The 28th anniversary celebration of the Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) was held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Jewish Center in Jackson Heights, New York. Organized jointly by BEN’s New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut chapters, the event brought together environmentalists, academics, cultural figures, and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora. One of the evening’s … Read more…
Discussions on renewing the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty should have started much earlier. It is unknown whether there has been any progress in this regard. These discussions should have been initiated at the government level several years ago. The proposal for the Padma Barrage will be suicidal if we fail to understand the nature of … Read more…
The Farakka and Gajoldoba barrages are grand proofs of the many negative impacts a barrage has downstream, and Bangladesh itself is a victim of it. Nazrul Islam writes on how barrages are going to turn into a mirage in Bangladesh. Confusion regarding the barrage Recently, some confusion has arisen regarding the main objective of barrages … Read more…
Global and regional factors are partly responsible for the current floods and waterlogging in Bangladesh, but the main cause lies in the various flawed policies followed internally. Bangladesh has been following these policies for almost 70 years. Consequently, it is not surprising that their accumulated consequences are manifesting severely now. Nazrul Islam writes about the … Read more…
In July 2026, southeastern Bangladesh experienced one of the region’s most devastating humanitarian and environmental disasters in recent years. Relentless monsoon rainfall triggered widespread flooding and landslides. Chattogram was hit particularly hard as on July 7, the city recorded 412 millimeters of rain in just 24 hours, its heaviest 24-hour rainfall in 43 years. More … Read more…
The Jatrabari-Gulistan Flyover (formerly known as the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover) opened on October 11, 2013. Authorities envisioned a monumental infrastructure achievement. It was designed to streamline traffic entering Dhaka from the southern and southwestern regions of Bangladesh. Built under a public-private partnership for Tk 2,108 crore, this 11.7-kilometer structure holds the title of the … Read more…
Sixteen years after the devastating Nimtoli fire, Dhaka remains highly vulnerable to similar disasters due to poor urban management, illegal chemical warehouses, and a widespread lack of public awareness. Experts, environmentalists, and government officials highlighted these ongoing risks during a seminar titled “Nimtoli Tragedy: When Will Deaths Caused by Negligence End?” organized by the Bangladesh … Read more…
Although the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year features a commendable increase in allocations for the environment and climate sectors, it will remain a “mere illusion” without strict accountability and transparent implementation. Leaders of the Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) made this remark during a press conference titled “Environment and Climate Sector: 2026-27 Budget … Read more…
Summer is never a ‘happy thing’ to enjoy in Bangladesh. Eminent poet Jashimuddin, in his ‘The Field of the Embrodered Quilt (Nakshi Kanthar Math, translated by E.M.Milford)’ narrates the folk rituals of early 20th-century Bengal to implore the heavens for sending a little bit of clouds cum rain to the parched paddy fields of our … Read more…
On June 6, Dr. Nazrul Islam delivered a critical speech virtually at the National Press Club in Dhaka during a discussion meeting focused on the proposed Ganges Barrage. Here are the core arguments he made during his speech: On Transparency and the 65,000 Crore Taka Cost “Now the government side is saying that they supposedly … Read more…
