In a startling wake-up call on Saturday morning, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck various regions of Bangladesh, causing panic among residents and leading to a brief exodus to the streets in the capital city of Dhaka.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake originated at 9:35 am local time, with its epicenter located 8 kilometers east-north-west of Ramganj in Lakshmipur. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) reported a slightly higher magnitude, measuring the tremor at 5.6 on the Richter scale, as confirmed by on-duty official Robiul Haque.

The effects of the earthquake were not confined to a specific region, as reports came in of tremors being felt in various parts of the country, including Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur, Chuadanga, Noakhali, and Kushtia.

In the capital city, Dhaka, the seismic event prompted residents to evacuate buildings and gather on the streets, fearing the possibility of aftershocks. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic and confusion as people hurriedly left their homes and offices to seek open spaces.

As of now, no casualties have been reported, and authorities are working to assess the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake. Emergency response teams are on standby, ready to provide assistance if needed.

The occurrence of earthquakes is not uncommon in this region, given its location on the seismically active Ring of Fire. Bangladesh has experienced earthquakes in the past, and efforts are continually made to raise awareness about preparedness and safety measures.

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, the former Jamaat E Islami leader, popular religious preacher, and “convicted war criminal” by a controversial trial has died today.

Dhaka, August 14, 2023 – Delwar Hossain Sayeedi passed away at 8:40 pm today, as reported by medical professionals at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

The Vice-Chancellor of BSMMU, Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, stated that an official announcement of his demise will be forthcoming.

Sayeedi, a prominent leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, had been undergoing medical treatment at the BSMMU due to a severe cardiac arrest. His health took a turn for the worse after complaining of chest pain around 2:00 pm on Sunday while incarcerated at the Kashimpur Central Jail. He was subsequently transferred to the Shahabuddin Medical College in Dhaka under the care of jail doctors and later referred to BSMMU for further treatment.

The late Sayeedi, who once held the position of Member of Parliament for Pirojpur-1, Barisal, from 1996 to 2006, faced legal troubles when he was arrested in 2010 on charges of inciting religious unrest. In a subsequent turn of events on August 2 of the same year, he was apprehended on allegations of committing crimes against humanity.

In a landmark ruling in February 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh found Sayeedi guilty of eight out of twenty alleged charges relating to atrocities committed during the Liberation War. His offenses included aiding the Pakistani Army with classified information, as well as engaging in acts of rape, arson, and looting.

The verdict prompted a significant response, with the Jamaat party calling for a strike that spiraled into violence, leading to the tragic loss of over 50 lives. Subsequent legal proceedings saw his sentence initially reduced to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court in September 2014. However, on February 17, 2018, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi’s passing marks the end of a chapter in a tumultuous legal saga that spanned over a decade, leaving behind a legacy of controversy and division.

Coastal areas of Bangladesh face a dire future as climate change takes its toll, with up to 17.95 percent of these vulnerable regions projected to be submerged by the end of this century, according to a statement by Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin today.

In addition, the Environment Minister, Md Shahab Uddin, cautioned that the anticipated rise in sea levels would have detrimental consequences for rice production in Bangladesh. He emphasized that the projected sea level rise alone could result in a significant decline of 5.8 percent to 9.1 percent in rice production.

The minister said this today in parliament citing research data.

Over the course of the past three decades, the coastal regions of Bangladesh have experienced a noticeable annual increase in sea levels, averaging approximately 3.8-5.8 millimeters. Findings from a recent study revealed that this upward trend in sea level poses a grave threat, with estimates suggesting that by the end of this century, around 12.34 percent to 17.95 percent of Bangladesh’s coastal areas could be engulfed by the sea. Furthermore, the study highlights a distressing outcome for rice production, indicating that solely the projected rise in sea levels would result in a substantial reduction of 5.8 percent to 9.1 percent in Bangladesh’s rice output.

Highlighting the urgent need for swift and comprehensive global action against climate change, Shahab Uddin emphasized that if immediate measures are not taken, the rise in temperature within the next two decades will surpass 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Alarming projections indicate that this increase could escalate even further, potentially exceeding 3.0°C by the year 2100. The Environment Minister further underscored the worrisome consequences of rising global temperatures, noting a significant acceleration in ice melting across polar regions as a direct result of this ongoing temperature surge.

A startling research report published in the journal ‘The Cryosphere‘ in 2021 has revealed that an astounding 28 trillion metric tons of sea ice, icebergs, and glaciers worldwide have melted since the 1990s. The report highlights an alarming trend, indicating that the rate of ice melting has surged by 57 percent compared to three decades ago.

Adding to the concerns, Environment Minister Shahab Uddin cited a recent research report by NASA Global Climate Change, which discloses that Antarctica is losing ice at an average rate of 150 billion tons per year, while Greenland’s ice is melting at an average rate of 270 billion tons per year.

Uddin further emphasized Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change, referring to the Global Climate Risk Index 202 published by Germanwatch. The report identifies Bangladesh as the 7th most vulnerable country to climate change, despite the nation’s minimal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.