Bangladesh

The joint study, led by Jahangirnagar University’s departments of Zoology and Environmental Science, documents the presence of microplastics not only in river water and sediments but also inside insect bodies.

The report’s broader poverty measure underscores how deeply structural pressures are squeezing households. The poverty rate – nearly 28 per cent – has jumped significantly in just three years.

Dhaka is warming faster than the rest of the country, and the consequences for public health, productivity, and well-being are growing.

The United States has issued eight key recommendations to bolster financial transparency in Bangladesh, following critical findings in its 2025 Fiscal Transparency Report released by the US State Department.

Climate change intensifies the vulnerability of ecologically sensitive areas, where faulty clearances often open the door for further degradation.

While male participation in the labour market remained largely steady, dipping only slightly from 48.1 million to 48.0 million, female participation plunged more markedly – from 25.3 million in 2023 to 23.7 million in 2024.

The crisis has been compounded by the rise of hardline Islamist groups since the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s long rule. Women’s rights activists warn that these groups are contributing to an atmosphere of communalism and hostility towards women, exacerbating their vulnerability.

The study urged that the Rohingya crisis not be seen in isolation but as a social, economic, and humanitarian challenge requiring integrated responses that combine humanitarian action, climate resilience, and peace-building.