United News of Bangladesh

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Sunday said police sergeants and other responsible officers will now be able to take direct action against noise pollution. “Having laws alone is not enough; desired results cannot be achieved unless their effective implementation is ensured. Active role of police at the field level is extremely crucial,” she said. The adviser made the remarks at a meeting at the Department of Environment organised to grant law enforcement authority to police under the Noise Pollution Control Rules, 2025, and to engage different stakeholders. Calling for coordinated efforts by all concerned agencies, Rizwana said public awareness is as important as imposing fines. She said noise pollution is no longer a minor issue as it seriously affects public health, children’s mental development and the comfort of urban life. She emphasised the need for strict monitoring of noise from vehicles, construction work, loudspeakers and various electronic devices, said a PID handout. Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Fahmida Khanam, Director General of the Department of Environment Dr Md Kamruzzaman and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman. The Dhaka University VC was awarded a crest and a letter of appreciation for imposing a complete ban on fireworks, firecrackers and sky lanterns on the night of December 31 in 2024, setting an example in raising awareness among students. One sound meter was formally handed over to the additional commissioner as part of distributing 50 sound meters to Dhaka Metropolitan Police traffic sergeants.

Life continues largely unchanged for Indigenous residents living near Colombia’s Puracé volcano, even as authorities warn that an eruption could occur in the coming days or weeks due to heightened seismic activity and rising ash emissions. For 65-year-old Oliverio Quira, a member of the Coconuco Indigenous community, tending cattle near the volcano remains part of daily life. Having grown up on its slopes, he says fear has no place in his relationship with the mountain, which he views as both familiar and protective. Since an alert was issued on Nov. 29, officials have prepared contingency plans, including a possible evacuation of about 800 people scattered around the volcano. Standing more than 4,600 meters high, Puracé is among Colombia’s active volcanoes, with dozens of eruptions recorded over centuries. Severe flooding in Washington state leads to emergency rescues and evacuations For the Coconuco people, the volcano holds deep spiritual meaning. Community leaders describe it as a guardian of their land, honored through rituals and offerings meant to show respect and balance with nature. Ash emissions are interpreted as messages urging care for the environment. While authorities work to arrange shelters, local leaders stress that evacuation plans must also address food, water and livestock protection. Many residents say leaving without secure livelihoods would pose its own risks, underscoring their determination to remain on ancestral land despite the uncertainty.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked eighth on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 153 at 9:50 am this morning (December 14, 2025). Today Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘unhealthy’ referring to a health threat, according to the AQI index. The unhealthy air quality continued for the past few days. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Read more: Dhaka choked by ‘unhealthy’ air; ranks 10th worst globally India’s Delhi, Pakistan’s Lahore and Egypt’s Cairo cities respectively occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 563, 214, and 192 respectively. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Read more: How to Reduce Air Pollution in Bangladesh? As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Record-setting floods in Washington state began to slowly subside Friday after forcing widespread evacuations, flooding towns and leading to dramatic rescues from rooftops and stranded vehicles. Officials cautioned, however, that water levels would remain elevated for days and warned of continued risks from stressed levees. “This is not a short-term emergency,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said during a briefing, noting that water levels have reached historic highs and will stay dangerous for an extended period. Ferguson said President Donald Trump approved Washington’s request for an emergency declaration. A powerful atmospheric river system dumped a foot or more of rain across parts of western Washington, swelling rivers throughout the region. While no fatalities have been reported, the damage appears extensive. Flooded neighborhoods, washed-out roads and bridges, mudslides, and closed highways have been reported, and emergency crews have carried out dozens of rescues. Tens of thousands of residents in the Skagit River floodplain north of Seattle, including much of Burlington, were ordered to evacuate Wednesday. By Friday morning, floodwaters spilled into homes as muddy water overflowed nearby channels, prompting heightened warnings. Although water levels later began to recede, officials said the Skagit River remained dangerously high. National Guard members went door to door in Burlington early Friday, alerting residents and assisting with evacuations. Portions of the evacuation order were later lifted, but authorities warned that prolonged pressure on levees could still trigger flash flooding. The Skagit River, which drains large areas of the Cascade Range before crossing low-lying farmland, crested at a record 37 feet in Mount Vernon. A flood wall completed in 2018 successfully protected the city’s downtown. In Burlington, about 1,000 residents evacuated overnight as water rose 2 to 3 feet inside some homes. Residents like Mario Rincón returned to flooded properties only to find water still filling the lower levels. With family visiting from Mexico and a newborn child, Rincón said finding temporary housing would be difficult while waiting for the water to recede. Although the heaviest rainfall has passed, emergency officials said runoff from the mountains will keep rivers high. Additional rain expected starting Sunday could cause waterways to rise again. Communities near the Canadian border, including Sumas, Nooksack, and Everson, were heavily flooded, forcing the closure of the Sumas border crossing. Sumas Mayor Bruce Bosch described the city as devastated, echoing similar flooding from four years earlier, and urged residents to remain patient. In King County, crews worked overnight to stabilize a levee along the Green River in Tukwila. A wastewater employee remained trapped inside a flooded treatment facility for days to ensure operations continued, helping protect public health for millions, officials said. Across the state, emergency responders rescued people by boat and helicopter. In Sumas, helicopters lifted families from rooftops where floodwaters reached about 15 feet deep. Elsewhere, erosion caused two homes near Deming to collapse into the Nooksack River, though no one was injured. Animals were also saved, including a rooster rescued from a tree by kayakers. Meanwhile, a landslide in Oregon damaged a coastal highway, forcing a long-term closure. Scientists note that while individual storms cannot be directly attributed to climate change without detailed study, climate change is contributing to more frequent and intense extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall and flooding.

Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has called on the global community to take decisive, coordinated and adequately financed actions to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Emphasizing the need for predictable financing, she noted that climate-vulnerable countries cannot confront these challenges without sufficient resources and access to technology. She made these remarks while delivering Bangladesh’s National Statement at the Plenary of the 7th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), held on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya. Md. Ziaul Haque, Additional Director General of the Department of Environment, attended the plenary as a member of the Bangladesh delegation. Highlighting the financial strain on developing nations, the Environment Secretary said, “In the absence of support, governments are forced to divert scarce funds from health, education and social protection towards disaster response, jeopardizing the future of generations to come.” She urged UNEA-7 to help mobilize resources through multilateral environmental agreements in a coherent and synergistic manner. Recalling the urgency of the global environmental emergency, she underscored the need for international solidarity and compassion. “Climate change is a daily reality for Bangladesh,” She said, noting that extreme heat, cyclones, floods, sea-level rise and riverbank erosion continue to displace millions and degrade vital ecosystems. Despite contributing less than 0.5% of global emissions, Bangladesh continues to demonstrate leadership. She highlighted the country’s enhanced NDC 3.0—submitted within the global deadline—which aims to generate 25% of electricity from renewable sources by 2035, five times higher than the current level. Bangladesh is also advancing implementation of its National Adaptation Plan (NAP 2023) and scaling up locally led adaptation efforts across vulnerable regions. Addressing biodiversity loss, Dr. Farhina described the immense pressure on natural resources in a densely populated nation of 180 million people. She outlined Bangladesh’s ongoing implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2026–30), the National Conservation Strategy, the Ramsar Strategic Plan (2026–30), Land Degradation Neutrality targets for 2030, and other national policies on environment, forests and biosafety. On pollution, she reaffirmed Bangladesh’s pioneering role as the first country to ban thin plastic bags. “Ambition works when it is backed by strong policy and public commitment,” she said. Bangladesh has since introduced separate regulations for solid waste, e-waste, medical waste, hazardous waste and ship-breaking waste management. The country has finalized Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) directives on plastic waste and restricted the production, import and use of selected single-use plastics. A comprehensive Chemical Waste Management Rules has also been drafted. She called on UNEA-7 to adopt an integrated lifecycle approach to chemicals and plastics, ensuring prevention, safer alternatives and circularity while protecting informal workers.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, ranked 10th among the world’s most polluted cities on Friday morning, recording an AQI score of 167 at 9 am. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), Dhaka’s air at that time fell into the ‘unhealthy’ category, posing health risks for residents. Under the AQI scale, a reading of 50–100 is considered ‘moderate’, 101–150 ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 150–200 ‘unhealthy’, 201–300 ‘very unhealthy’, and 301+ classified as ‘hazardous’, which carries severe health risks. India’s Delhi, Vietnam’s Hanoi and India’s Kolkata topped the list, with AQI scores of 385, 255 and 246, respectively. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

A high-level consultation was held in Dhaka on Wednesday to advance Bangladesh’s upcoming Climate Finance Strategy. The event was organized by the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance in partnership with UNDP, with support from Agence Française de Développement (AFD). It brought together government officials, development partners, and international financing institutions to enhance climate resource mobilization and management amid increasing environmental pressures. The workshop, part of the Inclusive Budgeting and Financing for Climate Resilience (IBFCR) project, emphasized the urgency of climate action in Bangladesh, which contributes less than 0.56 percent of global emissions but faces severe climate risks. The country’s annual climate financing requirement is estimated at USD 26.12 billion, or 5.8 percent of GDP. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, urged building real capacity, simplifying financing processes, and equipping ministries and NGOs through clear working groups to make climate finance outcome-oriented. Md. Hasanul Matin, Additional Secretary & Super-Wing Chief of the Finance Division, highlighted that climate change is a present reality, stressing the need for strong policies and a robust fiscal system to mobilize, manage, and monitor climate resources. AKM Sohel, Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division, emphasized prioritizing equity-based and guaranteed funding over additional debt. Cecilia Cortese of AFD called for faster climate finance flows to local governments and communities, while Sweden’s Nayoka Martinez Bäckström stressed inter-ministerial coordination to ensure funds reach critical adaptation and mitigation projects. Other speakers, including Md. Nazrul Islam, Dr. Maliha Muzammil, Andreas Biermann, and Owais Parray, discussed public and private financing opportunities, sector-specific needs, and collaborative pathways. The outcomes of the workshop will guide the development of Bangladesh’s national Climate Finance Strategy and support long-term climate and development planning.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked seventh on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 191 at 9:50 am this morning (December 11, 2025). Today Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘unhealthy’ referring to a healthy threat, according to the AQI index. On December 10, the air quality was marked with an AQI score of 192. However, the Dhaka had experienced ‘very unhealthy’ air quality for the past few days.  When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. India’s Delhi, Vietnam’s Hanoi and again India’s Kolkata cities respectively occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 245, 238, and 235 respectively. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Human-caused warming of the oceans intensified rainfall that led to deadly floods and landslides across Asia in recent weeks, according to a study released Wednesday. The rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution (WWA) examined heavy rains from cyclones Senyar and Ditwah, which affected Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka starting late last month. Researchers found that elevated sea surface temperatures in the North Indian Ocean added energy to the storms. The floods and landslides have claimed more than 1,600 lives, with hundreds still missing. The cyclones are the latest in a string of severe weather disasters hitting Southeast Asia this year, causing widespread damage. “It rains a lot here but never like this. Usually, rain stops around September, but this year it has been really bad. Every region of Sri Lanka has been affected, and our region has been the worst impacted,” said Shanmugavadivu Arunachalam, a schoolteacher in Hatton, Sri Lanka’s Central Province. Wildfires in Australia destroy 40 homes, claim firefighter’s life WWA researchers said sea surface temperatures over the North Indian Ocean were 0.2°C (0.3°F) above the three-decade average. Without global warming, the waters would have been roughly 1°C (1.8°F) cooler, providing less heat and moisture to fuel the cyclones. Globally, temperatures are 1.3°C (2.6°F) higher than pre-industrial levels, according to NOAA. “When the atmosphere warms, it can hold more moisture. As a result, it rains more in a warmer atmosphere compared to a world without climate change,” said Mariam Zachariah of Imperial College London, a report co-author. The WWA, a network of researchers using peer-reviewed methods, conducts rapid studies to link extreme weather events to climate change. While they could not quantify exactly how much global warming contributed to these storms due to model limitations, their work highlights the role of climate change in amplifying disasters. Experts also noted that rapid urbanization, high population density, and infrastructure in low-lying areas increased vulnerability to floods. “The human toll from cyclones Ditwah and Senyar is staggering,” said Maja Vahlberg of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. “The most vulnerable people suffer the most and face the longest recovery.” Source: AP 

Animal Rights Day is observed annually in Bangladesh with calls for awareness, pledges of humanity, and discussions on animal protection. However, the reality on the ground seems to be in cruel contradiction with the day's message. For the wild animals held captive across the country in the name of 'conservation,' there is no place for liberty in their daily lives; there are only iron bars, concrete walls, and the eternal agony of captivity.