Bangladesh’s government has launched a seed incentive programme to encourage flood-affected marginal farmers to resume cultivation in seven of the hardest-hit districts: Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Habiganj and Moulvibazar. The programme is set to cover 61,747 farmers, with an allocation of Tk 22.383 million and distribution of 3.87 tonnes of seed. Each listed farmer will receive up to five kilograms of seed for one bigha of land, regardless of total landholding.

Union- and upazila-level agricultural rehabilitation committees assessed losses and finalised beneficiary lists, prioritising the most marginal farmers. Farmers considered able to recover with their own resources were excluded from the initial list. Agricultural officials said those left out would receive priority in a future incentive programme.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, crops on 66,231 hectares were damaged in the seven districts. Farmers said the assistance was too limited compared with their losses and that many were seeking high-interest loans from non-governmental organisations to restart cultivation. The programme aims to rehabilitate affected farmers, sustain aman cultivation, raise production and support food security.

At least 14 people were killed by lightning in India’s Jharkhand state on Tuesday, August 4, amid ongoing monsoon rains. Local police said at least 10 of those killed were farmers in Giridih district who were working in crop fields in the open when lightning struck. Seven other people were injured in the incident.

The Indian Meteorological Department said heavy rainfall is likely in Jharkhand over the next several days, meaning the risk of lightning and adverse weather may continue. According to the department, more than 200 people died in Jharkhand alone in 2025, with most of those deaths caused by lightning.

Heavy seasonal rain has also increased casualties elsewhere in India this year. Severe flooding in the northeastern state of Assam has killed about 90 people so far. In the southern state of Kerala, at least 15 people have died in heavy rain, while thousands have been forced to leave their homes and move to safer shelters.

Active monsoon conditions kept rain falling in Dhaka from early Thursday and brought varying rainfall across Bangladesh, according to the Meteorological Department. In the 24 hours ending around 6am, Dhaka received 50 millimetres of rain, while Hatiya in Noakhali recorded the highest total at 198 millimetres. The agency said rain could continue nationwide through Thursday.

The department said a new low-pressure area may form over the central Bay of Bengal on August 10 and develop into a depression. Its effects could bring heavy to very heavy rain across the country from August 14. Meteorologist Dr Omar Faruk said rainfall may ease from Friday, with a possible break lasting until August 9, before increasing again from August 10 or 11.

Rain or thunderstorms with gusty winds are forecast in parts of all eight divisions on Thursday, with isolated heavy to very heavy falls possible. At 9am, the Teesta at Tarapur in Gaibandha and the Kushiyara at Fenchuganj in Sylhet were above danger levels. Water rose at 88 of 127 monitored stations.

Severe erosion along the Brahmaputra, Dharla, Dudhkumar and Teesta rivers has swept away at least 400 homes in Bangladesh’s Rangpur division over the past 30 days, according to a report published on August 6. At least 50 acres of farmland were also lost, leaving hundreds of families without homesteads. Residents in affected areas are dismantling and moving homes to safer places amid fears of further erosion.

Nearly 200 homes were lost in Nilphamari, 150 in Kurigram, 30 in Gaibandha, 17 in Gangachara of Rangpur, and 15 in Lalmonirhat. Fresh erosion has been reported at at least 40 locations across Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Rangpur districts in the Teesta and Brahmaputra basins. Affected residents alleged that the Bangladesh Water Development Board focused on inspections rather than effective protection measures.

Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ruhul Amin said the LGED had been instructed to quickly repair damaged roads and that authorities had contacted the Disaster Management Ministry for special funding for roads in char areas. Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rabiul Islam said work had begun to place geobags in newly affected locations. Gangachara residents submitted a memorandum seeking road repairs, embankment protection and sustainable river management.

Heavy rainfall and upstream mountain runoff from India have pushed the Teesta River above its danger level at the Dalia point in Dimla, Nilphamari, on August 6. The Dalia Water Development Board said water was flowing 13 centimetres above the danger mark in the morning. Low-lying areas of Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat have begun to flood, raising fears among residents of river chars.

Nilphamari recorded average rainfall of 132 millimetres for the day, while 44 sluice gates were opened. Floodwater has entered low-lying parts of several unions in Dimla and Jaldhaka upazilas. Riverbank areas in Lalmonirhat also face the prospect of short-term flooding. Roads and cropland in char areas have started to go underwater, making boats and rafts the main means of travel in many places.

Residents said several days of heavy rainfall upstream in India, combined with continuous local rain over the past two days, worsened conditions. Flood-control embankments and elevated riverside roads are under pressure, with locals expressing concern over their durability because of inadequate repairs. Executive engineer Amitabh Chowdhury urged people living along the river and in char areas to remain alert.

Germany’s rivers are seeing steadily falling water levels amid a prolonged heatwave and lack of rainfall, with new record lows reported in many locations. Public broadcaster ARD said on Wednesday that rivers in different regions had reached alarming levels and that new lows were being recorded almost daily. The Federal Institute of Hydrology said many rivers had fallen below their “low-water threshold” unusually early this year.

According to the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, the Rhine at the Kaub gauge, between Mainz and Koblenz in southwestern Germany, fell to 24 centimetres. That was 1 centimetre below the previous record set in 2018. On Wednesday morning, Rhine water levels in the Cologne and Duisburg areas also dropped below earlier record lows, while Düsseldorf matched its 2018 record-low level.

The situation is also serious in the eastern city of Magdeburg, where the Elbe at the Magdeburg-Strombrück gauge reached its previous record low of 45 centimetres. It was expected to fall further to 40 centimetres by Friday. Forecasts indicated that rainfall shortages could drive the Rhine lower in coming days. Water-cycle and management expert Klaus Retzsch called for fundamental changes in water management to address climate-change-related water scarcity.

Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department said a new low-pressure area may form over the central Bay of Bengal on August 10 and later deepen into a depression. Its effects could bring heavy to very heavy rainfall across the country from August 14. Meteorologist Dr Omar Faruk said rain would continue nationwide on Thursday, then ease from Friday through August 9 before increasing again on August 10 and 11.

Active monsoon conditions brought rain across Bangladesh on Wednesday and may continue on Thursday. The Bangladesh Weather Observation Team said a partial rain belt called “Nirjhar” could make rainfall most intense on Thursday. By 6 pm Wednesday, Netrokona recorded the highest rainfall at 141 millimetres, followed by Hatiya with 140 millimetres and Cox’s Bazar with 136 millimetres.

The department forecast rain or thundershowers with gusty winds in most places across all eight divisions on Thursday, with moderately heavy to heavy falls in some areas. Water levels at Dalia on the Teesta and Fenchuganj on the Kushiyara were above danger levels. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre warned of flood risks in several districts within 24 to 48 hours and possible inundation of low-lying areas in several basins within 48 to 120 hours.

Several hours of heavy rain on Tuesday morning flooded sections of the Dhaka-Bogura highway in Sherpur, Bogura, leaving knee-deep to waist-deep water in Dharmakam, Hamchayapur and Kathaltala under Shahbandegi Union. Traffic on the important northern highway was severely disrupted, with long queues causing hardship for passengers, transport workers and local residents.

Water covered parts of the road so extensively that the boundary between the highway and drains was difficult to identify. Buses, trucks, microbuses, private cars, motorcycles and CNG autorickshaws moved slowly through the water, while several motorcycles and CNG vehicles broke down, worsening congestion. Roads in Sherpur municipal town and homes and rural roads in several villages were also inundated.

Residents blamed uncleaned roadside drains, rubbish blockages, filled canals and inadequate drainage planning for the recurring problem. They called for drains and canals to be cleared and for an effective modern drainage system. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saiduzzaman Himu said the issue was being treated seriously, relevant departments had been asked to act, and steps would be taken for rapid drainage and a permanent solution.

Three female lions died within a week at Tama Zoological Park in Hino, in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area, as severe heat affected parts of Asia. The zoo suspects heat stress as a preliminary cause. Three-year-old Mugi died on July 28, 11-year-old Ichigo died three days later, and 15-year-old Luena died on Sunday.

The zoo closed its lion exhibit in late July after several animals showed symptoms including loss of appetite and lethargy. Staff sprayed water, used large industrial fans and administered intravenous fluids to cool and treat the animals. Ten lions received treatment; four are recovering while three remain ill. Officials said post-mortem examinations will determine the formal cause of death, although dehydration and signs of multiple organ failure were found in all three lions.

Some parts of Japan recorded temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher for five consecutive days in late July. South Korea recorded 42.5 degrees Celsius in Yangsan on Sunday, its highest temperature in 122 years of weather records. The World Meteorological Organization warned that a strengthening super El Niño could raise the likelihood of above-normal temperatures in large parts of the world in coming months.

Continuous heavy rainfall and mountain runoff from upstream in India have pushed the Teesta River above its danger level in Lalmonirhat. At 9am on Wednesday, August 5, water at the Dalia point of the Teesta Barrage was flowing 13 centimetres above the danger mark. The water began rising rapidly from Tuesday night, raising fears of severe flooding among residents of riverside areas.

The Water Development Board and local sources said heavy rainfall in the upstream Indian areas over several days had increased the river’s flow. Roads and cropland in char areas have begun to go underwater, while low-lying riverside parts of Lalmonirhat have already been flooded. Boats and rafts have become the only means of communication in some char areas. Waterlogged families are facing hardship with livestock, children, elderly people and persons with disabilities, alongside concerns over snakes and poisonous insects.

Residents said flood-control embankments and elevated riverside roads are at risk under intense water pressure, alleging that the embankments have not been repaired for a long time. Dalia Water Development Board Executive Engineer Amitabh Chowdhury confirmed the water level. Lalmonirhat Executive Engineer Sunil Kumar Ray urged riverside and char residents to move with maximum caution.

At least seven people have died in landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rain in central Sri Lanka, according to an Al Jazeera report published Tuesday. Several others were injured, while schools in the country’s central highland areas were ordered closed because of the conditions. Heavy rainfall caused extensive damage in the tea-producing mountainous region.

Pradeep Kodippili, a spokesperson for the government’s Disaster Management Centre, said five people died after two houses were buried by landslides in the central region. Two other people drowned in floodwaters. The rain and flooding damaged 129 homes, and about 3,500 people were moved to safer locations.

Sri Lanka’s navy and army were deployed to rescue people stranded by floodwaters. Footage aired by local broadcaster Hiru TV showed soldiers walking along submerged roads to evacuate trapped families. Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts are mountainous and difficult to access, with slopes long vulnerable to landslides during the rainy season. Officials have not announced when schools in affected districts will reopen, saying the decision will depend on weather conditions in the coming days.

Heavy rainfall and upstream flows have made the Teesta turbulent in Nilphamari, where water is running 13 centimeters above the danger level. At 9am on Wednesday, the water level at the Dalia point in Dimla was recorded at 52.28 centimeters, against a danger mark of 52.15 centimeters. The river remained at the same level at 10am.

Floodwater has begun entering low-lying areas in Dimla upazila, including Purba Chhatnai, Khagakharibari, Tepakharibari, Khalisha Chapani, Jhunagach Chapani and Goyabari unions. Low-lying areas of Golmunda, Dawabari and Shaulmari unions in Jaldhaka upazila have also started receiving floodwater.

The district’s average rainfall was recorded at 132.0 millimeters. Authorities opened 44 sluice gates on the barrage. Amitabh Chowdhury, executive engineer of the Dalia Water Development Board, said Teesta water had been flowing 13 centimeters above the danger level since 6am.

The Department of Environment fined AristoCare, a private hospital in Chattogram’s Mehedibag area, Tk150,000 for operating without environmental clearance. The decision was announced after a hearing at the Department of Environment’s Chattogram metropolitan office on Monday.

According to the department, the hospital began medical operations on Mehedibag Road in the city’s Chawkbazar area without obtaining approval, violating the Environment Conservation Act, 1995, as amended in 2010. Operating without location clearance falls under environmental law violations. Assistant Director Muktadir Hasan said the hospital authorities were summoned to the hearing and acknowledged the irregularities, after which the fine was imposed under the law.

The hospital has also been instructed to promptly ensure proper and scientific management of liquid waste. The Department of Environment warned that operations may continue only after appropriate liquid-waste treatment arrangements are in place. Hasan said enforcement drives and legal action against establishments operating illegally without environmental clearance will continue to prevent environmental pollution.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s Dhaka University unit submitted a memorandum to Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam on Tuesday, August 4, seeking six measures to improve cleanliness and environmental protection across the university campus, residential halls and academic buildings. The programme was held at the vice-chancellor’s office at 10:30am under the themes “Green & Clean Campus First” and “Let us build cleanliness habits, build a vibrant campus.”

The demands included installing sufficient bins and separating waste, ensuring shop cleanliness, conducting regular cleaning drives, improving sanitation, centrally monitoring canteens and cafeterias, and planting and preserving trees. The memorandum called for at least one bin within every 150 to 200 metres, separate coloured bins for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, and regular maintenance.

The organisation proposed cleaning campaigns at least two days a month in every residential hall and academic building with student participation. It also sought repairs and upkeep of toilets and washrooms, bins outside shops, measures encouraging biodegradable alternatives to plastic cups and bags, and quarterly food and environment white papers based on monitoring data. Unit president Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas and general secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon attended.

A 54-kilogram giant trevally, locally known as tabala fish, was caught in deep waters of the Bay of Bengal off Kuakata in Patuakhali. The fish was brought to Mahipur fish landing centre on Tuesday morning and purchased at auction by local fish trader Rubel Gharami for Tk36,000, or about Tk667 per kilogram.

Fishermen said the fish was caught in the net of the fishing trawler FB Salma Karim. It was sold through the Ankhi Fish and Tahura Fish wholesale outlets, drawing local traders, fishermen and curious visitors. Experts identified it as giant trevally, Caranx ignobilis, a powerful marine predator from the Carangidae family that can exceed one metre in length and weigh up to about 80 kilograms.

Bakhtiar Rahman, a research assistant with the Shustho Sagor project, said the species is occasionally caught along Bangladesh's coast and helps regulate populations of smaller fish, crabs and squid. Fisheries academic Rajib Sarkar called for documenting identification, size, weight and catch location, while fisheries officer Apu Saha noted its economic value for fishermen.