BEN Newsletter

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…

The natural flow of the Padma River has already been altered upstream by various infrastructures, with the Farakka Barrage being a prime example. Even with these disruptions, a certain amount of water and silt still reaches Bangladesh. If this flow is further obstructed by building the Padma Barrage, it will create severe negative impacts internally … Read more…

the 30-year treaty between Bangladesh and India regarding the sharing of Ganges water is set to expire this year. Reaching an understanding on such an important and contentious issue like the Ganges treaty requires a lot of preparation. Nazrul Islam writes in two parts about how Bangladesh can prepare for the treaty’s renewal. This the … Read more…

The 30-year Ganges water-sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh is set to expire this year. Reaching a consensus on a crucial and contentious issue like the Ganges treaty requires significant preparation. In a two-part series, Nazrul Islam writes on how Bangladesh can prepare for the treaty renewal. This is the first part:   1. This … Read more…

Two senior engineers of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB)—one a retired Director General and the other a retired Additional Director General—have responded to my article titled “Background of the Padma (Ganges) Barrage Project,” published in Prothom Alo on May 18. Their response was published in The Daily Inqilab on May 25. I welcome their … Read more…

Bangladesh’s proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year introduces a record-breaking allocation of Tk 51,746 crore for climate change interventions, marking an increase of nearly 26 percent from the previous year (Hossain, 2026). This historic financial provision, which represents 11.03 percent of the combined budget across 25 relevant government ministries, signals a strong policy … Read more…

In an unprecedented move to modernize its transportation sector and combat severe urban air pollution, Bangladesh has introduced a sweeping package of tax incentives aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury unveiled these measures during the national budget presentation for the 2026-27 fiscal year, signaling a major … Read more…