Partha Chakrabortty

Once thought to be lost forever, the critically endangered Batagur baska, or northern river terrapin, is slowly making a comeback in the Sundarbans, thanks to years of conservation and breeding efforts.

Lack of drainage system blamed

The recent death of a fisherman in a crocodile attack in the Sundarbans has triggered fear among locals, who are demanding stronger safety measures before venturing into the rivers and canals of the mangrove forest.

Bagerhat’s 52-kilometre-long Signboard–Sharankhola regional highway has turned into a nightmare for thousands of commuters and drivers, with around 16 kilometres of the road battered by countless potholes after the carpeting gave way.

The river has been grabbed for years by politically powerful groups, locals say

Bagerhat town residents are suffering severely as most of the municipality’s roads have fallen into extreme disrepair, riddled with large potholes and submerged under rainwater.

As dawn breaks over Tularampur Bazar in Narail Sadar upazila, the quiet gives way to the creak of wooden hulls and the murmur of bargaining voices.

The main building of Bardia Bahumukhi High School in Lohagara upazila of Narail has become so dilapidated that it could collapse at any time, putting more than 600 students and 25 teachers in danger.

The Mongla-Khulna highway, a vital route running through Mongla Port and its industrial zone, has turned into a nightmare for drivers and pedestrians.

His early life was marked by poverty

Saudi dates -- native to desert climates -- are now thriving in the saline soil of Rampal upazila, Bagerhat, an area traditionally reliant on shrimp farming due to high salinity in its water bodies.

Over 70 trees are bearing fruit, with another 200 expected to produce within the year

Sabuj hopes to turn Signboard Bazar into a hub for local agribusiness

Around 70% of the municipality is affected if it rains for an hour

An acute shortage of doctors and staff has left the 10-bed Parali Mother and Child Welfare Centre in Khairya of Narail’s Kalia upazila largely non-functional.

The central bus terminal in Bagerhat has been in a poor condition for over 20 years, with large potholes and craters damaging vehicles and causing suffering for drivers and passengers.

A wooden bridge over the Buri Bhairab River remains the only route for around 50,000 people commuting between the Afra area of Narail Sadar upazila and the Basundia area of Jashore Sadar upazila.

Thousands of people living in Kashipur, Makrail, Ramchandrapur, and Naokhola villages along the bank of the Madhumati in Narail’s Lohagara upazila are having sleepless nights as the river’s erosion has turned severe recently.

Students at Uttar Pingoria Government Primary School in Bagerhat’s Kachua upazila are enduring dire learning conditions due to the lack of a proper building.

The five recorded canals of Bagerhat municipality have been encroached upon, with illegal permanent structures erected along their banks.