A dam in the Eron Beel area of Madhyanagar in Sunamganj has broken due to hill runoff from India, flooding hundreds of hectares of Boro paddy fields. The breach occurred on Tuesday morning when rising water pressure in the Monai River near the Indian border caused a road adjacent to Hamidpur village to collapse, allowing water to enter the fields.

Local farmers reported that 5 to 6 villages have several hundred acres of Boro crops at risk. The agriculture department stated that the affected area covers 114 hectares, of which 40 hectares have already been harvested. Residents are working to block the water flow to protect the remaining crops.

According to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sanjay Ghosh, the damaged structure is a village road, not a Water Development Board dam. The road was washed away by runoff descending from Durgapur in Netrokona. Around 5 to 10 hectares of land have been submerged, and efforts are underway to prevent further erosion.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, advised Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra seaports to hoist local cautionary signal number 3 due to variations in air pressure over the Bay of Bengal. Fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay have been instructed to stay close to the coast and proceed with caution. The forecast also indicated partly cloudy to cloudy skies over Dhaka and surrounding areas, with chances of rain and thunderstorms.

The department predicted rain with gusty or squally winds and lightning across several divisions, including Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Chattogram. Moderate to heavy rainfall may occur in parts of Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, with a slight drop in day and night temperatures nationwide. Extended forecasts for Wednesday and Thursday suggest continued rainfall and thunderstorms across most regions.

Meteorologist Dr. Md. Bazlur Rashid said rainfall has eased recent heat conditions and that no heatwave is expected until early May. Earlier heatwaves had affected multiple districts, with Rajshahi recording 40°C last week.

A tube well installation in Dheoban village of Rajnagar upazila, Moulvibazar, was stopped after gas began emerging from the pipe instead of water at a depth of 55 feet. The incident occurred on Saturday at the home of a farmer named Kipend in Ward No. 2 of Panchgaon Union. Workers noticed the unusual emission and informed the homeowner, who then advised relocating the drilling site. However, the same phenomenon occurred again, prompting workers to stop the work and fill the hole with soil.

The unexpected gas release caused concern and curiosity among local residents. Acting chairman of Panchgaon Union Parishad, Jubel Ahmed Russel, visited the site after receiving reports. Following the advice of the upazila executive officer, the drilling work was suspended to avoid potential risks.

Upazila executive officer Bipul Sikder stated that the administration is closely monitoring the situation and has contacted Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX), sending them video footage and photographs for assessment.

At least 23 people have died in lightning strikes across nine districts of Bangladesh over the past two days, amid increasing rainfall and storm activity. Sunday recorded the highest single-day toll with 14 deaths, followed by nine more fatalities on Monday in Netrokona, Habiganj, Bogura, and Hatiya. Gaibandha saw the most casualties, including a child, while other deaths occurred in Jamalpur, Sirajganj, Natore, Panchagarh, Bogura, and Sherpur.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a 48-hour warning for Kalbaishakhi storms with lightning, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in northern and northeastern regions. Authorities have also raised signal number two at river ports in Mymensingh and Sylhet. Experts note that lightning occurs most frequently in the country’s northeastern haor areas and Rangpur region, especially near water bodies.

Following the failure of a previous palm tree planting project, the government has begun installing lightning arresters to reduce fatalities. Disaster management officials emphasize public awareness and early warnings as key to saving lives during the April–May lightning season.

Seven people were killed in separate lightning incidents across three districts of Bangladesh on Monday, April 27, 2026. The deaths occurred in Netrokona, Bogura, and Habiganj during a period of Kalbaishakhi storms and thunderstorms that brought relief from recent heat. In Netrokona’s Khaliajuri upazila, three men died in separate incidents while fishing, drying paddy, and harvesting crops. Local police confirmed the deaths and said the bodies would be handed over to families after official procedures.

In Bogura’s Gabtali upazila, two people died in storm-related incidents. One man was struck by lightning while bringing goats from a field, and another died when a large tree fell on his shop during the storm. Police urged residents to avoid unsafe areas and called for identifying and removing risky trees in public spaces. In Habiganj, two farmers died in separate lightning strikes while working in paddy fields and near their homes.

Local authorities confirmed the incidents and said assistance would be arranged for affected families, particularly those in financial hardship.

Ministers from about 60 countries are gathering this week in Santa Marta, Colombia, for the first global summit aimed at phasing out fossil fuels. The United States was not invited to the meeting. The event takes place amid a worldwide energy crisis, intensified by the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has disrupted global energy markets and led to shortages, price hikes, and restrictions in several countries.

Instability in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas pass, has forced many nations to reconsider their dependence on imported fossil fuels. Some are increasing investment in renewable energy, while others are turning back to domestic sources such as coal. The summit, co-led by Colombia and the Netherlands, seeks to form an alliance of countries committed to ending fossil fuel use. Participants include Turkey, Australia, the European Union, several Latin American nations, and Pacific island states, as well as major producers like Canada, Nigeria, Norway, and Brazil.

China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states are not participating in the conference.

Government data show that more than 3,658 people died in lightning strikes across Bangladesh between 2015 and 2025, despite the phenomenon being declared a national disaster a decade ago. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department identified Sylhet’s Sunamganj district, particularly Jamalganj upazila, as the most lightning-prone area. The highest number of fatalities occurred in 2020, with 427 deaths, but the toll has since declined to 173 in 2025.

Meteorologist Dr. Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik attributed the high frequency of lightning in Sylhet to its geography and weather patterns. The region’s large haor wetlands generate abundant water vapor, which interacts with moist air from the Bay of Bengal and collides with the northeastern hills, creating conditions for thundercloud formation. The convergence of moist and dry air masses also heightens lightning risk in northeastern and some northwestern districts.

Officials credit early warning systems, public awareness campaigns, and preventive measures introduced since 2019 for the recent decline in lightning deaths, though data remain insufficient to compare current rates with pre-2015 levels.

Three farmers were killed and three others injured by lightning strikes in Sunamganj district on Monday afternoon, April 27, 2026. The incidents occurred in Sadar and Jamalganj upazilas during a nor'wester storm. The deceased were identified as Jamir Uddin, 46, of Abdullahpur village in Mollapara Union; Jamir Hossain, 40, of Baitakhali village in Gaurarang Union; and Abu Salek, 20, of Rupabali village in Jamalganj upazila.

According to local sources, Jamir Uddin was harvesting paddy in a haor when lightning struck, killing him instantly. Jamir Hossain was heading to open his shop near the Baitakhali river ghat when he was struck and later died at the hospital. Abu Salek was bringing cattle from a field when he was hit by lightning and declared dead after being taken to Sunamganj Sadar Hospital.

A doctor at Sunamganj Sadar Hospital confirmed three deaths from lightning between noon and afternoon. Police said they were verifying details of the incidents.

Three people were killed in separate lightning strikes in Khaliajuri upazila of Netrakona on Monday. The incidents occurred in the morning and noon of April 27, 2026. A fisherman named Abdul Motaleb, 55, from Maizpara union of Ishwarganj upazila in Mymensingh, died while fishing near the Dhanua River at the Jagannathpur ferry ghat. Later, a farmer named Monaem Khan died while drying paddy in front of his house in Satgaon village, and a farm laborer named Shubho Mondol from Sirajganj died while harvesting paddy in Krishnapur village.

Police confirmed the deaths and stated that inquest reports would be prepared before handing over the bodies to the families. The confirmation came from Hafizul Islam, Additional Superintendent of Police (DSB) of Netrakona. The lightning strikes occurred in open areas during regular agricultural and fishing activities.

Authorities have not reported further injuries or property damage related to the incidents, and no additional details on weather conditions were provided in the report.

A Chinese national, Chen Bao Ming, visiting Bheramara in Kushtia, Bangladesh, has faced repeated power outages during his stay. Chen, from Hebei province, arrived on April 20 to meet and marry Taslima Khatun, a 19-year-old resident of Paschim Behula village in Bheramara. The couple, who met online a year earlier, completed their court marriage in Kushtia and are now living at Taslima’s family home, where frequent load-shedding has caused discomfort amid intense summer heat.

Local residents said electricity cuts occur several times a day, leaving them without power for hours. The situation has been particularly embarrassing for the family hosting a foreign guest. Ironically, Bheramara is home to key national power infrastructure, including the 410-megawatt combined cycle power plant and facilities linked to the Bangladesh-India Maitree Super Thermal Power Project.

The contrast between Bheramara’s role as a power generation hub and its residents’ struggle with electricity shortages highlights broader questions about energy distribution and planning in Bangladesh.

Three members of a family were killed when a large tree fell on their house during a storm in Melandah upazila of Jamalpur early Monday. The victims were identified as Khuki Begum, 65, and her daughters Farida Akter, 40, and Fate Akter, 37, all residents of Purbadagi area under Nayanagar Union. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. when strong winds uprooted a mahogany tree that crashed onto their tin-roofed house while they were asleep.

According to local and fire service sources, the storm struck suddenly during the night, causing the tree to collapse on the house. Due to darkness and heavy winds, rescue operations could not begin immediately. In the morning, police and fire service personnel, assisted by locals, recovered the bodies from under the debris.

The tragedy cast a pall of grief over the Purbadagi area. Melandah Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jinnatul Ara said the administration took necessary measures at the site and would provide assistance to the bereaved family.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of at least 14 people caused by sudden lightning strikes in different districts of the country. The party’s Assistant Secretary General and Secretary of the Central Publicity and Media Department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, conveyed the condolences in a message sent to the media on Sunday. He said that five of the victims were from Gaibandha district and several others were seriously injured.

In his statement, Zubair described the incident as tragic and painful, offering condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a quick recovery for the injured. He emphasized the need to raise public awareness and take preventive measures to deal with natural disasters like lightning. He also urged the authorities to ensure safety during such hazardous conditions and to provide financial assistance to the affected families.

Zubair prayed for the forgiveness of the deceased and for patience and strength for their grieving families.

Fourteen people, including a child, were killed by lightning strikes across seven districts in Bangladesh on Sunday, according to local reports. The fatalities occurred in Gaibandha, Thakurgaon, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Panchagarh, Bogura, and Natore. Gaibandha recorded the highest number of deaths, with five people killed in separate incidents in Sundarganj and Saghata upazilas. Victims included farmers, laborers, and residents caught outdoors during sudden storms.

In Thakurgaon, two people died in Pirganj upazila, while Sirajganj and Jamalpur each reported two deaths. One tea worker was killed in Panchagarh, a young man in Bogura, and a seasonal farm laborer in Natore. Several others were injured, and livestock deaths were also reported. The incidents occurred in the afternoon amid sudden thunderstorms and heavy rain.

Authorities and locals rescued the injured and took them to nearby hospitals. The report highlights the recurring danger of lightning during seasonal storms across rural Bangladesh, often affecting people working in open fields or near their homes.

Twelve people were killed in lightning strikes across several districts of Bangladesh on Sunday during storms and heavy rain. The highest number of casualties occurred in Gaibandha, where five people, including two teenagers, died and one person was injured. The incidents took place in Sundarganj’s Dakshin Dhopadanga village and Saghata upazila. Witnesses said the lightning struck around 4:30 p.m. while the victims were standing near a road during the storm. The injured person was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

In addition to the deaths in Gaibandha, two people died in Sirajganj, two in Jamalpur, one in Bogura, one in Singra of Natore, and one in Panchagarh. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that by Sunday night, a nor’wester with wind speeds of 60 to 80 kilometers per hour could sweep across 11 regions, including Dhaka, accompanied by rain or thunderstorms. River ports in affected areas were advised to hoist cautionary signal number two.

Authorities warned of further storms and advised caution for residents and river transport operators as unstable weather conditions persisted.

The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has established a 'Rice Garden' in Dinajpur for the 2025–26 Boro season under the initiative of its regional office. The garden, located in the Kaugā area of Sadar upazila, aims to increase rice production, expand modern varieties, and provide farmers with hands-on exposure to new technologies.

The 'Rice Garden' serves as an open learning field where farmers can directly observe different rice varieties, their growth stages, disease resistance, yield, and quality characteristics. This comparative observation helps them identify varieties suitable for local conditions and encourages interest in modern rice cultivation. According to BRRI officials, the initiative enables farmers to make informed decisions for future planting seasons.

The Dinajpur regional office also plans to establish similar gardens for the upcoming Aus and Aman seasons. The current garden, located in the institute’s technology village, remains open to interested farmers, researchers, and related stakeholders.