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.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Aminur Rashid Yasin said that farmers are the main strength of Bangladesh and that the country will become more self-reliant and stronger through agricultural development and the enhancement of farmers’ dignity. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while addressing the prize distribution ceremony of an inter-department debate competition at Comilla Victoria Government College.

The minister stated that he is proud to be both a farmer’s son and a farmer himself, noting that social attitudes toward farming have changed as people now take pride in their agricultural roots. He emphasized that logical reasoning and knowledge are essential tools for progress, urging students to practice healthy debate and intellectual engagement. He also highlighted the importance of ensuring a livable and secure world for future generations.

Discussing farmer welfare, Yasin explained that the introduction of the Farmer Card aims to help producers receive fair prices by aligning production with regional demand. He expressed hope that technology-based, planned agriculture would strengthen Bangladesh’s food security in the future.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the re-excavation of the historic Basiya River in Kandigaon Union of Sylhet Sadar upazila on May 2, 2026. The river flows through four upazilas of Sylhet, originating from the Surma River and merging into the Kushiyara. The Basiya River was first excavated in 1977 under the initiative of then-President Ziaur Rahman. The new project marks the first re-excavation in 49 years.

During the inauguration, Prime Minister Rahman stated that the majority of Bangladesh’s population lives in rural areas, and empowering them remains a central goal of his government. He emphasized that his administration, elected by popular vote, is accountable only to the people and is committed to fulfilling its electoral promises.

According to the Prime Minister, 23 kilometers of the river’s total 40-kilometer length will be re-excavated. Once completed, the project is expected to directly benefit about 80,000 farmers and indirectly assist another 1.5 million farmers across the region.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across 32 districts in four divisions. The alert, released on Saturday, indicated that from 1 p.m. on May 2 for the next 48 hours, parts of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions may experience rainfall ranging from 44 to 188 millimeters within 24 hours. The department also cautioned that landslides could occur in some hilly areas of the Chattogram division.

According to the weather office, the continued formation of thunderclouds over the country is likely to cause temporary waterlogging in affected areas. The warning emphasized the potential for landslides in hilly regions due to the intensity of the expected rainfall.

The advisory urged residents in vulnerable zones, particularly in Chattogram’s hill tracts, to remain alert as the heavy rainfall may persist for two days.

All ferry and vessel operations on the Daulatdia-Paturia river route have been suspended due to adverse weather conditions. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) announced that the suspension took effect from around 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The decision affects all types of water transport, including ferries and launches, operating between Daulatdia in Rajbari and Paturia in Manikganj.

According to BIWTC sources, the suspension will remain in place until further notice. The assistant manager (commercial) of the BIWTC Daulatdia terminal, Jesanul Islam Tipu, stated that ferry services will resume once weather conditions improve and are deemed safe for navigation.

The temporary halt in operations is intended to ensure passenger safety and prevent accidents during the ongoing period of inclement weather.

Several crop-protection embankments in Madhyanagar upazila of Sunamganj have collapsed following continuous rainfall, submerging large areas of farmland. On Saturday morning, an embankment of the Guraduba subproject in Boala Haor broke, after similar incidents earlier in the week at Kailani, Jamgara canal, and Jinarya Haor. Rising water levels in the Someshwari River intensified pressure on local embankments, causing breaches near a madrasa that began to collapse as water rushed in.

Local farmers reported severe crop losses, with many unable to harvest their paddy in time. Some alleged irregularities in embankment construction and demanded investigations against responsible officials. According to the local agriculture office, of 13,470 hectares of farmland in Madhyanagar, about 10,000 hectares have been harvested, while 13 percent was already waterlogged. The latest breaches have damaged around 31 hectares of paddy fields.

Officials from the Water Development Board and the upazila administration said efforts were underway to protect remaining structures and assess the extent of damage.