Dhaka and five other divisions may experience rain or thundershowers in 24 hours from 9 am on Wednesday (May 24, 2023). Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at many places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram & Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions with hails at isolated places over the country, said a bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Also Read: Despite rain, Dhaka's air quality 'unhealthy for sensitive groups’ this morning A mild heat wave is sweeping over Khulna division and the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, and Madaripur and it may abate from some places, it read. Day and Night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Wind direction and speed at Dhaka were recorded as 10-15 kph East/southeasterly, with temporary gusting to 30-40 kph. The country’s highest temperature was recorded at 36.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday in Khulna and the lowest temperature was recorded in Tetulia at 20.2 degrees Celsius. Read more: Govt issues precautionary measures to avoid lightning strikes

Train communication between Sylhet and the rest of the country remained suspended again since Sunday morning as the removal of two bogies and engine of a train began at Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar district. Kabir Ahmad, a master of Bhanughat railway station, said the train movement from Moulvibazar to other parts of the country remained suspended since 9 am after the removal works started early in the morning. Md Anisuzzaman, deputy engineer of Kulaura railway junction, said the removal of the derailed bogies and engine will be completed soon, and train operations will resume. The engine and two bogies of Sylhet-bound ‘Udayan Express’ train from Chattogram veered off the tracks after hitting a tree that fell on the tracks due to storm while passing the Lawachara National Park around 5 am on Saturday, halting train movement. Also read: Train services resume on Sylhet route after 15 hours Rail connectivity between Sylhet and the rest of the country returned to normal around 7:30 pm after removal of the bogies and the engine from the tracks on Saturday, after a nearly 15-hour suspension. But those were not removed from the forest area on Saturday. Meanwhile, the railway department formed a five-member committee to investigate the accident. The committee, led by Divisional Railway Manager (Dhaka) Shafiqul Islam, already visited the spot on Saturday afternoon.  

A Sylhet court on Wednesday placed 13 BNP and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists on a one-day remand in a case over alleged involvement in police assault and obstruction of government work. Sylhet Kotwali police station arrested them on Tuesday and produced them in court seeking a five-day remand for each. However, Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate third court Judge Sharmin Khanam placed them a one-day remand each, said Sylhet District BNP General Secretary Emran Ahmed Chowdhury, who appeared for them at the court. The accused are Sylhet Mahanagar Chhatra Dal joint secretary Abul Hossain, former co-organizer Md. Abdus Salam, Juba Dal leader Parvez Ahmed, Raju Ahmed, Chhatra Dal leader Kamrul Hasan, Goalabazar Union Chhatra Dal members of Osmaninagar Upazila Junaid Hossain, Saiful Islam, Md. Hafizur Rahman, former Publicity Secretary of Metropolitan BNP Shamim Mazumder, Joint General Secretary of Ward No. 3 BNP MA Lahin, Member of Ward No. 25 BNP Badrul Islam, Ward No. 27 BNP General Secretary Nazrul Islam, and Jasa leader Siraj Uddin. On May 2, police arrested eight leaders and activists from a Chhatra Dal procession in the Chowhatta area of Sylhet. Later, sub-inspector (outpost in-charge) Kazi Jamal Uddin of Kotwali police station's Shahjalal R. investigation center filed a case against eight named people and 150 to 200 unnamed individuals. They were accused of assaulting police and obstructing government work. Police later arrested some others in that case. In Sylhet, the police have arrested 50 leaders and activists of BNP and its associate organizations in various cases, said Emran Ahmed Chowdhury. “Police said in the remand application in the court that the accused could do more sabotage. Interrogation on remand is necessary to obtain information from them. However, we said that no such incident happened as per the information given in the case details. There is no legal basis for putting the accused on remand in such cases," he said.  

Train movement from Chattogram and Sylhet (up line) to Dhaka resumed on Saturday night around nine hours after the rail tracks got bent due to severe heat in Brahmanbaria.   Mehedhi Hasan Md Tarek, executive engineer of Akhaura Railway, said the train communication of Dhaka with Chattogram and Sylhet (up line) resumed around 8pm after fixing the train tracks.   “We ended the repair works of the bent tracks immediately along with fixing the fittings after the temperature fell down in the afternoon,” he said, adding that patrolling measures will be taken to ward off such incidents in future. Also Read: Container train derails in Brahmanbaria; Rail communication from Ctg, Sylhet to Dhaka snapped According to the railway, rail tracks may bend when temperature goes beyond 40 Degree Celsius. The tracks in the district got bent for the second time in a week.   Earlier, the train movement from Chattogram and Sylhet (up line) to Dhaka was suspended as the rail tracks got bent due to severe heat.   Brahmanbaria Railway Station’s Master Md Rafiqul Islam then said the tracks got bent at Dariyarpur in the outskirts of the city around 11am after Dhaka-bound Upakul Express from Nokhali crossed the area around 10 am, snapping rail communication.    However the train movement from Dhaka to Chattogram and Sylhet (down line) remained normal. Earlier on Thursday afternoon, seven bogies of a container train veered off the tracks in the Dariyarpur area while heading towards the capital from Chattogram due to severe heat around 12:50pm. The rail tracks became normal for movement around 16 hours later after it was fixed.

Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD) forecast rain or thunder showers at one or two places over Sylhet division in 24 hours from 9am on Tuesday (April 18, 2023) when some parts of the country are reeling under intense heat wave. A Met office bulletin said a severe heat wave is sweeping Rajshshi, Pabna, Chuadanga and Kushtia. Besides, mild to moderate heat wave is lashing Dhaka, Rangpur and Sylhet divisions and some parts of Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions and Mymensingh, Chandpur, Cox’s Bazar, Khagrachari and Patuakhali district and it may continue, it added. Read More: Dhaka's air 3rd most polluted in the world this morning The season's highest temperature of the country was recorded in Ishwardi at 43 degree Celsius on Monday. Earlier, the weather observatory centre recoded 42 degrees Celsius in Pabna on April 15, 2022. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Read More: Met Office predicts rain in Barishal, Ctg, Sylhet; heatwave to continue in Dhaka 

Amid sweltering heat in most parts of the country, Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD) has predicted rains and thundershowers at one or two places in Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions in 24 hours from 9 am on Monday (April 17, 2023).“Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country, having chances of rain or thunder showers at one or two places over Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions,” said a Met office bulletin. Severe heat wave is sweeping over Khulna division and Dhaka, Faridpur, Gopalgang, Manikganj, Narayanganj, Rajshahi and Pabna districts. Read More: Khulna reeling under severe heatwave Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping elsewhere over the country & it may continue. Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. A trough of low lies over West Bengal and adjoining area. Seasonal low lies over South Bay. Read more: Bangladesh: Heatwave may abate in 24 hrs

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (March 19, 2023) said that India can use ports in Chattogram and Sylhet if they want. The Prime Minister said this while Member of the Governing Council of India Foundation, Ram Madhav, called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban. PM’s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon briefed reporters after the meeting. Sheikh Hasina said that the government puts emphasis on regional connectivity which will result in better people-to-people ties. Also read: Teen gangs must be stopped: PM The PM conveyed her greetings to the Indian Prime Minister during her meeting with Ram Madhav. The member of the Governing Council of India Foundation highly appreciated the socioeconomic advancement of Bangladesh under the leadership of PM Sheikh Hasina. He said that Bangladesh and India have excellent friendship as neighbouring countries and hoped that the relation will continue in the coming days. Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present during the event. Read More: Be vigilant against food hoarding, black-marketing: PM

The transport strike called from Thursday to protest against the plying of government BRTC buses on the Sylhet-Zakiganj route has been withdrawn. Transport owners and workers' leaders announced the withdrawal of the strike after an emergency meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office on Wednesday. Ziaul Kabir Palash, general secretary of the District’s Road Transport Owners' Association, said the decision was taken unanimously at a meeting held at the deputy commissioner's conference room to give five trips of BRTC buses up and down on the Sylhet-Zakiganj route. According to the decision, these four buses of BRTC will run on this route, he said. Based on the opinions of both the parties, the strike was called off by the owners and workers on the Sylhet-Zakiganj route, he said. Earlier on Sunday, owners and workers at the the District Road Transport Owners Association office threatened to enforce an indefinite transport strike from March 9 in protest against the plying of BRTC buses on the Sylhet-Zakiganj road.

Police recovered a dead body of a 28-year-old man from his own house at Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet on Sunday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Ali Akbar, son of Faruk Mia, a resident of Tazpur union of Uttar Mazlishpur village under Osmaninagar Upazila. Locals said Ali Akbar was seen hanging at his house when they went to call him Sunday afternoon. Later, on information, police entered the room breaking the door and recovered his dead body. Subinoy Boidya, sub-inspector of Osmaninagar Police Station, said they visited the spot after being informed. It is initially believed to be a suicide. The body has been sent to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, he added.

The Sylhet Strikers, led by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, secured their place in the top-two of playoffs of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with a comfortable six-wicket victory over the Khulna Tigers on Wednesday in Mirpur.  The Strikers secured their spot in the top two by effortlessly defeating the Tigers by six wickets, despite Mashrafe not being able to bowl a single over in the game due to a potential muscle injury upon his return to the field. Khulna, who batted first after winning the toss, started poorly, losing a couple of early wickets and being reduced to 21/3 in the sixth over. Imad Wasim, Rubel Hossain, and Tanzim Hossain Sakib all took wickets with the ball for the Strikers, with Sakib picking up three, Imad and Rubell two each, and Mohammad Amir one. Chasing a target of 114, the Strikers lost their openers early, but a 90-run partnership between Zakir Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim sealed the win. Zakir scored a fifty off 46 balls and Mushfiqur played a 39-run knock of 35 balls. Imad Wasim was named player of the match for his fantastic spell of 4-0-10-2. Mashrafe expressed his delight at finishing in the top two and acknowledged that the team would miss Imad and Amir as they head to the Pakistan Super League. Khulna's captain, Shai Hope, admitted that the players let themselves down, citing poor execution as the reason for the loss. It was Khulna’s ninth defeat in 11 matches. They will play the last match of the season on February 10th against Fortune Barishal.