United News of Bangladesh

In a powerful reaffirmation of Bangladesh’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the capital is set to host this year’s Environment Fair and Tree Fair from June 25, drawing attention to urgent ecological concerns and sustainable solutions. The month-long event, to be held beside the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, will open its gates daily from 9:00am to 9:00pm, inviting citizens from all walks of life to participate. At a press conference held at the Secretariat, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced that the Environment Fair will take place from June25 to 27, while the Tree Fair will continue until July 24. The inaugural ceremony on June 25 will be graced by Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, who will attend as chief guest. The event will also see the presentation of the National Environment Medal 2024, the National Wildlife Conservation Award 2025, and the National Tree Plantation Award 2024. Besides, profit-sharing cheques will be distributed to beneficiaries of the social forestry programme. “Our mission to combat pollution, mitigate climate impacts and develop forest resources is unwavering. “This year’s programmes aim to engage the public more deeply and build a sense of environmental responsibility across the nation,” said Rizwana Hasan. Early humans survived in a range of extreme environments before global migration, study says This year’s World Environment Day is themed ‘Say No to Plastic Pollution, Time to Act is Now’ while the National Tree Plantation Campaign carries the slogan ‘Let Us Plan for Greening, Build a Green Bangladesh’. A series of awareness campaigns are planned, including drawing, debate, and slogan competitions in 100 educational institutions across Dhaka, alongside seminars and outreach programmes in districts and upazilas. Tree fairs and sapling distributions will also take place throughout the country. Rizwana Hasan warned of the health hazards posed by plastic waste, noting its infiltration into the food chain and links to cancer and other serious illnesses. As part of its response, the government has banned plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds from June 1, 2025, and imposed restrictions on 17 types of single-use plastics. A final draft of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy has been completed, and special coastal protection plans are being implemented in 40 upazilas, including eight in Chattogram, declared ‘Exposed Coasts’. Between November 2024 and June 2025, 434 mobile courts acted against 815 organisations, collecting Tk 63 lakh in fines and seizing 2.33 lakh kilograms of banned polythene. In an effort to restore forestland, 1,717 acres were reclaimed since August 2024, reversing illegal allocations, including a major move to recover 4,104 acres from the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) in Mirsarai, Chattogram. Rizwana highlighted a long-term greening effort spanning decades: from FY 1995–96 to FY 2023–24, over 426,000 hectares of block plantations and 72,581 kilometres of strip plantations have been established, with more than 2.06 billion saplings planted and distributed. The government has disbursed Tk 505 crore to 250,000 beneficiaries under the social forestry programme. World Environment Day being observed with call to beat plastic pollution  In the arena of wildlife conservation, targeted programmes are ongoing to protect elephants, vultures, freshwater stingrays, migratory birds, sharks, dolphins, and gharials. The Wildlife Conservation Act has been updated, the controversial safari park project in Lawachara scrapped, and a biodiversity zone declared in Purbachal. Environmental regulation efforts have also intensified: 1,063 mobile courts have been deployed to curb air, noise and river pollution, resulting in 2,499 legal actions, Tk 25.35 crore in fines, and the shutdown of 481 illegal brick kilns. A new action plan is being implemented to protect Environmentally Critical Areas (ECA). “While the government is determined to lead the way in environmental protection, meaningful change requires the active involvement of both the media and the public,” said Rizwana Hasan, adding, “We call upon journalists and citizens alike to help carry these initiatives to every corner of the country.” Dr Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry; Dr Fahmida Khanam, Additional Secretary (Environment); Md Khairul Islam, Additional Secretary (Development); Dr Md Kamruzzaman, Director General of the Department of Environment; and Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, among others, attended the press conference .

The Environment and Tree Fair will commence on Wednesday beside the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar of Dhaka. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, disclosed it at a press conference held at the Ministry. She informed that the environment fair will run from June 25 to June 27, while the Tree Fair will continue until July 24. Both fairs will remain open to the public daily from 9am to 9pm. The adviser also announced that the inaugural ceremony will be held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center on June 25, where Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus will be present as the Chief Guest. At the event, the National Environment Award 2024, the National Wildlife Conservation Award 2025, and the National Tree Plantation Award 2024 will be given for contributions to environmental and wildlife protection. Additionally, profit-sharing cheques will be distributed among beneficiaries of the Social Forestry Programme. Rizwana stated that the current government is working tirelessly to control environmental pollution, address the adverse impacts of climate change, and enhance forest resources. To ensure public participation, this year’s World Environment Day, Environment Fair, National Tree Plantation Campaign, and Tree Fair are being observed nationwide. This year’s theme for World Environment Day is: "Beat Plastic Pollution" and the theme for the Tree Plantation Campaign is: "Let’s Plant in a Planned Way to Build a Green Bangladesh." In celebration of these events, various awareness activities such as art, debate, and slogan competitions, seminars, and industry-related awareness programmes will be held in 100 educational institutions in Dhaka and across district and sub-district levels. Health officials issue warnings as UK bakes in first heat wave of 2025 Tree fairs and sapling distributions will also take place nationwide. Public engagement campaigns, including SMS outreach, banner installations, and participatory events, will be conducted to raise awareness. Highlighting the risks of plastic pollution, the adviser mentioned that microplastics are entering the human food chain and increasing the risk of cancer and other chronic illnesses. In response, the government has banned the production, import, and marketing of plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds from June 1, 2025. Seventeen single-use plastic items have been identified for restricted use. The draft of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework has been finalized, and special action plans are being implemented in eight coastal areas of Chattogram and forty coastal upazilas declared as ‘Exposed Coast’. From November 2024 to June 2025, a total of 434 mobile court operations were conducted against 815 establishments, resulting in fines amounting to approximately Tk 60.3 lakh and seizure of 233,000 kg of banned polythene. Since August 2024, 1,717 acres of illegally occupied forest land have been reclaimed and brought under the Forest Department. Allocations under government and private projects have been cancelled. The government has initiated recovery of 4,104 acres of land previously allocated to BEZA in Mirsharai, Chattogram. As part of long-term afforestation planning from FY 1995–96 to 2023–24, the government has created 426,842 hectares of block plantations, 72,581 kilometers of strip plantations, and distributed or planted over 2.06 billion saplings. Profit-sharing worth Tk 5.05 billion has been distributed among 250,000 social forestry beneficiaries. Conservation efforts for elephants, vultures, freshwater stingrays, migratory birds, sharks, dolphins, and gharials are ongoing. The Wildlife Conservation Act has been updated. The proposed safari park in Lathitila, Moulvibazar has been cancelled and a new biodiversity zone has been declared in Purbachal. To combat air, noise, and river pollution, 1,063 mobile courts have been conducted, resulting in 2,499 cases, over Tk 253.5 million in fines, and the closure of 481 illegal brick kilns. New initiatives have been launched to enforce environmental protection in Ecologically Critical Areas (ECAs). At the end of the press conference, Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasized that while the government is committed to environmental protection, active media engagement and public participation are essential. Summer Solstice brings peak sunshine to northern hemisphere She sought cooperation from journalists to ensure that the public is well-informed about this year’s programmes. Present at the press conference were Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Dr. Fahmida Khanom, Additional Secretary (Environment); Md. Khairul Islam, Additional Secretary (Development); Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman, Director General, Department of Environment; and Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests.

After a brief improvement in rankings, South Asian cities including India’s Delhi and Pakistan’s Lahore have once again reappeared on the list of the world’s most polluted cities and Bangladesh’s Dhaka maintained a comparatively satisfactory position on Monday morning. According to the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) report, Dhaka’s air quality showed signs of improvement with an AQI score of 77 at 9am and it ranked 21st on the list of polluted cities. Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘moderate,’ referring to a light health threat, according to the AQI index. Lahore ranked second with an AQI score of 162, while Delhi followed in third place with a score of 156. The Congolese capital, Kinshasa, topped the list as the world’s most polluted city with an AQI reading of 165. Indonesia’s Jakarta and Uganda’s Kampala occupied the fourth and fifth positions respectively, with AQI scores of 155 and 153. All top five cities on the list recorded air quality levels classified as ‘unhealthy.’ Dhaka’s air ‘moderate’ this morning  According to the AQI scale, 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. 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.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 22nd on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 72 at 10:15am this morning (June 22, 2025). Today Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘moderate,’ referring to a light health threat, according to the AQI index. Such 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. Uganda’s Kampala, Pakistan’s Lahore and Indonesia’s Jakarta cities respectively occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 186, 166, and 153 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. Dhaka’s air quality continues to be ‘moderate’ 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.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 11th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 103 at 10:30am this morning (June 21, 2025). Today Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘Unhealthy for sensitive groups,’ according to the AQI index. Such 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. Uganda’s Kampala, Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kinshasa and Indonesia’s Batam cities respectively occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 155, 147 and 139 respectively. Dhaka’s air quality continues to be ‘moderate’ 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.    

British health officials are warning people across the country to take precautions when out in the sun as the UK. bakes under its first heat wave of the year. Temperatures are expected to peak at 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts of eastern England on Saturday following a week of unusually warm weather, according to the national weather agency the Met Office. That’s about 12 C (22 F) higher than normal for this time of year. The U.K. Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat health alert covering all of England because of increased health risks for people over 65 and those with heart and lung problems. “Heat can result in serious health outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions,” Dr. Agostinho Sousa, head of the UKHSA, said in a statement. “It is therefore important to check on friends, family and neighbors who are more vulnerable and to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.” Early humans survived in a range of extreme environments before global migration, study says Saturday is expected to be the hottest day of the heat wave, with temperatures falling slightly on Sunday and dropping back into the more normal temperatures next week, the Met Office said. The heat alert is currently scheduled to remain in effect until Monday morning. Unusually, temperatures in London this week have been higher than in many parts of Western Europe. That’s because the high temperatures are not the result of hot air moving north from the Iberian Peninsula or North Africa as is often the case, the Met Office said. Instead, this weather system originated in air high over the Atlantic Ocean south of Greenland. As it approaches the U.K., it descends toward ground level, causing it to warm rapidly, Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lenhert said. That said, it has been plenty hot in Europe too. Aviation enthusiasts attending the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, this week sought the shade of a Boeing 777’s wing, cooling off as temperatures hovered in the low 30s C (mid-80s F.) Met Office scientists this week published research showing that climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme high temperatures in the U.K. The chance of temperatures exceeding 40 Celsius (104 F) is now more than 20 times higher than it was in the 1960s, the researchers said.  

The Northern Hemisphere is basking in its longest day of the year as the summer solstice officially ushers in astronomical summer. Falling on Friday this year, the solstice marks the moment when the Earth’s north pole tilts closest to the sun, giving regions north of the equator their maximum hours of daylight. While the north celebrates the sun’s peak, the Southern Hemisphere experiences its shortest day as winter begins there. The word “solstice” originates from the Latin sol (sun) and stitium (pause), reflecting the point at which the sun appears to halt its climb before reversing course. Though the solstice offers the most daylight, the days will now gradually shorten until the winter solstice in December. For millennia, cultures around the world have celebrated the solstice, with ancient monuments like Stonehenge aligning precisely with the sun’s path on this day. Sunshine State showdown: Lightning-Panthers in NHL s Round 1 Scientifically, solstices represent extremes in the Earth’s annual orbit. The planet's tilted axis causes unequal sunlight distribution between hemispheres. The summer solstice, typically between June 20–22, results in the longest day in the north, while the winter solstice between December 20–23 brings the shortest. In contrast, equinoxes—occurring around March 20 and September 22—bring equal hours of day and night, as the sun shines directly over the equator. Astronomical seasons are based on Earth’s position in orbit, while meteorological seasons follow the calendar and climate patterns, dividing the year into three-month segments beginning on the first day of each new season. Source: With inputs froma agency 

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 39th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 68 at 11:02am this morning (June 20, 2025). Today Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘moderate,’ referring to a light health threat, according to the AQI index. Such 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. Dhaka’s air quality continues to be ‘moderate’ Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, Qatar’s Doha and Bahrain’s Manama cities respectively occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 263, 206 and 199 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.  

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved two projects totalling $640 million to support Bangladesh in enhancing its gas supply infrastructure and improving air quality. The Energy Sector Security Enhancement Project ($350 million) will help improve gas supply security by facilitating access to cost-effective financing for Petrobangla, a state-owned company, according to a World Bank press release. The project will utilise an IDA guarantee to mobilise up to $2.1 billion in private capital over seven years for new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports. The backing of an IDA guarantee will improve Petrobangla’s creditworthiness to secure LNG supplies. Imported LNG accounts for over one-fourth of total gas consumption in Bangladesh. World Bank predicts worst decade for global growth since 1960s About 42 per cent of the country’s gas is consumed in the power sector, so any supply shortage disrupts electricity generation and hurts the economy. This project will provide payment security and working capital solutions to facilitate LNG imports under long-term contract and thereby reduce dependency on expensive spot market gas imports. Besides, the Bangladesh Clean Air Project ($290 million) will take a comprehensive approach to tackle air pollution. In Bangladesh, air pollution caused over 159,000 premature deaths and 2.5 billion days of illness, with estimated health costs equivalent to 8.3 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019, according to the World Bank. Dhaka remains one of the most polluted cities in the world with annual levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exceeding by 18 times the WHO Air Quality Guidelines. The project will help focus on air quality management by strengthening Department of Environment’s air quality monitoring network with new and improved stations, said the release. It will help operationalize the Continuous Emissions Monitoring Program for real-time monitoring of major industrial sources of air pollution. Based on an integrated network of automated monitoring systems, the monitoring program will allow enforcement of emissions limits, and disclosure of preliminary data collected at major sources. The project aims to improve vehicle emissions control and introduce a fleet of 400 zero-emission electric bus services by replacing aging, polluting diesel buses. World Bank cuts global growth forecast to 2.3%, cites trade wars These buses will operate under a unified “single operator per franchise” model for better service quality. The project will establish depots for charging, parking, and maintaining the electric buses. The release also added that it will construct five new Vehicle Inspection Centres, upgrade two non-functioning ones, and deploy mobile Vehicle Inspection Centres and 20 mobile vehicle emissions testing units. Combined, these interventions in the transport sector are expected to reduce primary PM2.5 emissions by approximately 2,734 metric tonnes per year. World Bank Interim Country Director for Bangladesh Gayle Martin said that enhancing energy security and air quality are critical economic and development priorities for Bangladesh. “By addressing the root causes of gas supply constraints and urban air pollution, these two projects will help Bangladesh boost economic growth, improve productivity, and create jobs.” World Bank Senior Energy Specialist, Olayinka Bisiriyu Edebiri who is also the task team leader for the program, said that The Energy Sector Security Enhancement Project will help Bangladesh enhance gas supply security in a cost-efficient manner, contributing to reliable and affordable electricity for industries and domestic users.” “By ensuring reliable gas supply, the project will help boost economic growth and resilience.” World Bank Lead Environment Specialist and Task Team Leader of the Bangladesh Clean Air Project Ana Luisa Gomes Lima said that it will be the first in a new series of projects to improve the country’s air quality. “As air travels across borders, no single country can contain air pollution on its own. The project will facilitate regional dialogue and data sharing for reducing air pollution.”  

Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, recorded a moderate Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 64 at 10:54am on Thursday, ranking 48th among cities with the worst air quality—better than Dubai (score of 128, ranking 8th). Today Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘moderate,’ referring to a light health threat, according to the AQI index. Such air quality continued for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday. Dhaka’s air quality continues to be ‘moderate’ 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. Pakistan’s Lahore, Kuwait’s Kuwait and Egypt’s Cairo respectively occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 160, 159 and 152 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.