke under the pressure of rising water. Many farmers, including Haralal Baishnab and Jamal Mia, expressed despair as they could not harvest their crops due to a shortage of laborers and boats.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension in Nabiganj, around 400 hectares of ripe Boro paddy have been submerged, with 27,355 hectares cultivated in haor areas this season. About 67 percent of the haor paddy had been harvested before the floods. Private sources reported that 40 percent of the total crop had been cut, but 15 percent of that is at risk of rotting due to lack of sunlight. The affected unions include Bara Bhakoir (West and East), Dighalbak, Kargaon, Bausa, and Paniunda.

Farmers who cultivated paddy with loans fear they will be unable to repay their debts, as the sudden floods have destroyed their expected yields.

Supreme Court senior lawyer and Jamaat-e-Islami central working committee member Mohammad Shishir Monir has criticized the construction of unplanned embankments in the haor areas of Sunamganj. Speaking live on Facebook from Chhaya Haor in Shalla on Friday morning, he said hundreds of crores of taka are spent every year on embankments that lack proper water drainage systems. He emphasized that canals and wetlands are not being excavated and called for immediate dredging of haor canals, rivers, and wetlands to ensure water flow.

Monir stated that heavy rainfall has submerged boro paddy fields in Sunamganj, causing the crops to rot and resulting in widespread distress among farmers. He described the situation as a humanitarian disaster, with people struggling to find food for themselves and their cattle. He urged the government to declare Sunamganj an environmentally affected area and to stand beside the farmers.

He also mentioned that the government has announced three months of financial assistance but questioned how many people would actually receive the support.

A breach in the embankment of the 20th PIC under the Kailani sub-project in Madhyanagar upazila of Sunamganj has been brought under control through joint efforts. The embankment began to overflow on Thursday night, leading to gradual erosion. In response, local administration, Water Development Board officials, political leaders, and farmers rushed to the site early Friday morning and began repair work using geo-bags, bamboo, and other materials. As of Friday afternoon, repair operations were still ongoing.

PIC president Md. Lal Mia said continuous rainfall caused soil erosion, lowering the embankment, and he stayed on-site overnight to oversee protection efforts. Upazila BNP joint convener Abul Bashar stated that the embankment was now somewhat stabilized due to collective action. According to agricultural sub-assistant officer Kabir Hossain, around 300 hectares of land in Shaldigha Haor were affected, with 30 hectares submerged before harvest and 160 hectares of paddy already reaped.

Acting Upazila Executive Officer Sanjay Ghosh said authorities responded immediately after receiving reports of water intrusion and expressed hope that the embankment would soon be fully stabilized.

In Sunamganj, two days of sunshine followed five days of heavy rain and flash floods, offering brief relief to farmers drying their soaked paddy. However, much of the crop has already rotted, leaving the haor region unusually quiet and lifeless this harvest season. Farmers are seen cutting paddy in knee- to chest-deep water, with many reporting severe losses and exhaustion.

Local farmers described extensive damage, with large portions of their fields submerged and much of the harvested paddy spoiled before drying. Some hope for government financial assistance to recover. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, 2047 hectares of land across 137 haors have been affected out of 223,511 hectares of Boro cultivation, with an estimated production target of 1.4 million metric tons worth about Tk 5,000 crore. Officials are coordinating with mill owners to use dryers for wet paddy.

The Water Development Board reported a slight drop in water levels but warned that further rainfall could strain embankments. The district administration extended a ban on sand extraction until May 5 to address labor shortages in the haor areas.