United News of Bangladesh

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.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked sixth on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 192 at 9:45 am this morning (December 10, 2025). Today Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘unhealthy’ referring to a healthy threat, according to the AQI index. 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 Kolkata, Pakistan’s Lahore and Vietnam’s Hanoi cities respectively occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 267, 237, and 223 respectively. Dhaka’s air quality 2nd worst in the world this morning 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.

Dhaka has ranked second on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 250 at 8:58 am this morning (December 09, 2025). Dhaka’s air was classified as 'very unhealthy' on Tuesday, according to the air quality index. India’s Kolkata, Egypt’s Cairo and India’s Delhi, occupied the first, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 262, 239 and 232 respectively. When the AQI value for particle pollution is 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: Air pollution: 5 ways to protect yourself from poor air quality 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. Read more: How to Reduce Air Pollution in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh requires approximately $146.81 billion as total climate finance until 2050, while the total adaptation finance needs will be $86.04 billion. On the other hand, $60.77 billion will be required to address the total mitigation needs (2021-2030), says a new report explaining Bangladesh’s climate finance requirements. The report titled “Climate Finance Synthesis Report: Needs, Flows and Gaps in the HKH countries” was released by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region faces escalating climate risks, including glacial melt, biodiversity loss, and extreme weather events, posing severe threats to ecosystems, livelihoods, and the well-being of billions dependent on its resources. Bangladesh has a substantial 59% funding gap, despite a high level of commitment, underscoring the significant need for increased disbursement rates, said the report seen by UNB. Delivery on multilateral funding for adaptation and mitigation has fallen short, to less than 0.30% of the multilateral commitment. Bangladesh received flows for energy, transport, and cross cutting sector 55%, 47%, and 61% respectively (with the gap of 45%, 39%, and 55%). The bilateral has been better for Bangladesh in term of adaptation and mitigation, energy sector, transport, and cross cutting as it received 72%, 67%, 52% and 173% (with the average gap of 36%). The fund flows on both cases (multilateral and bilateral) were channeled through a mix of instruments including ODA loans, ODA grants and non-export credits This synthesis report by ICIMOD assessed climate finance needs, current financial flows, and gaps across HKH countries, highlighting significant funding shortfalls and uneven distribution. The report estimated the HKH region requires approximately USD 12.065 trillion from 2020 to 2050 for climate mitigation and adaptation, amounting to an annual average of USD 768.68 billion. China and India represent over 92.41% of these needs, while Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan face critical financing gaps relative to their GDPs, underscoring their heightened vulnerability (UNEP, 2023). Globally, climate finance flows reached approximately USD 1.3 trillion annually in 2021/2022 (CPI, 2023), predominantly directed toward mitigation activities in developed and larger emerging economies. In contrast, the HKH region receives significantly lower shares, with multilateral and bilateral climate finance frequently failing to meet committed levels. Sectors crucial to the region, such as adaptation, agriculture, water management, and disaster risk reduction, remain significantly underfunded despite their critical importance. Limited private sector engagement, insufficient institutional capacity, a fragmented policy landscape, and weak data infrastructure further compound these challenges. To bridge these finance gaps, the report recommends enhancing regional and global advocacy for HKH-specific climate funding, strengthening national and regional climate finance strategies, improving policy coherence, and developing robust financial mechanisms and innovative market-based instruments. Specific recommendations include: Building strong national institutional capacities and governance frameworks to manage and mobilize climate finance effectively; establishing an HKH Climate Finance Network to facilitate knowledge exchange, capacity building, and collaborative regional financing efforts; leveraging innovative financial instruments, such as green and blue bonds, debt-for-climate swaps, and voluntary carbon markets, tailored specifically for mountain economies; enhancing private sector engagement through improved enabling policies, incentives, and creation of bankable projects; improving data infrastructure, climate risk assessments, and reporting systems to attract investments and enhance accountability; urgent collective action and targeted financial investment in the HKH region are critical for building climate resilience, safeguarding ecosystems, and supporting sustainable development for current and future generations. Recommendations for Bangladesh Consolidate and Deepen Climate Budget and Reporting: Leverage further development on budget tagging, reporting, and transparency, e-tagging, audit-trailed MRV platforms, and integrated dashboards. Strengthen central mechanisms to pool domestic and external funds, standardize reporting, and tag budget ceilings and green procurement. Mobilize Innovative Finance: Strengthen Bangladesh Climate Finance Facility to mobilise public, private, and international capital. Scale blended finance instruments, challenge funds, and thematic bonds to crowd in private investment. Expand Private Investment: Provide concessional credit and incentives for industries to adopt low-carbon technologies. De-risk private investments in renewable energy, resilient agriculture, and coastal adaptation through public guarantees and risk-sharing mechanisms. Harmonize Climate Finance: Operationalize the National Adaptation Investment Framework as the central coordination platform. Integrate carbon finance strategy to enable offsets and emission-reduction credits for garments, steel, energy, and other high-impact sectors. Strengthen Climate Resilience: Channel resources to coastal and flood-prone regions, including embankment reinforcement, climate-resilient housing, salinity-resistant crops, and mangrove restoration. Develop carbon-linked agri-finance and insurance pools to protect farmers, households, and MSMEs. Expand and Diversify Climate Finance Sources: Strengthen disaster risk reduction and local adaptive capacity by broadening instruments such as forecast-based financing, microinsurance, and community resilience grants.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked second on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 266 at 9:45 am this morning (December 8, 2025). Today Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’ referring to an alarming threat, according to the AQI index. Such air quality persisted over the past few days, underscoring an urgent measure.   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’s air quality world’s 3rd worst this morning Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Egypt’s Cairo cities respectively occupied the first, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 408, 261, and 259 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. Read more: How to Reduce Air Pollution in Bangladesh?

A firefighter was killed while combating wildfires that have destroyed about 40 homes across two Australian states, authorities reported Monday. The 59-year-old man was struck by a falling tree Sunday night while fighting a blaze near Bulahdelah in New South Wales. The fire had burned through 3,500 hectares (8,650 acres) of woodland and destroyed four homes over the weekend, according to Rural Fire Service Commissioner Trent Curtin. Attempts to resuscitate the firefighter were unsuccessful. Curtin warned the fire could take several more days to fully contain. Climate change intensified deadly wildfires in Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, study finds On Monday, 52 wildfires were burning across New South Wales, with nine still uncontrolled. The weekend had already claimed 20 homes in the state. In Tasmania, 19 homes were destroyed by a wildfire over the weekend in the coastal town of Dolphin Sands, local official Dick Shaw told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Although the fire had been contained by Monday, roads remained closed and authorities said it was not yet safe for residents to return. Source: AP