Bangladesh’s Jamuna River in Bogura is facing a severe navigability crisis during the dry season, reportedly due to India’s upstream water control. Local sources said eight river routes have already closed, disrupting transport and causing major hardship for residents. Sandbars have emerged across the river, and ferry operators report that even small boats are struggling to move. Around 200,000 people in 141 riverine villages are suffering from the loss of waterway connectivity.

Officials from the Water Development Board said the Jamuna’s average depth has dropped from about 9.5 meters to around 2 meters, mainly because of dam construction in India and China. The river’s Bangladesh section covers 220 kilometers of its 4,000-kilometer length. Local residents described losing homes and farmland to erosion and facing unemployment during the dry months.

Authorities acknowledged that while dredging has been planned for the Bangali River, no government project currently exists for the Jamuna. Engineers warned that continued upstream damming could turn the region into a desert unless natural water flow is restored.

Bangladesh’s Jamuna River in the Bogura region is facing severe navigability problems due to reduced water flow from India. Local sources report that eight river routes have already been closed this dry season, disrupting transport and increasing hardship for residents. Sandbars have emerged across the river, making navigation nearly impossible and isolating communities dependent on river transport.

Officials from the Water Development Board said the Jamuna’s average depth has dropped from about 9.5 meters to around 2 meters, largely due to dam construction in upstream countries including India and China. The river’s Bangladesh section spans 220 kilometers of its total 4,000-kilometer length. Local boatmen and leaseholders said even small boats now struggle to move, affecting livelihoods in 141 riverine villages with over 200,000 people.

Authorities acknowledged the crisis, noting that while the Bangali River is under a dredging program, no such project exists for the Jamuna. Engineers warned that continued upstream water control could turn the region into a desert-like area unless natural water flow is restored.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will begin a 10-day special mosquito control 'crash program' from Sunday across its 10 regions. The initiative was announced by DSCC Administrator Md. Abdus Salam during an emergency meeting with health department officials at Nagar Bhaban Auditorium. He declared a 'zero tolerance' stance against negligence, failure, or corruption in mosquito control operations and said he would personally inspect the activities.

The meeting was called following a recent rise in mosquito infestation in DSCC areas. Officials emphasized ensuring the effectiveness of insecticides, following proper methods, and strengthening field-level monitoring. The health department was instructed to work in coordination with the waste management division and to raise public awareness. Mobile courts may be deployed if Aedes mosquito larvae are found.

Discussions also covered training for mosquito control workers and testing new, more effective insecticides. The administrator directed that strict legal action be taken against any public or private establishment that fails to act even after repeated warnings.

From midnight tonight, all fishing activities will be suspended for two months in six rivers, including the Padma and Meghna in Chandpur, to protect hilsa fry and other fish species. The government will provide each of the 9,100 registered fishermen in Matlab North upazila with 160 kilograms of rice in four installments during the ban period. Violators may face one to two years in prison, a fine of up to 5,000 taka, or both.

The fishing ban, enforced every March and April since 2006, aims to increase hilsa production and ensure safe movement of juvenile fish. During this period, fishing, buying, selling, storing, and transporting fish are strictly prohibited across 30 kilometers from Shatnol to Amirabad Bazar and 70 kilometers up to Charbhairabi in Haimchar. Joint operations will be conducted by the local administration, fisheries department, naval police, coast guard, and navy.

Officials and researchers emphasized that administrative enforcement alone is insufficient for long-term sustainability unless fishermen’s financial security is ensured. Awareness campaigns and strict monitoring will continue throughout the ban period.

The Teesta Barrage Irrigation Project in Dalia, Nilphamari, built to boost northern Bangladesh’s agricultural economy, has become nearly waterless. Despite extensive canals, sluice gates, and control structures built at a cost of thousands of crores of taka, the project is now ineffective due to insufficient water flow in the Teesta River. Field visits revealed that the riverbed has turned into sandbanks, with dry season flows dropping to as low as 500 cusecs at Dalia, compared to over 200,000 cusecs during monsoon. Officials attribute the crisis to heavy upstream water withdrawal through India’s Gajoldoba Barrage.

The project covers 766 kilometers of canals across 12 upazilas in Nilphamari, Rangpur, and Dinajpur, with 95 percent of expansion work reportedly completed. However, water has yet to reach most canals, leaving them dry. Farmers say they now rely on shallow machines and diesel pumps, doubling irrigation costs to 2,000–2,500 taka per bigha, compared to 200–300 taka if river water were available.

Experts and river activists stress that infrastructure alone cannot revive the project without fair transboundary water sharing and long-term reservoir planning to store monsoon water.

Newly appointed administrator Abdus Salam announced his plan to transform Dhaka South City into a clean and green city. He made the declaration on Friday at Lalbagh Hriday Party Center during a brief speech before an iftar event organized by Ward 24 BNP under Lalbagh Police Station. Salam urged residents to keep household and shop waste in designated spots for collection by city workers and warned that contractors charging more than 100 taka for waste collection would lose their approval.

He said the initiative follows the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to make both Dhaka South and Dhaka North clean and green cities. Salam emphasized preserving Old Dhaka’s heritage, including its food culture and historical sites, to attract local and foreign visitors. He also pledged strict action against extortion, mugging, and drug-related crimes, regardless of the offenders’ political affiliations or influence.

Addressing public health concerns, Salam noted the growing mosquito problem in Dhaka and said the city corporation would intensify mosquito control and dengue eradication efforts.

The government has imposed a two-month ban on all fishing activities in six rivers of Chandpur, including the Padma and Meghna, to conserve juvenile hilsa (jatka) and boost overall hilsa production. The restriction begins after midnight on February 28 and will remain in effect throughout March and April. During this period, 9,100 fishermen in Matlab North upazila will receive 160 kilograms of rice each in four installments, while they focus on repairing boats and nets.

The ban, in place annually since 2006, covers a 30-kilometer stretch from Shatnol to Amirabad Bazar and a 70-kilometer area up to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar. Fishing, trading, storing, or transporting fish is strictly prohibited. Violators face one to two years in jail, fines up to 5,000 taka, or both. Joint enforcement drives will be conducted by the local administration, fisheries department, naval police, coast guard, and navy.

Experts noted that while the ban helps protect jatka, ensuring long-term benefits requires financial security for fishermen. Authorities have pledged strict monitoring throughout the sanctuary period.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast a gradual rise in temperature across the country starting from March 1. According to its regular bulletin issued on February 27, both daytime and nighttime temperatures are expected to increase slightly, with fluctuations in nighttime temperatures during the first week of March. The department also noted that the heat will intensify gradually as the month progresses.

Meteorologist Kazi Zebunnesa stated that temperatures are already increasing, with Sandwip recording the highest temperature of 33 degrees Celsius the previous day. She added that the feeling of heat will become more noticeable from early March and may rise further in the latter half of the month as the spring season continues. The department also indicated the possibility of rain or thundershowers in parts of the Sylhet division in early March.

The lowest temperature recorded in the country on February 27 was 13.1 degrees Celsius, while Dhaka’s minimum temperature stood at 19 degrees Celsius, according to the department’s report.

Bangladesh experienced three earthquakes within a span of 39 hours, with tremors felt across the country including the capital Dhaka. The latest quake struck on Friday at 1:53 p.m., registering a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter scale. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that the epicenter was in Satkhira, while the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a similar magnitude of 5.3.

Earlier, on Thursday at 12:04 p.m., another earthquake was felt in various parts of the country, originating in India’s Sikkim region, about 455 kilometers northwest of Dhaka. That event measured 4.6 on the Richter scale. A day before, on Wednesday night, another quake of magnitude 5.1 was recorded. Additionally, a mild 4.0 magnitude tremor had been felt in Sylhet on February 10.

Assistant meteorologist Farzana Sultana described the latest quake as moderate, noting that its epicenter was in Ashashuni, Satkhira, approximately 188 kilometers southwest of Dhaka. Authorities have not reported any major damage or casualties so far.

The Sitakunda upazila administration in Chattogram has stopped illegal sand extraction from the coastal area of Syedpur Union and the filling of agricultural land. Following a report published on February 21, 2026, in the newspaper Amar Desh, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Abdullah Al Mamun conducted a mobile court inspection and ordered an immediate halt to all sand extraction and land-filling activities. On Thursday morning, another mobile court operation led by Executive Magistrate Sadia Afrin Kochi and Abdullah Al Mamun seized nine dredgers and detained thirteen individuals involved in the illegal activity.

Officials stated that while the Chattogram Port Authority allows limited sand extraction from designated coastal zones, no permission exists for dredging inside the sea. Several institutions were found violating these conditions. Local residents alleged that illegal sand lifting had been ongoing for a long time across multiple unions, damaging fertile farmland and disrupting fishing activities. Fishermen reported torn nets and financial hardship due to the operations.

Authorities confirmed that legal action will follow after verifying land classifications and ownership records, as parts of the filled area include government land without proper authorization.

State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad announced that the government has undertaken an initiative to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across Bangladesh. As part of this program, he visited a 12-kilometer canal in Kaharol upazila of Dinajpur district on Thursday afternoon. Speaking to journalists after the visit, he said the excavation of this canal would bring about 6,000 bighas of land under cultivation, boosting agricultural production and directly benefiting farmers.

The minister stated that the initiative aligns with the election manifesto announced by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, describing the project as evidence of its implementation. He noted that past canal and river excavation efforts suffered from a lack of coordination among ministries. Recently, a coordination meeting was held with multiple ministries, resulting in the formation of a joint team to ensure canals do not refill in the future. Plans also include tree planting along canal banks and other protective measures.

Azad added that the program follows the path set by former President Ziaur Rahman, who had earlier initiated canal excavation projects.

An earthquake was felt across several parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka, at 12:04 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The tremor occurred just 13 hours after a previous quake in the country. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Earthquake Observation and Research Center of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the quake measured 4.8 on the Richter scale.

Authorities reported that the epicenter was located in India’s Sikkim region, approximately 455 kilometers northwest of Dhaka. The report did not mention any casualties or damage. The event marks the second seismic activity within a short span, drawing attention to regional tectonic movements.

Further details on the impact or aftershocks were not provided in the initial reports.

The once fast-flowing Karangi River in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj district has dried up, turning into a dead canal. The riverbed has lost navigability, creating an acute water shortage for residents of three unions who depend on it for agriculture and daily needs. The drying of the river has also endangered local biodiversity.

Farmers who previously relied on the river for irrigation during the Boro season are now dependent on mechanical irrigation systems. Environmentalists allege that no government initiative has been taken to restore the river’s flow, and that unplanned embankments built upstream in Chunarughat have worsened the water crisis downstream. Local farmers and residents report difficulties in farming, livestock rearing, and domestic water use.

Community representatives and social workers have called for immediate dredging to revive the river. The Bahubal Upazila Nirbahi Officer stated that discussions with the Water Development Board are underway to take necessary measures under government planning.

Residents of Sreebardi municipality in Sherpur are facing severe hardship due to the absence of a designated dumping station. Household and market waste is being dumped into a leased private pond in the Purbo Chhonkanda area, as well as scattered along roads and open spaces. The situation has led to environmental pollution, foul odors, and health risks for nearby residents.

Local people complain that despite repeated objections, the municipality has not taken effective action. The pond used for dumping is surrounded by densely populated homes, causing unbearable stench and mosquito infestations. Environmental group Sabuj Andolon’s Sherpur unit criticized the worsening waste management, urging the establishment of an eco-friendly sanitary landfill.

Municipal administrator and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Monisha Ahmed stated that due to the lack of municipal land, waste is temporarily being dumped on rented private property. She added that under the upcoming “32 Municipality Project,” plans are in place to build a modern dumping station to resolve the issue.

River erosion has intensified in Jotpara area of Chauhali upazila in Sirajganj as the water level of the Jamuna River begins to recede. The erosion, reportedly caused by the movement of sand-laden bulkheads near the eastern embankment, has put a multi-crore taka river protection structure at serious risk. Locals have staged repeated protests demanding a halt to bulkhead operations to save their homes and farmland.

According to residents, continuous bulkhead traffic along the eastern bank has endangered around 500 households and large areas of cropland, as well as public institutions including the upazila complex, schools, and markets. In Bagutia Union, geo-bag dumping along a three-kilometer stretch has been damaged due to bulkhead movement close to the bank, threatening nearby villages.

Local authorities, including the Chauhali police and the assistant commissioner (land), have intervened to stop bulkhead movement after residents gathered to block them. Officials confirmed that bulkhead operations have been halted, though a few vessels remain stuck due to navigability issues.