Once the world’s fourth-largest lake, the Aral Sea—spanning Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan—has now shrunk to less than one-tenth of its original size. Once a thriving source of fish and livelihood for local communities, the sea’s ports now stand abandoned, and its exposed seabed has turned into a toxic, saline desert. The United Nations Development Programme has described the situation as one of the twentieth century’s most severe environmental disasters.

The crisis began in the 1960s when Soviet irrigation projects diverted the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers to support cotton cultivation, drastically reducing water inflow. As evaporation outpaced replenishment, the sea fragmented into smaller bodies, and the newly exposed land became known as the Aralkum Desert, one of the world’s youngest deserts.

In response to the ongoing environmental degradation, Central Asian leaders recently convened in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, to discuss joint water resource management and strategies to prevent further damage to the region’s fragile ecosystem.

More than three million people in the United States have lost access to food assistance following the enforcement of stricter federal rules. According to The Wall Street Journal, citing federal data, participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has dropped by about 3.5 million since the new conditions took effect in July last year.

The revised policy requires able-bodied adults aged 18 to 64 without children under 14 to work, volunteer, or attend approved training for at least 80 hours per month to remain eligible. Previously, the work requirement applied only up to age 54, and adults with children under 18 were exempt. The new rules also exclude some legally residing non-citizens who were previously eligible, in addition to undocumented immigrants who were already barred.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that an average of 42.1 million people received SNAP benefits last fiscal year, costing about $101.7 billion. Since the implementation of President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law in July, participation has steadily declined, reaching 38.5 million by January, an 8 percent drop in six months.

Kuwait exported no crude oil in April 2026, marking the first such occurrence in more than 30 years, according to a report by TankerTrackers.com cited by Al Jazeera. The last time Kuwait experienced zero crude exports was in 1991 during the aftermath of the Gulf War.

Despite the halt in crude exports, Kuwait continues oil production. Part of the produced oil is being stored, while the rest is refined into various petroleum products for export. The report attributes the suspension of crude exports to a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transport routes.

Analysts warn that if the blockade persists, it could have significant repercussions for the global energy market, given Kuwait’s role as a major oil producer in the Gulf region.

A severe nor'wester storm struck Bhola Sadar upazila on Saturday afternoon, uprooting several large trees and causing widespread disruption to road and power connections. The storm toppled six to seven trees around the upazila administration campus, cutting off communication and electricity for thousands of residents in the surrounding areas.

Witnesses said continuous rain had softened the soil around large rain trees, which collapsed when the storm hit. The incident blocked major roads linking Bhola town with eastern parts of the district, while fallen electric poles and snapped wires plunged the area into darkness. One house in Bapta union was damaged after a tree fell on it, and the roof of Bapta temple was blown away.

Local authorities managed to partially clear the roads after three to four hours of effort, though vehicle movement remains limited. According to the Bhola Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, losses amount to several lakh taka, and full restoration of normal conditions may take two to three more days as recovery work continues.

A 55-year-old farmer named Ahad Mia from Rampur village in Goalanagar Union, Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria, died after witnessing his ripe paddy fields submerged under water. According to family and locals, Ahad had cultivated six bighas of paddy during the Boro season with borrowed money. Heavy rainfall and upstream flooding caused his crops to go underwater. When he went to harvest the paddy with laborers, he collapsed upon seeing the damage and died on the way home.

Local union parishad member Ahmed Ali said the farmer could not bear the shock of losing all his crops. His nephew, Mohammad Faruk Ahmed, confirmed that the funeral and burial took place on Saturday afternoon. Upazila Agriculture Officer Imran Ahmed stated that an assistant agriculture officer was sent to the deceased’s home after receiving news of the incident. Nasirnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahina Nasrin said officials were preparing a list of affected farmers to bring them under government incentive programs.

Several low-lying areas of Chattogram were submerged again on Saturday afternoon after just 25 millimeters of rainfall, causing severe suffering for residents. The waterlogging affected key neighborhoods including Probortok, Mehedibagh, Panchlaish, and Katalganj, where water levels ranged from knee to waist height. The rain, recorded between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., was classified as moderate by the Patenga Meteorological Office.

This incident occurred only three days after authorities claimed that embankments blocking city canals had been removed to ease drainage. The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) and City Corporation had earlier stated that the army’s construction of retaining walls had temporarily obstructed water flow, leading to previous flooding. Despite the removal of 30 embankments, city officials admitted that sediment inside the canals had not yet been fully cleared, slowing water drainage.

According to the City Corporation, the remaining sediment caused temporary water stagnation in low-lying areas, but the water receded within a short time. Officials argued that the situation did not amount to full-scale waterlogging as seen in the previous week.

Saudi Arabia is confronting a severe challenge following the United Arab Emirates’ sudden withdrawal from OPEC, as the ongoing Iran war disrupts crude exports across the Persian Gulf. The conflict has prevented Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members from using their spare production capacity, worsening the supply crisis. Crown Prince and Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman now faces pressure to stabilize the market while managing internal divisions within the oil alliance.

The UAE, previously OPEC’s fourth-largest producer and second in spare capacity after Saudi Arabia, had long expressed dissatisfaction with its production quota. Analysts note that the country’s departure exposes deeper rifts within OPEC, especially as Saudi Arabia’s decision-making has shifted from consensus-driven diplomacy to more unilateral actions. The geopolitical rivalry between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, intensified by conflicts in Yemen, has further strained cooperation.

Experts suggest that despite the current turmoil, the crisis could eventually strengthen OPEC’s unity and streamline its decision-making process once regional oil flows normalize.

The government is increasing its support fund for farmers severely affected in the Haor regions, Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid said on May 2, 2026, in Cumilla. He stated that the government is continuously collecting information from district administrations and the Department of Agriculture about those impacted. The initiative aims to expand financial assistance for the most affected farmers.

Speaking to journalists after inaugurating the district-level phase of the Nobo Kurri Sports-2026 at the Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium gymnasium, the minister added that the government will purchase paddy directly from farmers at fair prices through announcements at the union level. This measure is expected to increase farmers’ profits by up to thirty percent. Additionally, a three-month food assistance program will be implemented for the most affected Haor farmers, and other affected groups will also be included under new support projects.

Earlier, at a separate event at Cumilla Victoria Government College, the minister emphasized that agriculture is the main driving force of Bangladesh’s economy and that enhancing farmers’ dignity strengthens the nation’s overall standing.

City Bank PLC, one of Bangladesh’s leading private banks, recorded a 162% year-on-year increase in net profit for the first quarter of 2026, ending on March 31. The bank’s post-tax profit rose to Tk 2.41 billion from Tk 920 million in the same period of 2025, while earnings per share increased from Tk 0.6 to Tk 1.6. Managing Director and CEO Mashrur Arefin noted that despite the strong profit growth, he was concerned about the slowdown in credit growth across the sector.

The bank’s strong performance was driven mainly by higher core banking income. Interest income from loans rose 14% to Tk 13.06 billion, while investment income surged from Tk 6.03 billion to Tk 10.14 billion, accounting for 32% of total operating income. Fee and commission income also grew by 27% due to higher foreign exchange earnings, card-related fees, and trade commissions.

Total income increased by 38% to Tk 13.38 billion, while expenses were contained at Tk 5.95 billion, improving the cost-to-income ratio from 52% to 44%. Operating profit rose 61% to Tk 7.43 billion, supported by improved asset quality and reduced provisioning requirements.

Continuous and intermittent rainfall since Friday night has caused severe waterlogging across Rangpur city, submerging roads, alleys, and homes under knee-deep water. The downpour left large parts of the city, including Lalbagh Railgate, Khamar Mor, Babu Khan, Senpara, and nearby areas, inundated. Residents reported water entering their houses, forcing them to move furniture to higher ground, while transportation became difficult due to flooded streets.

Locals blamed the long-standing unplanned and weak drainage system for the recurring problem, saying even moderate rain now leads to waterlogging. Many families in Shantibagh and other neighborhoods were trapped in their homes, and residents complained that no local representatives or officials had visited them. The stagnant water has also damaged roads, increasing the risk of accidents. Citizens demanded immediate drainage repairs, regular cleaning, and an effective water disposal system.

According to Rangpur City Corporation, emergency measures are underway to drain the water and restore normalcy. The local weather office recorded 68.8 millimeters of rainfall in the past 24 hours and warned that conditions could worsen if the weather does not improve.

Residents from Bangladesh’s haor regions living in Dhaka have placed nine demands, including scientific research on crop protection embankments and compensation for farmers affected by early floods. The demands were announced during a human chain held on Saturday in front of the National Press Club, organized by Haoranchalbasi, Dhaka. The group’s chief coordinator, Dr. Halim Dad Khan, said that three rounds of rainfall between mid-March and late April caused embankment breaches, submerging about 45,000 hectares of farmland.

Speakers added that hailstorms damaged another 800 hectares of crops and that ongoing rainfall in the haor areas and Meghalaya hills could worsen the situation. They noted that Boro rice is the only source of income for local farmers, many of whom cannot dry their harvested paddy due to continuous rain, leading to spoilage.

The nine demands include effective waterlogging solutions, year-round food support for affected farmers, dredging of rivers and canals, halting unplanned road and embankment construction, ensuring accountability for corruption in embankment projects, loan installment waivers, and combining local experience with scientific expertise for sustainable solutions.

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam said the government is working to resolve the water crisis in coastal areas. He noted that salinity has worsened due to climate change, making the problem more complex. The government has already implemented several development projects and adopted long-term plans to ensure safe water for coastal residents. He made these remarks on Saturday morning at a dialogue held at Mongla Upazila Parishad auditorium, organized by the Upazila administration, Climate Action Forum, and NGO Leaders.

The event was chaired by Additional Secretary of the ministry Dr. Fahmida Khanam, with Barrister Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain and Executive Engineer Jayanta Mallik as special guests. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi said the freshwater crisis has become severe due to rising salinity and can be solved through coordinated efforts by the government and development organizations.

After the dialogue, the State Minister, the Deputy Commissioner, and the Additional Secretary visited several private water projects in Mongla Upazila.

Continuous storms and heavy rains over recent days have caused extensive damage to vegetable cultivation in Naogaon district, leading to a sharp rise in prices across local markets. Retail prices of most vegetables have increased by 10 to 20 taka per kilogram, with eggplant and pointed gourd selling for 70–80 taka, and other vegetables such as papaya, yardlong bean, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, okra, and taro priced between 50 and 60 taka. Imported drumsticks from India are selling for around 200 taka per kilogram. In contrast, potato prices remain stable at 25–30 taka per kilogram, offering some relief to middle- and lower-income families.

Farmers in Manda, Badalgachhi, and Sadar upazilas reported severe crop losses, reducing supply to local and national wholesale markets. Vegetable farmer Ataur Rahman said his crops were heavily damaged, while wholesalers confirmed adequate potato stocks of both local and hybrid varieties. The Department of Agricultural Extension reported that 21,970 hectares were cultivated with potatoes this season, producing about 435,620 metric tons.

Officials expect vegetable fields to recover quickly if weather conditions improve, which could stabilize supply and lower prices in the coming weeks.

Continuous rainfall and flash floods from upstream have submerged about 11,300 hectares of ripe paddy fields in Habiganj, according to the District Department of Agricultural Extension. As of Saturday, a preliminary list of around 20,000 affected farmers has been prepared by the district agriculture office.

Additional Deputy Director Dipak Kumar Pal stated that favorable weather earlier in the Boro season had raised hopes for a good harvest. This year, 123,644 hectares of Boro paddy were cultivated in the district, including 46,954 hectares in haor areas. However, sudden heavy rainfall and flash floods quickly worsened the situation, particularly in the haor regions of Ajmiriganj, Baniachang, Lakhai, and Nabiganj, where water entered before the harvest, causing severe losses and despair among farmers.

District Commissioner Dr. G. M. Sarfaraz has formed an emergency monitoring cell to address the disaster. The agriculture department reported that while about 58 percent of the paddy has been harvested, the remaining fields were submerged before harvesting, putting farmers at significant financial risk.

Indian Assistant High Commissioner Manoj Kumar visited the Burimari land port in Lalmonirhat on Saturday afternoon. During the visit, he met customs, port, and immigration officials, and held a meeting with local traders. The visit included discussions on bilateral trade activities and overall improvement of cross-border commerce between Bangladesh and India.

Manoj Kumar stated that he discussed existing complexities in import and export operations at the Burimari land port with business representatives. He mentioned that work would be undertaken to address restrictions on certain goods that are allowed through other ports but not through Burimari. He also assured that steps would be taken to resolve issues related to business and other types of visas.

Later, he visited the zero line of the Burimari land port check post to observe the activities of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) and discussed operational matters with their officials.