The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms, rain, and gusty winds in three divisions as a seasonal low-pressure area remains over the southern Bay of Bengal. According to the agency, the low’s extension lies over West Bengal and adjoining regions. The forecast issued for Monday evening indicates possible rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty winds in parts of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, while other areas are expected to remain mostly dry with partly cloudy skies.

For Tuesday, similar conditions are expected in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, with a slight rise in both day and night temperatures across the country. On Wednesday, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions may experience temporary gusty or squally winds with lightning and rain, while elsewhere the weather will stay mainly dry. Thursday’s forecast suggests possible thunderstorms in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions, with temperatures remaining largely unchanged.

The overall outlook indicates a continuation of partly cloudy and mostly dry conditions across most regions, with localized thunderstorm activity in the north and northeast.

Gazipur Safari Park has brought in one male and two female lions from Dulahazra Safari Park in Cox’s Bazar to diversify attractions for visitors during Eid. With the arrival of these lions, the park now houses a total of five lions. The animals have been placed in designated enclosures and have been viewable to visitors since Eid day.

According to park officials, the park, which usually remains closed on Tuesdays, has been kept open this week to accommodate the Eid crowd. This decision was made because many visitors in previous years were unaware of the closure and had to return disappointed. To improve the visitor experience, the park has also renovated its transport buses, now operating seven air-conditioned minibuses for safari tours, along with upgraded food court and sanitation facilities.

Officials said the lions were brought in to replenish the park’s population and that all necessary preparations have been made to ensure visitor safety and service quality. Over 15,000 visitors attended the park on Eid day, according to the authorities.

A scenic spot known as ‘Mini Switzerland’, located about 13 kilometers east of Kuakata Zero Point in Patuakhali, has become a growing attraction for tourists during the Eid holidays. Visitors enjoy the area’s tranquil environment, lush greenery, and the rare opportunity to witness both sunrise and sunset from the same location. Nearby, the ‘Red Crab Island’ adds to the appeal with its distinctive coastal wildlife and serene surroundings.

Local guides and tourism stakeholders explained that the site gained nationwide attention after a travel blogger named Mr. Laxchu shared videos of the area on social media, showcasing its natural beauty. The place, once known only to locals, is now recognized as a potential eco-tourism destination combining nature, peace, and adventure.

Tourism officials and local leaders believe that with proper planning and environmental management, ‘Mini Switzerland’ and its adjacent areas could become one of Bangladesh’s leading eco-tourism hubs, boosting the local economy and creating new employment opportunities.

Dhaka’s air quality remained at an unhealthy level on Sunday, March 22, 2026, despite the city being largely empty during the Eid holidays. According to data from the international air quality monitoring organization IQAir, the capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 165 at 8 a.m., placing it fourth among the world’s most polluted cities. Although traffic and industrial activity have significantly decreased due to the holiday, the expected improvement in air quality has not occurred.

IQAir’s data showed that Delhi topped the list of polluted cities with a score of 193, followed by Beijing at 178 and Incheon at 174. In contrast, Denver in the United States recorded the cleanest air with a score of 39, while Chicago followed with 42. The previous day, Dhaka ranked tenth among 121 cities with an AQI of 117, while Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo led the list with 173.

The persistence of unhealthy air despite reduced human activity highlights the severity of Dhaka’s pollution problem, even during periods of minimal traffic and industrial operations.

An unusual heatwave struck the western United States on Friday, alarming climate scientists who described it as a once-in-500-years event. According to reports from Los Angeles, temperatures broke previous records throughout the week and were expected to remain high through the weekend. The heatwave, initially centered in the western cities, was moving eastward across the country.

In desert areas near the California-Arizona border, four locations recorded 44.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, setting a new national record for March. Weather.com reported that 65 cities, from Arizona and California to Idaho, experienced new March temperature highs. Death Valley reached 40 degrees Celsius, while typically cool San Francisco hit 29 degrees. The U.S. National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for large parts of the Southwest, including Los Angeles, southern California’s coastal areas, and Las Vegas.

The World Weather Attribution group stated that such an event would have been nearly impossible without human-induced climate change, emphasizing its extreme rarity even in a warming climate.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast prolonged drizzle across Dhaka and several other regions on Saturday, coinciding with the holy Eid-ul-Fitr. Meteorologist A K M Nazmul Haque said a broad rain belt stretching from Barguna to Naogaon has formed, likely causing light rain from around 7:30 a.m. for four to five hours. However, Cox’s Bazar and Panchagarh districts may remain outside the rain zone.

According to the department, the rain belt’s effect may continue until Sunday, though rainfall is expected to decrease by then. Compared to Friday, a higher amount of rainfall is likely on Saturday. On Friday, Madaripur recorded the highest rainfall at 33 millimeters, while Dhaka saw 17 millimeters, with rain reported in almost all divisions.

The meteorologist added that despite the extended drizzle, there is no possibility of a nor’wester storm. Winds are expected to flow from the southwest, resulting in light rain with low wind speed for several hours.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast rain, thunderstorms, and possible hail across the country during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, expected to be observed on Friday or Saturday depending on the moon sighting. Meteorologist Dr. Omar Faruq said that rainfall is likely throughout the next five days, with heavier showers expected on Friday and Saturday. However, he noted that continuous rainfall is unlikely, and precipitation will occur intermittently in different regions.

According to the department’s latest bulletin, an extension of a low-pressure area lies over West Bengal and adjoining regions, while the seasonal low remains over the South Bay of Bengal. This system may cause temporary cloudy skies, rain, and gusty winds of 40–50 km/h in Dhaka and surrounding areas. The forecast also indicates rain and thunderstorms in all eight divisions, with chances of hail in some places.

Meteorologist Dr. Abul Kalam Mallik added that thunderstorm activity may intensify between March 20 and 21. The department advised the public to remain cautious during the storm-prone period.

Electricity supply in Sandwip, Chattogram, was restored on Wednesday afternoon after a 30-hour disruption caused by severe storms. Most areas of the island regained power, but the Sandwip Upazila Health Complex remained without electricity at the time of reporting, leaving patients in distress. Upazila Health Officer Manas Biswas said the hospital was in complete darkness, making it impossible to operate essential medical equipment.

Upazila Executive Engineer (Electricity) Tanvir Hossain attributed the hospital’s outage to internal wiring faults, noting that the main line outside was active. He explained that strong winds had broken tree branches onto power lines and damaged several transformers, but repair teams had restored the main grid connection. The prolonged blackout also affected the island’s economy, with small cold storage owners reporting spoilage of fish and perishable goods.

Local poultry farmers suffered losses as well, with high temperatures and lack of ventilation causing illness and deaths among chickens. Residents urged greater coordination among government departments to modernize Sandwip’s power system and ensure faster post-storm repairs.

A severe storm that began late Monday night has disrupted the entire electricity transmission system in Sandwip, Chattogram, leaving the island without power for more than 24 hours. By Tuesday afternoon, electricity had been partially restored in parts of southern Sandwip, but large areas in the north, including Bauria, Gachhua, Kalapania, Santoshpur, and Dirghapara unions, remained without power. The outage has caused major disruptions to daily life and essential services.

Health facilities have been hit particularly hard. Upazila Health Officer Manas Biswas said that the prolonged power failure severely hampered normal healthcare operations, with patients suffering in the heat and medical equipment becoming difficult to operate. Local businesses also reported heavy losses, with cold storage owners fearing spoilage of perishable goods and shopkeepers struggling to attract customers in dark stores.

Residents expressed frustration over the lack of response from responsible officials. Calls to the local executive engineer went unanswered, leaving uncertainty about when power will be fully restored. Locals urged authorities to adopt modern systems to ensure faster power restoration after natural disasters.

Severe nor’wester storms and hail on Sunday night caused widespread damage to crops and homes in several parts of Bangladesh, particularly in Naogaon and Sherpur districts. In Naogaon, the storm lasted about 30 minutes, damaging 731.5 hectares of farmland, including banana, maize, wheat, potato, and vegetables. The Department of Agricultural Extension reported that 225 hectares of banana, 216 hectares of maize, and 216 hectares of wheat were affected, with banana and maize losses valued at over Tk 172 crore. Many banana and papaya trees were uprooted or broken just before harvest.

In Sherpur’s Nalitabari upazila, Saturday night’s storm and hail destroyed homes and trees, leaving around 35 families homeless. The worst-hit area was Singuarpara village in Rupnarayankura union, where 30–35 houses were completely destroyed. Power supply was disrupted in several areas, and many residents were forced to stay under the open sky. Local officials visited the affected sites and informed higher authorities for assistance.

Agricultural officials advised farmers to prepare for recovery and future disaster resilience, while weather observers recorded wind speeds up to 50 km per hour and 29 millimeters of rainfall during the storm.

The 'Zia Canal' in Shayestaganj, Habiganj, once linked to late President Ziaur Rahman’s canal excavation program, is now on the verge of extinction due to encroachment, pollution and lack of maintenance. Locals say the canal, dug during Ziaur Rahman’s 1978 visit to the area, once played a vital role in irrigation and flood control but has since deteriorated severely.

Elderly residents recall that before the canal’s excavation, farmers in the region suffered from water shortages during dry months and severe flooding during monsoon. The canal had provided relief by improving irrigation and drainage. Local leaders, including former municipal BNP president Korom Ali and former vice-chairman A S M Afzal Ali, emphasized the canal’s historical and agricultural importance and urged for its immediate restoration.

Habiganj-3 MP and Parliament Whip G K Gaus pledged to prioritize the canal’s dredging, citing both public demand and the site’s association with Ziaur Rahman’s legacy.

The MV Sugandha launch, operating on the Dhaka-Hatia route, became stranded on a river shoal after being caught in a storm early Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The vessel, carrying more than a hundred passengers, has remained stuck for about 15 hours near Charbhairabi area before reaching Ilisha Ghat. Despite the tide rising, low water levels prevented the launch from floating again.

Passengers reported severe hardship and lack of assistance, saying that even after informing the Coast Guard and Navy, no effective rescue measures had been taken by late afternoon. Some passengers described being trapped with small children without food or means to disembark as evening approached. The launch’s master, Mostafizur Rahman, said the vessel anchored to maintain control during the storm but became stuck when the tide receded.

MV Sugandha had started its inaugural journey from Dhaka’s Sadarghat on Monday evening as one of two newly launched government-allocated vessels intended to improve travel on the Dhaka-Hatia route.

Aliyabad Canal in Nabinagar municipality of Brahmanbaria has nearly disappeared due to years of unregulated waste dumping and unplanned road construction. Once a flowing waterway connecting the Burir and Bhata rivers, the canal has become clogged with household garbage, blocking water flow and causing severe environmental degradation. The stagnant, blackened water now emits foul odors and poses serious health risks, including waterborne diseases. Agricultural lands nearby are being damaged by polluted water, and the area suffers from mosquito infestations and seasonal flooding.

Local residents recall that until 2005, the canal supported boat traffic and provided water for irrigation and household use. They blame the closure of the canal’s mouth under a municipal road for halting water movement. Residents and community leaders have demanded immediate cleaning and restoration to reconnect the canal with the main river system. Nabinagar’s administrative head, Mahmudul Hasan, stated that dredging work is planned and expected to begin after Eid-ul-Fitr.

If completed, the restoration could revive water flow and transform the canal into a scenic feature of the municipality.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief M Iqbal Hossain emphasized that canal excavation is essential for increasing agricultural production. Speaking on Monday in Gauripur, Mymensingh, he inaugurated the re-excavation of the 'Bolar Beel' canal and said that dredging rivers, canals, and wetlands would help remove waterlogging, improve irrigation facilities, and protect the environment and biodiversity.

He noted that re-excavating the approximately five-kilometer-long Bolar Beel canal would enhance water drainage during the monsoon season and have a positive impact on farming activities. The event was attended by Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Md Saifur Rahman, Gauripur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Papia Amin Pappa, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Sunanda Sarkar Proma, Additional Superintendent of Police (Gauripur Circle) Deba Shish Karmakar, and several local political leaders.

The initiative highlights the government’s focus on improving agricultural infrastructure and addressing water management challenges in rural areas through canal re-excavation projects.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md. Abdus Salam announced that the Matuail landfill in the capital will be transformed into a scenic eco park and playground. He made the announcement during a visit to the landfill on Monday, where he also inaugurated a new compost plant. The initiative aims to eliminate the area’s long-standing odor and pollution through modern waste management and turn it into a public recreation center.

According to the administrator, DSCC has signed an agreement with a Korean private company to convert 3,200–3,500 tons of daily waste into valuable resources. Work on the project will begin after Eid-ul-Azha, producing gas, electricity, and fertilizer instead of dumping waste. The newly inaugurated compost plant targets producing 20 tons of organic fertilizer daily from 100 tons of household waste, which could reduce greenhouse gases and increase city revenue.

To prevent frequent fires, DSCC is installing 40 water hydrants and permanent reservoirs across 181 acres and has purchased six portable pumps. Salam added that 40 percent of soil covering work is complete, helping control odor and fire risks, aligning with the Prime Minister’s directive to make Dhaka a “Clean and Green City.”