A joint operation was conducted in the Padma River at Goalanda in Rajbari on Friday, April 10, 2026, as part of the National Hilsa Conservation Week 2026. Members of the Bangladesh Coast Guard and officials from the Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer’s office carried out the daylong drive. During the operation, approximately one lakh meters of illegal current nets were seized from various points of the river and later destroyed publicly by burning.

According to the Upazila Fisheries Office, such operations are being conducted regularly to ensure the success of the hilsa conservation program. The joint initiative by the Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department aims to stop illegal fishing practices and protect the country’s fish resources.

Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Md. Anwarul Islam Pilot stated that the authorities are taking strict measures to enforce the government’s ban on catching juvenile hilsa. He emphasized that continued awareness and law enforcement are essential to end illegal fishing activities.

Several upazilas in Habiganj have been severely affected by continuous rainfall over recent days, leaving vast areas of boro paddy fields underwater. The flooding has hit Nabiganj, Baniachong, Ajmiriganj, and Lakhai upazilas, where ripe and semi-ripe paddy crops are now at risk of rotting. Farmers, many of whom are sharecroppers or debt-burdened, have become desperate as their harvest prospects vanish.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, around 281 hectares of land were submerged as of April 7, with Baniachong being the worst affected. However, local sources and farmers estimate the damage to exceed 1,350 hectares. The Ratna River embankment has been overflowing for a week, flooding new areas daily. Local officials said about 7,000 bighas of unharvested paddy are already underwater. Farmers described their losses as devastating, with many unsure how to repay loans or feed their families.

Officials from the Water Development Board said canal re-excavation projects under JICA are planned to improve drainage. However, the agricultural department warned that the water level is unlikely to recede soon, as the floodwater is mainly from rainfall rather than river overflow.

In Nilphamari district of northern Bangladesh, nearly 40 rivers have become waterless or nearly dead due to severe water shortages and siltation. The Water Development Board reports that these rivers, once navigable and vital for transport and fishing, now have depths of only three to five feet. Farmers are cultivating crops such as boro rice, maize, tobacco, garlic, and onion on the dried riverbeds. Experts attribute the crisis to unilateral water withdrawal by India and the construction of the Gajoldoba Barrage upstream on the Teesta River, which has drastically reduced water flow.

The drying of rivers has caused widespread environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and severe hardship for fishing communities. Over 50,000 fisher families are reportedly living in distress as fish populations have declined sharply. The Water Development Board has proposed dredging projects to restore navigability, but these remain stalled due to lack of approval. Local residents and officials are calling for national-level studies and coordinated action to revive the rivers and prevent recurring floods during monsoon seasons.

Agricultural experts warn that unplanned groundwater extraction and climate change are further threatening the region’s agriculture and ecology, turning former wetlands into farmland and accelerating biodiversity loss.

Ferry and vessel movement on the Daulatdia-Paturia river route resumed around 7:15 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, after being suspended for about one and a half hours due to dense morning fog. The suspension began at approximately 5:45 a.m. when visibility on the Padma River dropped sharply, obscuring channel markers and navigation lights and creating safety risks. Authorities halted all types of river transport, including ferries, to prevent possible accidents.

During the suspension, passenger buses, cargo trucks, private cars, and motorcycles were stranded at both Daulatdia and Paturia terminals, causing temporary inconvenience for travelers and drivers. Once the fog cleared and visibility improved, ferry operations gradually returned to normal.

According to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Daulatdia office, the temporary halt was a precautionary measure to avoid potential river accidents. Currently, twelve ferries of various sizes are operating regularly on this key river route.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported a sharp rise in temperatures across the country as rainfall decreased significantly. In the past 24 hours, Dhaka’s temperature climbed by 5.6 degrees Celsius, reaching 31.6°C, while the highest temperature was recorded in Jashore at 34.8°C. Only 16 of 51 weather stations recorded rainfall, with the highest at 31 millimeters in Dimla, Nilphamari. The department forecast that most parts of the country will remain dry over the next two days, except for isolated areas in Rangpur and Sylhet.

Officials said a new heatwave could begin on Saturday and persist for several days, with daytime and nighttime temperatures expected to rise further over the next five days. Earlier forecasts indicated one to three heatwaves could occur this month. Meteorologists explained that mild heatwaves occur between 36°C and 37.9°C, moderate between 38°C and 39.9°C, and severe above 40°C.

Although heatwaves are expected, experts noted that intermittent rainfall may prevent conditions from reaching the extreme levels seen in 2023 and 2024.

The '36 July Memorial' in Chattogram’s New Market area, built to honor the martyrs of the July Revolution, has turned into a garbage dump less than three months after its inauguration on February 5, 2026. The site, located on railway land behind a police box, is now surrounded by waste, weeds, and debris. Locals report that the area has become a hub for drug users and muggers at night, while nearby traders and drivers use it as a dumping ground and parking space, creating noise, pollution, and foul odor.

Local activists, July Revolution veterans, and civic groups have expressed outrage, calling the neglect a sign of government disregard for the movement’s legacy. They accuse various authorities—including the district administration, railway, and public works department—of shifting responsibility instead of maintaining the site. Activists also criticized the memorial’s hidden location and lack of visibility.

Chattogram’s Additional Deputy Commissioner Sharif Uddin acknowledged the problem, citing public irresponsibility and promising sustainable cleaning measures through a coordination committee involving relevant agencies.

A severe shortage of safe drinking water has persisted for years in the hilly border areas of Durgapur upazila in Netrokona. Thousands of residents in Kullagora and Sadar unions, including villages such as Gopalpur, Bhabanipur, Fanda, Baromari, Bharatpur, and Gazikona, are forced to collect and drink dirty water from mountain streams. Locals, including elderly residents like Minati Hajong, described the daily hardship of fetching water from muddy sources, often leading to illness.

Community members expressed frustration that despite repeated appeals, no permanent solution has been implemented. Leaders from the Hajong community, including the president of the Bangladesh National Hajong Organization, urged the government to launch a large-scale project to supply clean water through pipelines. Public Health Engineering Department officials acknowledged the challenge of installing deep tube wells due to rocky soil but said a project has been proposed and will begin once approved.

Local authorities, including the upazila executive officer and the area’s member of parliament, stated that deep tube wells are being allocated and installed gradually to ensure safe water access for all affected villages.

Two hotel owners in Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet have been fined and sentenced for dumping waste beside Joybunnecha Girls High School. The mobile court, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Munmun Nahar, conducted the operation on Wednesday afternoon following a report published on April 3 about the persistent waste problem near the school. The owner of Capital Hotel was initially sentenced to five years in prison and fined 20,000 taka under three sections of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, but the jail term was waived after he promised to build a drainage system within a week and apologized for his actions.

The owner of Gram Bangla Hotel was fined 2,000 taka for dumping garbage next to the school wall and was strictly warned against repeating the offense. The operation freed around 200 students from the foul odor and improved the school’s environment. The administration announced that regular monitoring would continue to protect the school’s surroundings and directed steps to establish a permanent waste management system in the area.

The school’s teachers and students expressed relief and gratitude, hoping that the initiative would restore a healthy learning environment soon.

Authorities in Kalkini upazila of Madaripur district conducted a late-night operation at Mollarchar Bazar in Koyaria Union, seizing a large quantity of jatka hilsa. The raid, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saif Ul Arefin around 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday, was based on a confidential tip-off. Officials recovered approximately 27 maunds of jatka left abandoned at the site. However, those involved managed to flee before the team arrived, and no arrests were made.

On Wednesday morning around 8:30 a.m., the seized jatka were distributed among 14 orphanages in Kalkini upazila. The upazila administration stated that such operations will continue to prevent illegal jatka fishing and enforce the government ban on catching young hilsa.

The action reflects ongoing local efforts to protect fish resources and ensure compliance with national conservation regulations.

A severe hailstorm struck Phulbari upazila in Dinajpur on Tuesday, April 7, causing extensive damage to around 4,000 houses and 1,528 hectares of cropland. The storm, which lasted from late afternoon to evening, hit several villages in Eluari Union, including Rudrani, Ushahar, Banahar, Panikata, Jalpaitli, and Damodarpur. Large hailstones pierced tin roofs and destroyed mango, litchi, and other fruit orchards. Local residents reported that their nearly mature paddy crops were completely ruined.

Following the storm, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ahmed Hasan, Project Implementation Officer Mizanur Rahman, and Agriculture Officer Saif Abdullah visited the affected areas. The administration has prepared a preliminary list of damages, and committees have been formed in each ward to assess actual losses. Officials confirmed that the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry will provide assistance to affected families.

According to the agriculture office, crop losses include 1,500 hectares of paddy, 10 hectares of maize, and smaller areas of vegetables and fruits. The local administration has informed higher authorities and expects special allocations for relief support.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has called for greater involvement of young people in addressing the growing global environmental and climate crises. He made the appeal on Wednesday, April 8, at the inauguration of the two-day 'Green Energy Olympiad 2026' held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka.

The minister described environmental challenges as global issues that are often not fully realized until their impacts are felt. He emphasized the need to raise awareness and spread environmental consciousness across generations. Swapan highlighted that environmental crises differ from short-term development problems due to their long-term and far-reaching effects, stressing the importance of awareness and behavioral change for sustainable living, responsible urbanization, and nature-friendly development.

He further noted that global energy shortages and international political dynamics directly affect both the environment and the economy. The minister urged integrating education and research with environmental, political, and economic considerations to build practical knowledge, describing such initiatives as strategic investments for future generations.

In Haimchar upazila of Chandpur, illegal sand extraction from the banks of the Meghna River has completely eroded a local playground and put a river protection embankment worth hundreds of millions of taka at serious risk. Police confirmed on Tuesday night, April 7, that five individuals were arrested in connection with the incident. The seized equipment includes a bulkhead named “MB Mim Enterprise” and an unloading vessel called “Ma-Babar Doa.”

Local residents reported that the playground in Gazinagar, where children regularly played football, disappeared overnight after sand was removed using dredgers. Community members expressed anger and fear that the erosion could destroy their homes if the embankment collapses. Haimchar BNP’s general secretary demanded strict punishment for those responsible, regardless of political affiliation.

Haimchar’s Upazila Nirbahi Officer said the site has been inspected and repair work ordered with the help of the Water Development Board. The board’s sub-divisional engineer stated that stored blocks are being used to prevent further erosion while awaiting higher authority decisions.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast Kalbaishakhi storms and rain across eight divisions on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The affected regions include Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet, where temporary gusty winds, lightning, and scattered hail may occur. The department also noted that daytime temperatures could drop by one to two degrees Celsius, while nighttime temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged.

According to the morning forecast, areas such as Jashore and Kushtia in the Khulna division may experience storms moving from the west or northwest at speeds of 45 to 60 kilometers per hour, accompanied by rain or thunderstorms. River ports in these regions have been advised to hoist cautionary signal number one. The recent rainfall and storms have reduced the intensity of heat across the country, including in Dhaka, where the morning temperature dropped to 21.6 degrees Celsius from 22.8 the previous day.

The forecast also indicated that skies over Dhaka may remain partly cloudy until noon, with chances of rain or thunderstorms during the day.

The Tengragiri Ecopark crocodile breeding center in Barguna’s Taltoli upazila has failed to achieve success even after more than a decade of operation. Despite regular egg-laying by the crocodile pair named Tengra and Sokhina, none of the hatchlings have survived in the past 13 years. The center, established in the 2011–12 fiscal year by the Forest Department to conserve and breed freshwater crocodiles, has seen over a hundred hatchlings die since its inception, sparking public frustration and disappointment.

According to the breeding policy, hatchlings should be separated from adult crocodiles immediately after hatching for safe rearing. However, allegations suggest that this procedure has not been properly followed, leading to most hatchlings being killed by adult crocodiles. Environmental activist Shahidul Islam Milon said the failure to increase crocodile numbers at Tengragiri, unlike other centers, highlights weak management. Forest officer Rahimul Islam Jumel admitted the lack of skilled manpower to protect hatchlings, while Taltoli Upazila Nirbahi Officer Zahidul Islam stated that higher authorities have been informed and discussions are underway to recruit skilled staff and improve management.

Officials indicated that without urgent action, the center risks losing its conservation and tourism potential.

A moderate earthquake was felt across parts of Bangladesh on Tuesday afternoon, with its epicenter located near Silchar in India’s Assam state. The tremor, measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale, occurred at 2:48 p.m. Bangladesh time and was recorded about 350 kilometers from Dhaka. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake originated 11 kilometers northwest of Silchar at a depth of 10 kilometers. No major damage or casualties have been reported so far.

The earthquake was also felt in several areas of Assam as well as in Bangladesh’s Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and other border regions. Residents in these areas experienced brief panic as the ground shook unexpectedly. Authorities have not reported any significant structural damage or injuries.

The tremor highlights the region’s seismic sensitivity, particularly along the Bangladesh-India border, where moderate quakes are occasionally recorded.