United News of Bangladesh

The Government of Bangladesh, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), officially launched the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Bangladesh on Tuesday at a hotel in Dhaka to strengthen coordinated action against plastic pollution and accelerate the transition towards a circular economy. Led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), NPAP Bangladesh brought together government institutions, businesses, development partners, academia, civil society and waste-sector actors to align policies, investments and practical solutions. UNDP Bangladesh will host the NPAP Secretariat, supporting coordination and collaboration among stakeholders. The launch comes as Bangladesh faces growing challenges from plastic pollution. A World Bank report published in 2024, drawing on earlier national data, estimated nearly one million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with almost 70 percent dumped, littered or openly burned, contributing to environmental pollution, flooding and public health risks. Speaking as the chief guest, Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo called for collective action. “Instead of producing, consuming and discarding materials, we must find ways to reduce unnecessary use, improve design, increase reuse, strengthen collection and recycling and keep valuable resources within the economy for longer.” Shaikh Faridul Islam, State Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change stated “A circular economy is not simply about managing waste differently. It is about using our resources more responsibly, protecting our environment and creating a system in which everyone has a role and everyone can benefit”. Stephen Rodriques, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, added “When we meet again in 2027, we should not simply be holding another conference on plastics. We should be able to show which measures have been introduced, how much unnecessary plastic use has been reduced, how much more plastic is being collected and recycled, and what difference this is making to our rivers, cities and communities.” Clémence Schmid, Director of GPAP at the World Economic Forum, stressed the importance of evidence-based collaboration. “The opportunity now is to build on those strengths and translate them into more coordinated, evidence-based action.” Through collective action, NPAP Bangladesh aims to strengthen resource efficiency, encourage innovation and advance a cleaner, more inclusive and sustainable circular economy.

Dhaka ranked 8th among the world's most polluted cities on Tuesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 158 at 09:52 am. The air quality was classified as ‘unhealthy’, meaning the concentration of pollutants in the air had reached a level that could pose health risks to the general population, according to the AQI scale. Lahore in Pakistan ranked first with an AQI score of 201, while Singapore in Singapore and Delhi in India ranked second jointly with a score of 196, followed by Hanoi in Vietnam third place with an AQI score of 186. According to AQI standards, a reading between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', while 151 to 200 is classified as 'unhealthy'. A reading between 201 and 300 is considered 'very unhealthy', while levels above 301 are deemed 'hazardous', posing serious health risks. The AQI provides daily updates on air quality, indicating how clean or polluted the air is and highlighting potential health impacts. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, with air quality typically deteriorating during winter and improving during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

The air quality in Dhaka remained unhealthy on Monday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 167 at 8:05 am. With this score, the capital ranked sixth among the world's most polluted cities. Vietnam's Hanoi, India's Kolkata and Indonesia's Jakarta occupied the top three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 190, 187 and 178, respectively. Earlier, at 8:31 am on Sunday, the city held the same position among the world's most polluted cities, recording an AQI score of 166. An AQI score between 50 and 100 is considered "moderate" with an acceptable air quality, while one between 101 and 150 is considered "unhealthy for sensitive groups", while a score between 151 and 200 is classified as "unhealthy." AQI readings between 201 and 300 are termed "very unhealthy", and anything above 301 is considered "hazardous", posing serious health risks. The AQI is a daily indicator of air quality, showing how clean or polluted the air is and the possible health effects people may experience. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone.  

Dhaka ranked 6th among the world's most polluted cities on Sunday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 166 at 08:31am. The air quality was classified as ‘unhealthy’, meaning the concentration of pollutants in the air has reached a level that could pose health risks to the general population, according to the AQI scale. Kolkata in India ranked first with an AQI score of 187, while Singapore ranked second with a score of 184, followed by Hanoi in Vietnam in the third place with an AQI score of 178. According to AQI standards, a reading between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', while 151 to 200 is classified as 'unhealthy'. A reading between 201 and 300 is considered 'very unhealthy', while levels above 301 are deemed 'hazardous', posing serious health risks. The AQI provides daily updates on air quality, indicating how clean or polluted the air is and highlighting potential health impacts. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, with air quality typically deteriorating during winter and improving during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

A low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal around October 13, bringing light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty winds in parts of the country, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). “Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at a few places over Rajshahi, Rangpur and Mymensingh divisions and at one or two places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy falls at places over the country,” Met office said. Day and night temperatures may rise slightly over the country. Besides, Southwest monsoon has withdrawn from Bangladesh.

Hurricane Isaias struck the US Gulf Coast on Friday as a powerful Category 2 storm, bringing destructive winds, torrential rainfall, flooding and potentially deadly storm surges to parts of Alabama and Florida’s Panhandle. The Atlantic season’s first hurricane made landfall near Destin, Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour (169 kilometres per hour). It weakened slightly below major hurricane strength before reaching the coast. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to remain indoors and avoid travelling as the storm moved ashore. Speaking at a news conference, he warned that flash flooding would pose a serious threat across the region. Hurricane-force winds battered the low-lying Gulf coastline, an area famous for its white sandy beaches, holiday homes, waterfront bars and seafood restaurants. Meteorologists also warned that the storm could generate tornadoes. Authorities in Mobile, Alabama, reported fallen trees and damaged power lines. Meanwhile, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, which provides services to parts of Florida, issued a boil-water advisory for its customers. According to PowerOutage.com, more than 400,000 electricity customers across Florida and Alabama had lost power by Friday evening. In Panama City, Florida, residents worked in heavy rain to fill sandbags and protect their homes from flooding. Corliss Stone, a fire department employee, said preparing for severe weather was part of living in Florida. Residents prepare to face the storm at homeOne of the greatest concerns was the possibility of storm surges reaching between 6 and 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 metres), the National Hurricane Center warned. Areas considered particularly vulnerable included Pensacola Beach and the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida. Anne Petzold, who lives with her husband in the coastal community of Gulf Breeze, said their neighbourhood residents intended to remain at home throughout the storm. The couple had fitted hurricane shutters and removed loose objects from their yard that could become dangerous projectiles in strong winds. She said neighbours were helping one another by offering assistance and checking whether anyone needed support, describing the preparations as another challenge of coastal living. The National Hurricane Center warned that hazardous conditions were expected across western Florida’s Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi. Several counties ordered mandatory evacuations, while officials in Mobile, Alabama, introduced a curfew beginning Friday evening and continuing until the following morning. The seriousness of the situation was also reflected in the closure of dozens of Waffle House restaurants across Florida’s Panhandle. The popular Southern breakfast chain is widely known for remaining open during extreme weather, and its closures are often regarded as an informal indicator of a storm’s severity. Kelsei Frazier, a Florida native living in Pace who has experienced hurricanes before, said she and others often use the so-called Waffle House Index to judge the seriousness of a storm. She noted that the closure of nearly all the locations near her community was an unusual and significant warning sign. DeSantis cautioned that residents should prepare for electricity outages, possible gasoline shortages and the closure of bridges and highways. About 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen were deployed to assist with emergency operations. Search-and-rescue teams were placed on standby, while some correctional facilities evacuated inmates as a precaution. Heavy rainfall expected across a wider regionThe National Hurricane Center forecast that Isaias would gradually lose strength and be downgraded to a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon. However, the weakening system was still expected to produce substantial rainfall as it moved inland. Forecasts called for 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimetres) of rain, with potentially higher totals, across areas extending from southern Alabama to southwestern Georgia through the weekend. Isaias is the first hurricane to strike the eastern United States since Hurricane Milton devastated parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2024. The storm was also expected to bring heavy rain and possible flooding to much of the southeastern United States over the weekend before affecting portions of the Midwest and Northeast by Monday. Flights cancelled, while major oil facilities expected to avoid direct impactHurricane Isaias disrupted air travel on Friday, forcing several airports across Florida’s Panhandle to cancel most flights. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport suspended all arrivals and departures. US President Donald Trump also cancelled plans to attend Saturday’s football game between the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, saying he did not want his visit to interfere with emergency response operations. Although forecasters expected the hurricane to bypass the Gulf Coast’s principal oil industry hubs, energy experts warned that fuel prices could increase if widespread power outages forced refineries to suspend crude oil processing. On Dauphin Island, a barrier island off Alabama’s coast, Mayor Jeff Collier said he did not anticipate extensive damage but stressed that hurricanes could change direction or intensify unexpectedly. He said local authorities needed to prepare for the worst possible outcome. Meanwhile, in the Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Simon strengthened into a Category 2 storm on Friday and was forecast to intensify further before reaching Mexico over the weekend. Tropical Storm Rachel was also expected to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to northern Mexico and Southern California during the same period.

Two major earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 6.6 in magnitude, followed by numerous aftershocks, struck southern Panama on Friday afternoon. The tremors caused structural damage near the epicentre and prompted evacuations in different parts of the country. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake was centred about 10 kilometres (6 miles) southwest of Pitaloza Arriba, a remote community in the central province of Herrera. The quake occurred at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres and was felt as far away as neighbouring Colombia. The USGS initially estimated the magnitude of the first earthquake at 8.0 before revising it to 7.6 and subsequently updating it to 7.7. In Panama City, frightened residents gathered outside buildings while waiting for information about the extent of the damage. Rosendo Domínguez, 60, a resident originally from Herrera province, told The Associated Press by phone that the shaking was extremely strong, knocking items over in his kitchen. Although his family was safe, he said people throughout the area were frightened and had moved outdoors. Several aftershocks continued to shake the country, including tremors measuring 5.8, 5.5 and 5.2 in magnitude. Seismologists at the University of Panama recorded more than 45 aftershocks, although many were too weak for residents to notice. Authorities urge calm as buildings suffer damageDespite the intensity of the earthquakes, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said on Friday evening that officials had not recorded any deaths. However, he warned that the situation could change as assessments continued over the following hours and days. Earlier, Mulino had appealed to the public to remain calm, acknowledging that people were unprepared for such a disaster. Photographs showing damaged buildings and extensive cracks in roads heightened public concern, particularly as the wider region has experienced several destructive earthquakes in recent months. In June, two consecutive earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela's La Guaira state, killing more than 6,500 people and leaving approximately 17,000 homeless. Another earthquake, measuring 7.4, struck Colombia in August and claimed at least 289 lives. Carlos Valdés, head of the Seismology Department at Mexico's National Autonomous University, suggested that Panama's comparatively lower number of casualties could be partly explained by its strict building regulations, particularly those governing high-rise construction in the capital. Omar Smith of Panama's National Civil Protection Service told the Telemetro Reporta news channel that the most significant damage had occurred in the central provinces of Veraguas, Herrera and Los Santos. No damage had been reported in Panama City, he said. Several people sustained injuries, including one person who was hit by debris from a partially collapsed building in Penonomé, located about 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the capital. Smith also confirmed that part of a cathedral in the district's main square had collapsed and that cracks had appeared in the structure. Damage was also reported at the governor's office and the Dos Continentes hotel. Local media reported that the Church of San Atanasio, a historic Catholic church in Los Santos province, had collapsed. The colonial-era building was designated a National Historic Heritage Site in 1938. In other areas, including Veraguas province, large cracks appeared along roads. Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, one of the region's busiest aviation hubs, temporarily halted operations following the initial earthquake. The airport, which handled more than 20 million passengers in 2025, announced later on Friday that services were resuming. Meanwhile, the Panama Canal Authority confirmed that shipping operations along the internationally important trade route were continuing normally. It said protecting employees, vessels and crews remained its main priority, while specialised teams inspected facilities for possible damage. Tsunami alerts issued across the Pacific regionPanama's last major earthquake to cause widespread destruction occurred in 1991. That 7.4-magnitude earthquake was centred in neighbouring Costa Rica and killed 23 people, injured 559 others and left thousands homeless in the border region of Bocas del Toro. Earthquakes are relatively common in Panama, particularly along its border with Costa Rica and its Pacific coastline. The country's seismic activity results from interactions among several tectonic plates, including the Cocos, Nazca and Caribbean plates. Panama is also situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a roughly 40,000-kilometre (25,000-mile) zone of volcanoes and geological fault lines surrounding the Pacific Ocean. The region accounts for a large proportion of the world's earthquakes. Following Friday's tremors, the US National Weather Service issued tsunami warnings for coastal areas of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. Alerts issued by El Salvador and Chile for Easter Island were also subsequently cancelled. Néstor Luque, director of the Geosciences Institute at the University of Panama, said waves measuring between 3 and 10 feet (1 to 3 metres) were anticipated near Isla Cañas and the southern coastline of Los Santos province. However, significantly larger waves were not expected in other areas. Luque added that seawater had already reached some homes near the coast on Isla Cañas. International community offers supportMessages of solidarity and offers of assistance arrived from several countries across Latin America on Friday afternoon. President Mulino thanked regional leaders for their support and said he had spoken with the presidents of Chile, Uruguay and Guatemala, among others. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was closely monitoring developments and rapidly mobilising personnel and resources to assist Panama at the request of its government. In a message posted on X, Rubio expressed the United States' support for the Panamanian people. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella also conveyed solidarity with Panama and its government, describing the situation as a difficult period for the country. He pledged Colombia's willingness to provide whatever assistance was required. Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, Costa Rican President Laura Fernández Delgado, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and the Peruvian government also offered support. De la Espriella reiterated Colombia's commitment in his message, assuring Panama that it could rely on its neighbour's support and assistance as authorities responded to the earthquake emergency.    

Riverports in eight regions have been advised to hoist cautionary signal No. 1 as rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty or squally winds of 45-60 kph are likely in the areas until 1am on Saturday. The regions are Rangpur, Bogura, Tangail, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Faridpur, Cumilla and Sylhet, BMD said in Inland Riverport Warning on Friday. The warning came into effect at 3pm on Friday and will remain valid until 1am on October 10.

Dhaka ranked 5th among the world's most polluted cities on Friday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 172 at 09:15am. The air quality was classified as ‘unhealthy’, meaning the concentration of pollutants in the air had reached a level that could pose health risks to the general population, according to the AQI scale. Singapore in Singapore ranked first with an AQI score of 217, while Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia ranked second with a score of 210, followed by Lahore in Pakistan third place with an AQI score of 186. According to AQI standards, a reading between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', while 151 to 200 is classified as 'unhealthy'. A reading between 201 and 300 is considered 'very unhealthy', while levels above 301 are deemed 'hazardous', posing serious health risks. The AQI provides daily updates on air quality, indicating how clean or polluted the air is and highlighting potential health impacts. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, with air quality typically deteriorating during winter and improving during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka ranked 6th among the world's most polluted cities on Thursday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 168 at 09:10am. The air quality was classified as ‘unhealthy’, meaning the concentration of pollutants in the air had reached a level that could pose health risks to the general population, according to the AQI scale. Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia ranked first with an AQI score of 225, while Lahore in Pakistan ranked second with a score of 207, followed by Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo in third place with an AQI score of 193. According to AQI standards, a reading between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', while 151 to 200 is classified as 'unhealthy'. A reading between 201 and 300 is considered 'very unhealthy', while levels above 301 are deemed 'hazardous', posing serious health risks. The AQI provides daily updates on air quality, indicating how clean or polluted the air is and highlighting potential health impacts. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, with air quality typically deteriorating during winter and improving during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.