United News of Bangladesh

On a hilltop tower south of Boston, Matthew Douglas climbs a narrow staircase each morning and steps onto the roof of the Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center. There, an old glass sphere mounted in a metal frame burns a thin line on a paper strip, recording how much sunshine the area received the previous day. It is part of a daily routine that has changed little for 141 years. At the observatory, one of the oldest continuously operating weather stations in the United States, staff still use traditional instruments to measure temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind and sunlight. These long-running records help scientists track weather patterns and study climate change. “My routine is the same every day,” said chief weather observer Douglas, who has worked there since 1997. “The only thing that changes are the numbers and the weather itself.” Blue Hill Observatory, located about 15 miles south of Boston, has kept continuous weather records since 1885. According to executive director Alex Evans, it remains the oldest site in the country still operating without interruption. Many of its tools are the same ones used more than a century ago, including mercury and alcohol thermometers, hair-based hygrometers to measure humidity, and the rooftop glass sphere that tracks sunshine hours. Douglas said keeping the same instruments in the same location for so long helps ensure accuracy. If changes appear in the data, they are more likely to reflect real climate shifts rather than differences in equipment. “That consistent record is very important for climate research,” he said. As climate science faces political debate in the United States, including funding cuts to federal weather agencies since 2025, Blue Hill’s privately run operation has largely continued unaffected. But officials say future funding is uncertain. Despite using older methods in a digital age, the observatory continues to play a role in both science and public education, helping people understand climate change through long-term data. Experts say such continuous records are rare and valuable. Meteorologist Chris Fiebrich of the University of Oklahoma said the dataset is especially important because it covers a period before modern satellites and automated systems existed. Blue Hill’s records show that average temperatures at the site have risen by about 5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1885. They also show that nearby ponds now stay frozen for nearly three weeks less than they used to. The data also reflects broader environmental changes. Since the 1990s, the observatory has recorded more hours of bright sunshine, partly linked to cleaner air following the US Clean Air Act, which reduced air pollution over time. Public understanding of climate change remains divided. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that a significant share of Americans have doubts about scientists’ understanding of climate change. Former US President Donald Trump has also publicly dismissed climate change as false, calling it “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” in a speech last year. Against this backdrop, experts say places like Blue Hill help make science more accessible. At the observatory’s round, castle-like tower, observers Douglas and Amanda Joly work alongside computers and shelves filled with handwritten charts, old sun records and decades of weather data. Inside, visitors can see historic instruments still in use or on display, including mercury barometers that measure air pressure. The readings from these devices are where the term “inches of mercury” comes from. Another popular exhibit is the Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder, a glass sphere that focuses sunlight onto a paper card, burning a line to show how many hours of bright sunshine occurred in a day. For visitors, seeing the instruments in action helps demystify the science. “If people see it while it’s being explained, it becomes less intimidating,” said chief scientist Michael Iacono. Local residents often visit the observatory, which sits along a winding forest road. Many describe it as both scenic and educational. Annie Hayes, who visited with her family, said watching how data is collected builds trust in climate science. “It feels less like a mystery when you can actually see how it works,” she said. The observatory also runs outreach programs, including a citizen science initiative that allows residents to collect rainfall data at home and contribute to a shared database. Hayes said her family plans to join the program. “It’s a great way to get kids involved and interested,” she said. “Maybe it will even inspire them in the future.”

A mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over different parts of the country, including Dhaka and it may continue, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said on Wednesday. “A mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi division and the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Lakshmipur, Khulna, Jashore and Kushtia and it may continue,” said a Met office bulletin. Besides, rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind and lightning flashes is likely to occur at one or two places over Mymensingh, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with hails at isolated places. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. The highest temperature of 39.5°C was recorded in Rajshahi on Tuesday. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Besides, a trough of low lies from West Bengal to North Bay.

A spell of intense heat has left life in the capital increasingly difficult, with temperatures hovering around 35 degrees Celsius and high humidity pushing the ‘feels-like’ temperature even higher. Under the relentless sun, daily routines have turned into a challenge for city dwellers.

A mild heat wave is sweeping across several parts of the country and may continue further, according to a bulletin issued by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Wednesday morning. “A mild heat wave is sweeping over the districts over Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia and it may continue,” said a Met office bulletin. The highest temperature of 37.6°C was recorded in Rajshahi on Tuesday. Day temperature may remain nearly unchanged and night temperature may rise slightly over the country. Meanwhile, Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind and lightning flashes is likely to occur at a few places over Sylhet division and at one or two places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka and Chattogram divisions. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Besides, a trough of low lies over Northwest Bay adjoining area.

Light rain is likely in four divisions in next 24 hours from 9 am on Tuesday, according to the latest forecast of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. In a bulletin issued on the morning, the Met office said light rain may occur at one or two places over Dhaka, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. According to the forecast, day temperature may rise slightly while night temperature may fall slightly across the country. The synoptic situation indicates that a trough of low lies over West Bengal and adjoining areas, while the seasonal low lies over the South Bay, extending its trough to the Northeast Bay.  

Weather is likely to remain dry with a temporary partly cloudy sky over the country in 24 hours commencing 9am on Monday (January 19, 2026), said Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Light to moderate fog may occur at a few places across the country during the late night to early morning hours, it said. Night and day temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged. Read More: Rains, thundershowers likely in 3 divisions: BMD A ridge of the sub-continental high extends up to West Bengal and adjoining areas, while a seasonal low lies over the south Bay, extending its trough to the Northeast Bay. The lowest temperature was recorded at 9.2 degrees Celsius in Tentulia.

A mild cold wave is sweeping over parts of the country and it may continue in some places, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said on Thursday. According to the regular Met office bulletin, “Mild cold wave is sweeping over the districts of Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Kurigram and Chuadanga and it may continue and spread. Light to moderate fog may occur at a few places over the country during late night to morning. Panchagarh’s Tetulia recorded the country’s lowest temperature at 7.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning. Night and day temperatures may fall slightly over the country. Mild cold wave sweeps parts of Bangladesh: BMD Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has asked four seaports, including Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar, to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three. The instruction was issued in a weather bulletin on Saturday. According to the bulletin, a steep pressure gradient is prevailing over the North Bay of Bengal due to the active monsoon. Rains likely to drench parts of the country  As a result, squally weather may affect the North Bay, the coastal areas of Bangladesh and the maritime ports. The Met Office advised the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three. Fishing boats and trawlers stationed in the North Bay were advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution until further notice.

Daytime temperatures are expected to increase slightly across the country, according to a forecast issued by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Night-time temperatures, however, are likely to remain nearly unchanged. The 120-hour weather forecast, issued at 9:00 am on Monday (5 May), indicates a chance of temporary gusty winds accompanied by lightning or thundershowers in isolated places across all eight divisions—Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet. In a separate six-hour forecast for Dhaka and surrounding areas, effective from 7:00 am Monday, the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy on a temporary basis. Cyclone, severe heatwaves likely in May Winds from the south or south-west may blow at 10–15 km/h. However, the overall weather is likely to remain mainly dry, with a slight rise in daytime temperatures. On Sunday (May 4), the highest temperature recorded was 35.8 degrees Celsius, while the lowest was 21.5 degrees Celsius. Barishal’s Khepupara experienced 35 millimetres of rainfall.    

Bangladesh Meteorological Department predicted rains  coupled with thunder showers and lightning in parts of the country including Dhaka in 24hrs commencing 9am on Monday. “Rain or thunder showers with lightning flashes and temporary gusty wind is likely at a few places over Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Khulna & Barishal divisions,” said a Met office bulletin. Day temperature may fall by (1-2)°C and night temperature may fall slightly over the country. The country’s maximum temperature was recorded in Chattogrtam’s Sitatakunda and Rangamati district at 38 degree Celsius  today.