United News of Bangladesh

Riverbank erosion has long haunted the people of Koyra, a coastal upazila in Khulna, but this year their fears have intensified. Despite a massive government project meant to offer lasting protection, irregularities and sluggish progress are raising serious questions about whether the embankments will withstand the next tide. Experts say climate change, rising tidal pressure and shifts in river flow continue to intensify threats along the Bay of Bengal coast. Read more: Sand syndicates tighten grip on Bangladesh's northern region The government’s long-awaited sustainable embankment project—worth nearly Tk 12,000 crore—initially offered hope to thousands who face erosion every summer and monsoon. But allegations of mismanagement now overshadow the initiative. Illegal Sand Extraction, Tree Cutting Undermine Safety Locals and environmental groups report that sand is being illegally extracted from the Kopotakkho and Shakbaria rivers to support embankment construction. At the same time, riverside trees are being cut indiscriminately, weakening natural buffers meant to stabilise the structures. On December 4, these fears materialised when nearly 200 metres of embankment collapsed at Matiabhanga in South Bedkashi union—without strong winds or floods. The sudden breach inundated nearby areas. Two days later, fresh cracks appeared between Doshahalia in Maharajpur union and Hoglar, forcing residents to patch the damage themselves. Residents say they heard unusual soil-lifting sounds late at night before the embankment gave way. Many believe the incident was linked to unchecked extraction and construction malpractice. Read more: Teesta Dam ‘renovation’ in Rangpur turns into a 'sand bonanza' “The embankment just vanished before our eyes. We thought our homes and everything would be washed away,” recalled Masum Billah, a resident of Matiabhanga. Abdus Salam, another villager, said erosion has been intensifying daily. “Three houses have already been lost. Despite the long-standing vulnerability, no repairs were undertaken,” he said. Warnings Ignored, Cracks Left Unrepaired The breached area is part of a Tk 1,200-crore Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) mega project in Koyra and adjoining regions. The work includes raising and widening 32 km of embankments, slope protection, river management and riverside afforestation. But locals say they have seen little evidence of strong, sustained work on the ground. Didarul Alam, a member of Ward No. 3 of South Bedkashi union, said cracks had been reported a month earlier near the mouths of the Arpangasia and Kopotakkho rivers. “No effective measures were taken. Only a few sandbags were placed, which allowed the crack to widen and collapse,” he said. Read more: 130 metres of Teesta bridge embankment collapses threatening 1700 families BWDB Satkhira-2 Division Deputy Assistant Engineer Alamgir Kabir insisted that repair work is underway and that a temporary ring embankment has helped halt further flooding. Environmentalists Alarmed by Project Irregularities Environmental activists say the recent embankment breach in winter—traditionally a calm season—is highly unusual and signals structural weaknesses. Anwar Hossain, convener of the Coastal and Sundarbans Conservation Movement, expressed deep concern over illegal sand lifting and deforestation along river chars. These destructive practices, he said, directly undermine embankment durability. “Breaches like this in winter are unprecedented,” he said, pointing to irregularities in project execution despite substantial government funding. A Coastal Region Running Out of Time For vulnerable communities already living on the edge, the collapse has renewed fears of a future defined by unchecked erosion, tidal surges and displacement. With the monsoon months only half a year away, residents worry that without transparency, accountability and swift action, the mega project may fail to deliver the protection it promised. Read more: Illegal sand extraction in Feni continues despite political shift Locals say they cannot afford another collapse, or another year of neglect.

Two people were shot dead when unidentified gunmen opened fire outside the Khulna District and Sessions Judge Court on Sunday (November 30).  The deceased were identified as Rajon and Hasib of Bagmara in Rupsha upazila of the district.  Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said the attackers intercepted a motorbike carrying the duo when they were leaving the court premises after attending a hearing around 12:30 pm. Ex-JCD leader killing in B’baria; family files complaint against Swechchhasebak Dal leader At one stage, the attackers opened fire on them and stabbed them indiscriminately, leaving them injured. The gunmen fled the scene immediately after the gun attack, he said.  Later, they were taken to Khulna Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared them dead. Police have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.  A tense situation has been prevailing in and around the court premises over the incident. Read more: Dhaka, Khulna among 15 districts that get new DCs

With the national election drawing near, the government of Bangladesh has appointed new deputy commissioners (DCs) in 15 districts, including Dhaka, Khulna, and Bogura, transferring seven incumbents and assigning eight new officials to the posts. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification late Saturday night (8th November 2025) announcing the reshuffle. According to the order, Bagerhat DC Ahmed Kamrul Hasan has been transferred to Noakhali, Kushtia DC Abu Hasnat Mohammad Arefin to Habiganj, Bhola DC Md Azad Zahan to Gazipur, Barguna DC Mohammad Shafiul Alam to Dhaka, and Sirajganj DC Muhammad Nazrul Islam to Gaibandha. Chief Executive Officer of Sylhet Zilla Parishad Sandeep Kumar Singh has been made DC of Barguna, while Khulna DC Md Tawfiqur Rahman has been transferred to Bogura. Ctg, Narsingdi, Naogaon get new DCs ahead of election Meanwhile, BADC Secretary Md Aminul Islam has been appointed DC of Sirajganj, Commerce Adviser’s Personal Secretary Md Abdullah Al Mahmud as DC of Magura, Home Ministry Deputy Secretary Abu Sayeed as DC of Pirojpur, and Zonal Settlement Officer Afroza Akhter as DC of Satkhira. Feni’s Local Government Deputy Director Golam Md Baten has been appointed DC of Bagerhat, while Personal Secretary to the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on Posts, Telecommunications and ICT Affairs ASM Jamshed Khondaker, RAJUK Deputy Director Md Iqbal Hossain, and Cabinet Division Deputy Secretary Dr Shamim Rahman have been made DCs of Khulna, Kushtia, and Bhola respectively. Read more: New DCs appointed in C’nawabganj, Feni, and Madaripur

After a 22-day government-imposed fishing ban, hilsa (ilish) has made its return to markets in Khulna, though supplies remain limited and prices high. The ban, aimed at protecting mother hilsa and ensuring sustainable production, ended on October 25, after which fishermen resumed fishing and Khulna’s markets began receiving limited supplies, driving prices up. On Sunday, modest quantities of hilsa arrived at several wholesale markets across the city, including Rupsa, Moylapota, Nirala, New Market, Khalishpur Chitrali, Daulatpur, Fulbari Gate, Shiromoni and Fultala. Retailers reported that hilsa weighing around one kilogram was selling for Tk 3,000–3,200, while those weighing 700–900 grams were priced at Tk 1,800–2,000. Smaller hilsa, known as jakta, were selling for Tk 900–1,000 per kg. Hilsa fishing ban ends: Fishermen in Chandpur set to return to rivers Footfall remained low on the first day, largely due to high prices and limited availability. Retailers expect prices to stabilise once fishing activity increases and supply improves. “Fishermen only resumed fishing on October 25. Once more hilsa are caught and transported, prices are expected to come down,” said a retailer at Rupsa market. Sharing the hardship faced by fishermen during the ban, Hamidur Rahman, a local fisher, said the month-long halt had been very difficult, but they were now back at sea with hopes of a good catch. Md Jahangir Alam, Khulna divisional director of the Department of Fisheries, said the ban had been strictly enforced across all four districts of the division to protect mother hilsa during the main breeding season. Authorities remain optimistic that this year’s hilsa production will surpass that of last year, he added.  

The government has undertaken a project to ensure uninterrupted, safe, and sustainable water supply throughout the year in Khulna city and its surrounding areas particularly during the dry season when salinity in surface water rises sharply. Local Government Division will implement the project titled Khulna Water Supply Project (Phase-2) through the Khulna Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (KWASA) at an estimated cost of Tk 2,598.59 crore between July 2025 and June 2030. Of the total, Tk 1,821.81 crore will come as a project loan and Tk 776.78 crore as grant assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project supported by a $150 million loan and a $4 million grant aims to expand piped water services to 1.78 million residents in Khulna city, according to ADB. It seeks to transition the city towards sustainable surface water use and reduce dependency on saline-prone sources during the dry months. Govt plans rail link for all economic zones starting with Mirsarai The project will introduce smart water supply management, expand supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and reduce non-revenue water. A technical assistance grant will also fund studies on artificial recharge and groundwater management. Negotiations for the ADB loan were completed on July 15, 2025, and the loan confirmation has already been received, according to the Economic Relations Division (ERD). It will also expand piped water coverage to newly incorporated areas under the Khulna City Corporation, such as Lobonchara, Harintana, and Arongghata. The project includes construction of 300 kilometres of new distribution pipelines with district metered areas and household meters, upgrading of existing networks in 63 metered areas, construction of new production wells, pumping stations, and reservoirs at Samantoshena and Afilgate, expansion of the Samantoshena Water Treatment Plant’s capacity from 110 million litres per day (MLD) to 135 MLD, construction of a 38-kilometre clear water transmission main and a 12.5-kilometre raw water transmission line from Afilgate to Mostofa More, building a new 385,000 cubic metre impounding reservoir at Samantoshena, along with upgrades at Afilgate and Mostofa More. To promote sustainability, the project will install an on-grid solar power generation system to run water facilities and develop a smart SCADA-based monitoring system for real-time oversight of supply operations. Dhaka-Ctg highway’s 10-lane expansion shelved; focus shifts to railway Khulna currently depends on both surface and groundwater sources but during April and May, the Madhumati River, the city’s main surface source, becomes saline due to reduced flow and climate impacts. Salinity levels can rise from the acceptable 600 mg per litre to as high as 2,600 mg per litre, severely affecting potable water availability. Climate experts have warned that prolonged dry seasons caused by climate change may worsen the crisis in the years ahead. The Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA), with ADB’s financial support, carried out the project’s feasibility study through a consortium comprising TEC International Co. Ltd. (Japan), PADECO Co. Ltd. (Japan), and New Vision Solutions Ltd. (Bangladesh). As per the year-wise expenditure plan, the government will spend Tk 181.46 crore in FY2025–26, Tk 426.38 crore in FY2026–27, Tk 758.31 crore in FY2027–28, Tk 715.28 crore in FY2028–29, and Tk 517.15 crore in FY2029–30. Farmers’ fortunes rise as Rautnagar Canal revives Thakurgaon’s farmlands According to the Planning Commission, once completed, the project will ensure a sustainable, year-round supply of safe water for Khulna city, reduce groundwater dependency, enhance climate resilience, and promote environmentally sustainable water management in one of Bangladesh’s most climate-vulnerable regions. People including farmers in Khulna are grappling with a worsening salinity crisis which is affecting agriculture, drinking water, and livelihoods in the region. Experts say the situation has intensified in recent years due to climate change, sea-level rise, and upstream water diversion. High levels of salt in soil and water have made it increasingly difficult for farmers to cultivate traditional crops such as rice and vegetables. Many have switched to salt-tolerant crops but yields remain low, impacting household incomes and food security. Local communities also face a severe shortage of safe drinking water as groundwater and surface water sources are contaminated by salinity.  

A 29-year-old youth was shot dead early Wednesday while asleep in his Maheshwar Pasha residence under Daulatpur Police Station of Khulna city, said police. The deceased was identified as Tanvir Hasan Shuvo, general manager of an international marketing company. Shuvo was preparing to go abroad. Quoting family members, officer-in-charge of Daulatpur Police Station Mohammad Rafiqul Islam said Tanvir fell asleep while playing games on his phone with headphones on. RMG worker stabbed dead in Dhaka Around 4:30am, family members rushed to his room after hearing the sound of a gunshot and found three bullet shells in the room, he said. He was first rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) around 5am where physicians suggested he be taken to Dhaka, the OC said. But he died at the hospital around 7:30am while preparations were underway to shift him.

An unidentified man died early Tuesday after falling from the fourth-floor staircase of Khulna Medical College Hospital. Dr Bablu, an on-duty physician at the hospital, said the incident took place around 5:40 am. Witnesses said the man, aged around 48, reportedly slipped while coming down the railing-side staircase of the hospital’s orthopaedics department. He was rushed to the emergency unit immediately after the fall, where doctors declared him dead. Lightning strikes leave two dead in Kushtia Hospital sources said the victim had earlier been rescued in an unconscious state, suspected of poisoning, near the toll plaza of Rupsha Bridge around 12:30 am by two men identified as Azizul and Osman. He was admitted to the hospital around 2 am and placed in Ward No. 19–20 of Medicine Unit-5. Dr Bablu said the man’s identity has not yet been confirmed. Police and hospital authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Shrimp, once known as the ‘white gold’ of Bangladesh’s southwest and a major export from Khulna, has declined due to fierce global competition and the growth of vannamei shrimp farming in neighbouring countries. Now, after years of stagnation, the sector is showing signs of recovery as the Department of Fisheries has rolled out a series of measures aimed at restoring the industry’s lost luster, and the results are beginning to show. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), shrimp exports from Khulna over the last five years totalled Tk 11,300 crore. Authorities have now set an ambitious goal to double that figure within the next five years. Department of Fisheries data reveal that the region exported 1,53,388 metric tonnes of fish between FY2020 and FY2025, generating Tk 13,456 crore in revenue. Of this, shrimp accounted for 1,02,339.629 tonnes, bringing in Tk 11,301 crore. 500 shrimp enclosures washed away after an embankment collapsed  in Satkhira In FY2024-25 alone, Khulna produced 1,23,151.17 metric tonnes of shrimp, with 19,512 tonnes exported — earning Tk 2,499 crore. The shrimp export rate for the region during the year stood at 42.19%. To boost output, the Khulna office of the Department of Fisheries has adopted several strategic initiatives. These include advanced training in shrimp cultivation for 10,750 farmers, supplying equipment to 7,500 of them, and promoting cluster-based farming to help traditional farmers multiply their yields two- to fivefold. Demonstrations under ‘Field Days’ are motivating farmers, while biosecurity and hygiene measures are being enforced to ensure better quality. Officials are also encouraging farmers to pursue third-party certification for improved prices in international markets. Lipton Sardar, Divisional Fisheries Inspection and Quality Control Officer in Khulna, stressed the need for long-term, shrimp-focused projects. “There needs to be a dedicated policy framework for shrimp, including zoning of shrimp farming areas, infrastructure development, timely supply of disease-free larvae and guaranteed access to quality feed,” he said. He also highlighted the importance of strict testing of fry, feed, medicines and chemicals, alongside the establishment of a separate staffing structure to oversee production and quality control in shrimp-rich districts. “Building institutional capacity to diagnose and treat shrimp diseases, while ensuring responsible practices among exporters, is essential to restore buyer confidence,” Sardar added. Tariqul Islam Zahir, Senior Vice President of the Frozen Foods Exporters Association, said the region once had 63 shrimp processing companies, but declining production and global market demand forced 33 to close. “Despite increased bank interest rates and rising electricity bills, some companies are still operating. The frozen shrimp sector is now beginning to recover,” he said, urging the government to provide subsidies for power and production costs. Exporters say shrimp remains vital to the national economy. However, falling demand and prices in Europe, coupled with irregular payments from foreign buyers, have hurt earnings. Viral outbreaks have further dented production, while the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and domestic political turbulence compounded challenges. Repeated shipment cancellations pushed many exporters to the brink of collapse. Yet a recent surge in exports has rekindled hope across the industry. Stakeholders in Khulna believe that, with continued policy support and improved production standards, the ‘white gold’ can reclaim its former glory and secure an even stronger foothold in the global seafood market. Read more: Khulna falls short of jute production target for lack of incentives

Leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) left Khulna on Thursday morning to join a road march and rally in Faridpur. After spending the night in Khulna city following reported attacks by Chhatra League activists in Gopalganj, the central NCP leaders departed for Faridpur around 9:30am, said the party’s Khulna coordinator Ahmad Hamim Rahat. They are scheduled to travel via Jessore, where NCP leaders will address a march rally, he added. The NCP delegation includes Convener Nahid Islam, Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Chief Coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwari, Northern Region Coordinator Sarjis Alam, Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin, Senior Joint Member Secretary Dr Tasnim Jara and Southern Region Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah. They arrived in Khulna on Wednesday evening and spent the night at the Circuit House and Hotel City Inn. Curfew continues in Gopalganj; NCP's nationwide protests today According to party sources, the road march in Faridpur will begin at 12:30 pm from the Circuit House premises and conclude at the Janata Bank intersection, followed by a street rally. The NCP also plans to hold similar programmes in Rajbari and Manikganj districts after the Faridpur event.

One person was killed and several others injured in a collision between a train and a truck at Khulna on Monday night, leading to the suspension of rail communication between Khulna and the rest of the country. The accident took place around 7:45pm at the Afil Gate level crossing under Khanjahan Ali Police Station. Khanjahan Ali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kabir Hossain said, “A truck stalled on the railway tracks at the Afil Gate bypass road crossing after its engine shut down. At that moment, a train coming towards Khulna struck the truck and pushed it forward, causing three coaches of the train to derail. Several passengers on board were injured.” Launch and sea-truck services suspended from Bhola for inclement weather Zakir Hossain, Station Master of Khulna Railway Station, said, “The Mahananda Express, which departed from Chapainawabganj for Khulna, met with the accident at Afil Gate crossing. One person has died and several others were injured. A rescue train has been dispatched to the spot.” He added that the Sundarban Express, which was scheduled to depart for Dhaka at 9:45pm, would begin its journey with some delay due to the disruption.