Between March 14 and March 28, 2026, a total of 373 road accidents across Bangladesh caused 298 deaths and over 2,000 injuries, according to data compiled from hospitals and media reports. The Road Safety Foundation disclosed these figures in a press release issued on April 1. Among the victims were 46 women and 67 children. Motorcycle accidents accounted for nearly 39 percent of the fatalities, while 47 pedestrians and 36 drivers or assistants also lost their lives. Additionally, 11 waterway accidents killed nine people, and 29 railway accidents caused 41 deaths.

The report showed that the Chattogram Division recorded the highest number of accidents and deaths, with 93 incidents and 74 fatalities, while Barishal Division had the lowest with 12 deaths. More than 10 million people traveled from Dhaka and about 40 million moved within the country during the Eid period. Despite reduced congestion, passengers faced overcharging on roads, railways, and waterways.

The Foundation recommended restructuring the National Road Safety Council, enforcing vehicle safety technology, removing outdated vehicles, and improving driver training to ensure safer transport nationwide.

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s North Maluku Sea region early Thursday, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake’s epicenter was located about 127 kilometers west-northwest of Ternate city at a depth of roughly 35 kilometers. Following the tremor, the US tsunami warning system issued alerts for possible waves within 1,000 kilometers of the epicenter, affecting coastal areas of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

Authorities warned that waves between 0.3 and 1 meter above normal tide levels could hit parts of Indonesia’s coast, while smaller waves under 30 centimeters were forecast for Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Japan’s meteorological agency said only minor sea-level changes were expected, and Australia’s weather bureau confirmed no tsunami threat to its mainland or islands.

An AFP journalist in Manado, North Sulawesi, reported that residents rushed outdoors in panic as the shaking lasted for a long time, though no major damage was observed. Indonesia, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

A severe nor’wester struck Nilphamari district late Tuesday night, causing extensive damage across four unions in Jaldhaka and Kishoreganj upazilas. More than 200 houses were destroyed and 38 hectares of maize fields were heavily affected. Power supply from the Kishoreganj NESCO office to Jaldhaka’s Tengonmari area remained cut off through Wednesday afternoon due to damaged electric lines and leaning poles.

In Kishoreganj’s Putimari Union, around 100 houses were destroyed and nearly 200 more tilted, while about 200 hectares of maize fields were flattened. Local officials reported that many tin roofs were blown away and trees fell on houses. The Upazila Agriculture Officer said 150 hectares of maize fields were affected, with 12 hectares at risk of total loss. In Jaldhaka, the storm hit Khutamara, Dharmapal, and Golna unions, damaging about 100 houses and 26 hectares of maize.

Officials from both upazilas said field assessments are underway to finalize damage reports, while power restoration efforts continue in affected areas.

Residents of Alikadam upazila in Bandarban are facing a severe shortage of safe drinking water as a long-delayed water purification project remains incomplete. The project, launched about ten years ago with funding from the Bandarban Hill District Council and implemented by the Department of Public Health Engineering, was halted within six months due to financial constraints. Despite repeated development initiatives in the district, the crucial project has not resumed.

Field reports indicate that for the past three months, Alikadam town and nearby hilly areas have been experiencing an acute water crisis. In response, the Bangladesh Army’s Alikadam Zone has been distributing drinking water to affected residents. Locals allege that small-scale ring-well projects are approved annually but are only implemented after the rainy season begins, limiting their effectiveness.

A local primary school headteacher said that both drinking and household water are scarce in the Panbazar area. The local public health engineer confirmed hearing about a new allocation of 4.6 million taka for the unfinished purification project, but work has yet to restart.

Continuous heavy rainfall has submerged vast areas of haor land in Sunamganj’s Madhyanagar upazila, leaving farmers in deep concern as their nearly ripe Boro paddy fields are now underwater. The flooding has caused significant crop damage, with many fields already showing signs of rot. Farmers in Togor and Rupeshwar haors reported that about half of their farmland is submerged, and the lack of effective drainage has made it impossible to save the crops.

Local farmers have installed irrigation machines in several haor areas, including Kailani, Rupeshwar, Goraduba, and Banchapra, to pump out water, but continuous rain has kept the situation critical. Many farmers said that proper sluice gates and river dredging could have prevented such waterlogging. The Madhyanagar agriculture office confirmed that 13,620 hectares were cultivated this season, with at least 250 hectares already affected, though locals claim the damage is greater.

Officials stated that they are monitoring the situation and taking necessary steps. The district administration emphasized long-term solutions such as canal dredging and sluice gate construction to prevent future flooding and protect farmers’ livelihoods.

A sudden Kalbaishakhi storm accompanied by heavy rain and hail struck Dhaka and surrounding areas on Wednesday night, April 1, 2026. The sky turned dark after evening, and around 7 p.m. strong gusts of wind and dust swept through several parts of the city. By 8 p.m., heavy rainfall began, soaking areas including Banglamotor, Shahbagh, Moghbazar, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, and Tejgaon. Hail and lightning with loud thunder were also reported, causing difficulties for pedestrians and roadside vendors.

A weather alert issued for inland river ports until 1 a.m. warned that regions including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Pabna, Faridpur, Mymensingh, Tangail, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, and Sylhet could experience temporary gusty or squally winds from the west and northwest at speeds of 45–60 kilometers per hour. The alert also forecast rain or thundershowers and advised ports in these areas to hoist cautionary signal number one.

The storm disrupted normal evening activities in the capital, with reports of temporary inconvenience due to heavy rainfall and lightning.

Bangladesh’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo met with Nepal’s Ambassador Ghanshyam Bhandari at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday. During the courtesy meeting, both sides discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas including environment, forestry, climate change, energy, education, and tourism.

Minister Mintoo emphasized that both Bangladesh and Nepal are climate-vulnerable nations, highlighting the need to expand greenery and adopt environmentally friendly technologies in the energy sector. He also mentioned the government’s initiatives for environmental protection and climate-resilient development planning. Ambassador Bhandari noted Nepal’s success in forest management, stating that about 45 percent of the country’s land is forested, and expressed optimism about strengthening cooperation on climate change.

Officials from both countries agreed to expand mutual collaboration in environmental conservation, forest management, and climate change response, with potential joint initiatives under the BIMSTEC framework also discussed.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate two canal excavation projects in Jhenaidah and Feni this month as part of the nationwide canal excavation program. Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie announced the plan after a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at the Secretariat. He said that excavation work in a canal at Kaharol in Dinajpur has already begun, and the new initiatives will extend the program to two more districts.

The minister stated that the Prime Minister will personally visit both districts to launch the projects, while ministers and state ministers will oversee activities in other areas. The meeting discussed completing the excavation within 180 days and achieving the target of 20,000 kilometers of canals. He noted that many rivers have been damaged by encroachment and pollution, posing challenges to implementation.

According to the minister, strict measures have been taken to recover occupied canals, and coordinated efforts are underway to overcome obstacles. He also mentioned that the Teesta Master Plan remains under technical discussion and that the technical team continues work on the Ganges Treaty with India.

Local BNP leaders in Fatullah, Narayanganj, have been accused of illegally extracting soil from the Dhaleshwari and Buriganga rivers and selling it to nearby brick kilns. The activity reportedly takes place openly using grab dredgers, with around 150,000 cubic feet of soil removed daily from the Dharmaganj and Baktabali areas. Despite the absence of official permission for dredging, the report alleges that some BIWTA officials and river police have been influenced to allow the operations.

The unplanned soil extraction has put surrounding farmland, roads, and villages at risk of erosion. Residents say the illegal dredging is damaging the rivers’ navigability and environmental balance, threatening homes and businesses. The syndicate allegedly includes both BNP and Awami League figures, with specific local leaders named as participants.

Narayanganj-4 MP Abdullah Al Amin condemned the illegal activity, warning that it endangers riverside communities. BIWTA’s director declined to comment, while the local river police officer-in-charge said he had recently joined and would investigate the matter and take strict action.

In Raiganj of Sirajganj, the once-familiar sight of tall palm trees is rapidly disappearing, raising concerns about increasing lightning strikes and other natural disasters. The decline has been attributed to agricultural expansion, unplanned tree cutting, and insufficient replanting. Local residents have reported more frequent lightning-related deaths of farmers and livestock during recent monsoon seasons, heightening fear and frustration in the community.

Environmental activists from the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) in Sirajganj warn that palm trees not only enhance natural beauty but also act as protection against lightning. Their loss threatens biodiversity, particularly the habitat of the baya weaver bird, and disrupts the ecological balance. Palm trees also hold economic and cultural value, providing nutritious fruit and raw materials for rural crafts such as mats, fans, and other cottage products.

Experts caution that the disappearance of palm trees could erode both environmental stability and rural heritage, diminishing the aesthetic and ecological identity of traditional Bangladeshi villages.

A modernization project costing about Tk 21 crore at Dhaka University’s Mall Chattar has drawn criticism after the area turned hazardous for students and pedestrians. Following recent rainfall, an electric shock incident killed a dog near Surya Sen Hall around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, raising alarm among witnesses who narrowly avoided a larger accident.

Students alleged that the square’s electrical wiring and lighting were installed without proper planning, creating electrocution risks whenever rainwater accumulates. Poor drainage and inadequate maintenance have worsened the danger. Some lamp posts have reportedly been stolen, leaving exposed wires temporarily patched with tape. The project, launched for the university’s centenary celebration, included lighting, drainage, seating, and aesthetic structures but has faced criticism over design flaws and safety lapses.

Acting Chief Engineer Kazi Md. Akram Hossain said some lights had been disconnected after thefts, and the sudden rain caused the incident. Newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.B.M. Obaidul Islam called the situation alarming and instructed the engineering department to take immediate safety measures.

A Tk 14 crore sanitary landfill and waste treatment plant in Kishoreganj town remains non-operational three years after its completion, leaving the facility buried under heaps of garbage. Located beside the Bhairab–Mymensingh regional highway, the site emits a strong stench, polluting the environment and damaging nearby farmland. Despite being built with Asian Development Bank funding in late 2022, the project’s modern pumps and filtration systems now lie idle and deteriorating.

Kishoreganj Municipality’s administrator, Zebun Nahar Shammi, acknowledged the problem and said the project became defunct because waste was not properly separated into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories. She added that reviving the facility would cost nearly as much as its original construction but assured that efforts are underway to resolve the issue quickly. Meanwhile, 20 to 25 truckloads of municipal waste continue to be dumped daily beside the highway, worsening pollution.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon’s Kishoreganj district president, Advocate Hamida Begum, warned that without a permanent solution, the environmental and public health situation could become even more severe.

Kenya’s National Police Service reported on Saturday that the death toll from weeks of heavy rain and flooding has risen to 108. The floods, which began on March 6, have caused extensive damage across the East African nation, sweeping away vehicles, disrupting air travel, and damaging electrical infrastructure. Authorities said more than 2,700 families have been displaced nationwide.

Although rainfall intensity has decreased in some areas, police warned that poor drainage and waterlogging continue to pose flooding risks. In early March, overnight downpours in Nairobi led to flash floods that killed at least 23 people, swept away dozens of cars, and disrupted flights at the city’s main airport. Since then, fatalities and damage have continued to rise throughout the month.

Meteorologists and environmental scientists cited global warming as a factor worsening floods and droughts across East Africa. A 2024 World Weather Attribution study found that climate change has doubled the likelihood of destructive rainfall in the region.

In Kano, northern Nigeria, second-hand electronics imported from Europe, America, and Asia are flooding markets like Sabon Gari, where low-income buyers seek affordable appliances. Many of these goods, often near the end of their lifespan, arrive damaged or fail shortly after purchase, worsening the country’s growing electronic waste problem. According to the United Nations, about 60,000 tonnes of used electronics enter Nigeria annually, with at least 15,700 tonnes already defective upon arrival.

The trade, largely driven by exporters from Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, China, the United States, and Ireland, often violates the Basel Convention, which restricts hazardous waste exports to developing nations. Informal recyclers in Kano dismantle broken devices without protection, exposing themselves to toxic substances such as mercury and refrigerant gases banned in Western countries. Health experts warn of serious respiratory, neurological, and reproductive risks linked to such exposure.

Despite Nigeria’s environmental regulations and inspections, weak enforcement and loopholes allow mislabeled shipments to enter the country. Environmental advocates and traders call for stricter border checks, certification systems, and international accountability to curb the inflow of unsafe electronic waste.

In Netrokona’s haor region, several crop protection embankments have collapsed and developed cracks following light rainfall, causing panic among local farmers. The embankments, built annually under the government’s Kabita project through the Water Development Board (Paubo), are meant to protect boro crops from early flooding. This year, construction and repair work began late, and residents allege that inexperienced committees were formed under the scheme, leading to poor-quality work.

Reports indicate that embankments in Khaliajuri upazila’s Chakua union, including the Chautara haor and PI river embankments, have been damaged. Some projects allegedly involved minimal soil work, and protective measures such as sandbags and bamboo reinforcements were not completed on time. Paubo officials acknowledged the damage and said repair work was underway. Local officials, including the upazila executive officer and district administration, have instructed immediate repairs and regular monitoring.

According to official data, 202 project implementation committees were responsible for maintaining 136.798 km of embankments across five upazilas, covering about 134,000 hectares of farmland. The total estimated cost was around 310 million taka.