A workshop on disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities was held in Khulna with financial support from the Government of Japan and the World Food Programme (WFP), and implemented by the organization Sushilon. The event took place on Tuesday at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Khulna’s Deputy Director (Local Government) and Acting Deputy Commissioner Md. Ariful Islam attended as chief guest, while other officials from the district administration, WFP, and local organizations participated.

During the experience-sharing session, the guests emphasized strengthening future DRR initiatives through greater public participation and extending project timelines. They also highlighted the need to incorporate local contexts into planning and to enhance the capacity of Union Disaster Management Committees (UDMCs). Participants included government officials, engineers from LGED and the Water Development Board, UDMC members, contractors, journalists, and Sushilon staff.

Sushilon has been implementing various initiatives under the DRR program to improve the disaster resilience of coastal communities in Khulna. The project is executed at the field level by UDMCs with technical support from the Upazila Taskforce Committee.

Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth has warned that the closure of the Hormuz Strait, caused by the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States-Israel alliance, is triggering a real shortage in global oil supply. Speaking at a Milken Institute discussion on Monday, Wirth said that with 20 percent of the world’s oil shipments halted, demand will have to decline to match tightening supply, leading to an economic slowdown that will first hit Asia.

Wirth explained that Asia’s heavy dependence on Gulf oil production and refining makes it the most vulnerable region, followed by Europe. He noted that commercial surpluses, shadow fleet tankers, and strategic reserves are nearly exhausted. The United States, as a net exporter of crude oil, will be less affected initially but will eventually feel the impact as well. The last Gulf shipment is currently being unloaded at Long Beach port in California.

The Chevron chief compared the potential scale of the disruption to the oil crises of the 1970s. The report also noted that U.S.-based Spirit Airlines has ceased operations due to soaring jet fuel prices linked to the supply disruption.

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) conducted an eviction drive in Anwara upazila of Chattogram to remove illegal structures along the Karnaphuli Tunnel six-lane connecting road. The operation began at 10 a.m. on Tuesday under the supervision of Executive Magistrate Razia Akter Chowdhury. According to RHD, the drive is part of a seven-kilometer road development project stretching from Chatri Chaumuhani Bazar to the Marine Academy.

The project, implemented at a cost of Tk 78 crore, includes the construction of a 1,200-foot-long and six-foot-wide RCC drain to address waterlogging in the market area. During the operation, RHD officials stated that the eviction was necessary to accelerate the ongoing road improvement work. Several senior engineers and officials from the Chattogram South District Road Division were present during the drive.

The initiative aims to ensure smoother progress of the infrastructure project and improve drainage and traffic conditions along the key connecting route.

Bangladesh Bank has announced a temporary relaxation in loan regulations for the leather sector ahead of Eid-ul-Azha 2026. According to a circular issued on Tuesday, businesses that previously rescheduled their loans will now be able to access new financing without paying the earlier required compromise amount. The relaxation will remain effective until June 30, 2026, allowing more traders to secure working capital for rawhide collection, preservation, and marketing during the festival season.

The central bank emphasized that the leather industry is a key export-oriented sector based on domestic raw materials, contributing significantly to national growth, employment, and foreign exchange earnings. As nearly half of the annual rawhide supply comes from sacrificial animals during Eid-ul-Azha, the circular directed banks to ensure adequate financing and to distribute loans effectively to grassroots traders.

Banks have also been instructed to set loan disbursement targets for 2026 that are not lower than the previous year’s levels and to submit related data to Bangladesh Bank by July 31, 2026.

Bangladesh Bank has increased the maximum loan limit for purchasing cars under consumer loans from Tk 6 million to Tk 8 million. The central bank issued a circular on Tuesday to all commercial bank chief executives, stating that buyers can now receive loans covering up to 80 percent of a car’s price, particularly for hybrid and electric vehicles. Consumers will need to pay the remaining 20 percent themselves.

The circular explained that the decision reflects the growing demand for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient vehicles in Bangladesh. It also aims to align loan limits with current automobile market prices and encourage consumers to adopt hybrid and electric cars. Previously, banks could finance only 60 percent of a car’s price, requiring buyers to cover 40 percent.

Additionally, the central bank raised the ceiling for personal loans. Individuals can now borrow up to Tk 1 million without collateral, and up to Tk 4 million with adequate security. Banks have been instructed to ensure that consumer loan growth does not exceed their overall loan growth rate.

Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC (BSCCPLC) has dismissed recent media reports warning of a potential internet disruption, asserting that the country’s digital infrastructure remains strong and secure. In a statement issued Tuesday, the state-owned company said the report titled “Fear of Internet Disruption; Concerns Grow Over Submarine Cable” contained misleading information. BSCCPLC clarified that its two operational submarine cable systems have a combined capacity of 7,220 Gbps and are functioning reliably.

The company explained that only 1.34 percent of its total bandwidth passes through the Red Sea route, while 98.66 percent flows through Singapore and Chennai, making Bangladesh’s internet largely unaffected by any crisis in the Hormuz Strait. It also rejected claims that the SMW-5 cable is at full capacity or that SMW-4 has expired, noting both remain active and under capacity. A third cable, SMW-6, is under construction and expected to add 30,000 Gbps by year-end.

BSCCPLC urged the public not to be misled by inaccurate reports and emphasized that reliable information should be obtained directly from the company.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a five-day forecast predicting light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty or squally winds and lightning in eight divisions of the country. The forecast, effective from 9 a.m. Tuesday for the next 120 hours, indicates that Rangpur, Khulna, Mymensingh, Barishal, and Sylhet divisions may experience rain in several areas, while Rajshahi, Dhaka, and Chattogram divisions may see similar weather in a few places.

According to the department’s statement, a low-pressure area is currently present, with its extension stretching from West Bengal to the northern Bay of Bengal. The system is expected to influence weather patterns across the country during the forecast period.

The forecast also mentions the possibility of moderately heavy rainfall in some parts of the country, suggesting localized variations in intensity over the coming days.

The mango harvesting season has officially begun in Satkhira following the district administration’s fixed mango calendar. The inauguration took place on Tuesday morning, led by Acting Deputy Commissioner Bishnupad Pal. According to the agriculture department, due to favorable soil, water, and climate, mangoes in Satkhira ripen earlier than in other districts. The first phase includes harvesting of local varieties such as Gobindobhog, Gopalbhog, and Golapkhas.

Despite adverse weather earlier in the season, the agriculture office reported that yields are expected to exceed production targets. Mango cultivation covers 4,140 hectares across 5,350 orchards, with a production target of 70,380 metric tons. However, farmers and traders expressed dissatisfaction over market management, claiming that the absence of designated mango markets forces them to sell at Sultanpur Boro Bazar, where a syndicate allegedly controls prices.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Bishnupad Pal stated that regular monitoring led by executive magistrates will be conducted to break the syndicate and urged growers not to market immature mangoes for higher profit.

In Brahmanbaria’s Nasirnagar upazila, floodwaters have submerged 305 hectares of Boro paddy fields, including those in Medi Haor. The incident occurred as water levels rose sharply over the past two days, damaging newly planted crops. Although the weather improved on Tuesday with clear skies and sunshine, farmers are still facing a shortage of laborers for harvesting and drying their crops.

According to the upazila agriculture department, Boro paddy was cultivated on 11,000 hectares in Nasirnagar this season. About 70 percent of the crop was harvested before the early floodwaters arrived, but more than a thousand farmers have suffered losses. Many farmers said they had cultivated their land with borrowed money at high interest rates and now face severe financial hardship after losing their crops.

Officials stated that a list of affected farmers is being prepared. During the ongoing Boro harvest season, priority and relief assistance will be provided to those who have suffered the most damage.

Airbus Vice President Edward Delahaye met with Bangladesh’s Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom in Dhaka on Tuesday, just four days after Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed a deal to purchase 14 Boeing aircraft. The meeting was also attended by State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat and Biman’s Managing Director Kaiser Sohel Ahmed. Airbus representatives expressed hope that their aircraft would join Biman’s fleet alongside Boeing models and briefed the ministry on mixed fleet operations.

According to a ministry statement, Airbus reiterated its interest in contributing to a mixed fleet for Biman, while the minister and state minister affirmed their willingness to work closely with the European manufacturer. The discussion follows earlier plans from 2024, when Biman’s board had approved the purchase of four Airbus aircraft at around 180 million dollars each, though that deal was halted after a change in government.

The current government later finalized a Boeing deal due to U.S. tariff adjustments, but Airbus has renewed its engagement with Bangladesh’s aviation authorities.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu announced that short, medium, and long-term plans have been taken to assist farmers affected by flooding in the haor areas of Sunamganj. He said accurate lists of affected farmers will be prepared to ensure proper financial support, with members of parliament serving as advisers in the related committees. The minister made these remarks on Tuesday at a meeting with district officials at the Sunamganj Circuit House.

He noted that Sunamganj’s single-crop boro fields face recurring losses due to flooding, and called for research on sustainable embankment construction. Dulu also mentioned plans to explore methods for harvesting submerged paddy and drying wet rice. Farmers who lost crops entirely will receive three months of financial aid, with priority given to those most affected. The minister added that the current budget runs until June but may be extended.

To reduce lightning-related deaths and livestock losses, he announced that lightning-protected sheds equipped with sirens will be built across the haor region. After the meeting, relief materials were distributed among 400 affected farmers in Bishwambharpur upazila.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated that there is currently no load shedding anywhere in the country. Speaking at a press briefing following a session with district commissioners at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, he explained that the recent power disruptions were temporary and caused by mechanical problems. He said two machines had broken down but were repaired within a week, restoring full power supply.

The minister clarified that any local power outages now are due to line faults, not generation shortages. He emphasized that the country’s current generation capacity is sufficient to maintain an uninterrupted power supply. Addressing questions from journalists, he added that rural areas might experience delays in power restoration because of long distribution lines, but these are promptly fixed once faults are located.

Tuku also dismissed concerns about fuel shortages, asserting that load shedding has never occurred due to a lack of fuel. He said Bangladesh has sufficient fuel stock and continues to make regular purchases. On the issue of capacity charges, he noted that discussions are ongoing to find a solution.

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) announced that the country experienced no load-shedding for a full week from April 27 to May 3, 2026, as electricity generation matched demand nationwide. Analysis of data from Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) confirmed that during this period, daily peak-hour demand ranging between 10,462 and 12,793 megawatts was fully met. The improvement was attributed to sufficient rainfall reducing irrigation needs and stable power plant operations.

BPDB Chairman Md. Rezaul Karim stated that earlier production shortfalls caused by small plant issues had been resolved, allowing supply to meet demand. He emphasized ensuring coal supply as a key priority to sustain uninterrupted generation, noting that one unit of the RNPL coal-based power plant in Patuakhali had begun commercial production and another would join soon. Government measures to conserve electricity, such as limiting decorative lighting and regulating air conditioner use, also contributed to the improvement.

Officials added that continued imports from Adani Power in Jharkhand, India, and increased LNG, HFO, and coal imports helped maintain generation stability. Consumers in Dhaka reported no outages during the week, though brief local interruptions may still occur for maintenance or technical reasons.

Thousands of acres of farmland in Dhamrai, Dhaka, have been submerged due to severe waterlogging caused by the absence of proper drainage systems. Local farmers and representatives allege that unplanned industrial expansion and landfilling by factory owners have blocked natural water flow, leaving mustard and paddy fields underwater across three villages. The affected areas include parts of Somvag Union, where hundreds of farmers are unable to cultivate crops.

According to local accounts, the problem worsened as industrial establishments and roads expanded along both sides of the Dhaka–Aricha Highway, filling and occupying canals such as the historic Gazikhali canal. Farmers report that around 5,000 acres of land remain flooded, drastically reducing agricultural output. Union Parishad member Jahangir Alam and chairman candidate Abul Hossain both emphasized the urgent need for drainage restoration to revive crop production.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Arifur Rahman confirmed that unplanned industrialization and canal encroachment caused the waterlogging. Upazila Executive Officer Al-Mamun stated that a major project is required to re-excavate the canal and pledged to coordinate with highway officials to prevent further agricultural losses.

A series of Ukrainian drone attacks on an oil refinery and terminal in Tuapse, a coastal city on Russia’s Black Sea, has triggered a severe environmental crisis. The refinery, hit four times in two weeks, caught fire again last Friday, releasing toxic smoke that led to ‘black rain’ falling over the area. Around 30 miles of coastline have been contaminated by spilled oil. Environmentalists have described the incident as one of Russia’s worst ecological disasters since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Thick, acrid smoke has blanketed Tuapse’s skies, and residents report oily, poisonous droplets falling from the air. Vladimir Slivyak, head of the environmental group Ecodefense, warned that carcinogenic substances such as benzene are present, posing serious health risks. Dead fish and dolphins have washed ashore, while local anger grows over what residents see as government indifference. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the attacks but dismissed them as “no major threat.”

Authorities have reportedly restricted internet and Telegram use to control information. The Kyiv School of Economics estimates Russia’s revenue losses at about $2.2 billion, with refinery reconstruction possibly costing $5 billion. Schools in Tuapse remain closed, and residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid tap water.