Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, told Parliament that contracts with private power companies cannot be canceled at will because they include sovereign guarantees. He made the statement on Wednesday during the parliamentary question-and-answer session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, responding to a supplementary question from MP Mardia Momtaz. The minister explained that canceling such guarantees is a time-consuming process and that discussions are ongoing with the concerned parties to reduce additional fees related to delayed payments.

He added that once a power plant begins production, immediate decisions cannot be made to alter operations, and efforts will continue to keep electricity prices affordable for consumers during the contract period. In response to other parliamentary questions, the minister reported that gas supply remains below demand, with 2,700 million cubic feet supplied daily against a demand of 3,800 million. He also shared updated figures on transmission and distribution losses and confirmed that no quick rental power plants are currently operational.

The minister expressed hope that ongoing discussions would lead to effective solutions regarding payment delays and cost management in the power sector.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told Parliament that depositors of struggling banks will receive their full money back with interest, assuring that the 'haircut' provision limiting refunds to two lakh taka will not be implemented. He urged depositors to remain patient as the process continues. The statement came in response to a notice from BNP lawmaker Rehena Akter Ranu, who raised concerns about depositors losing access to their savings and called for strict punishment of those responsible for bank fraud.

The minister said five troubled banks have been merged under the Resolution Act to form the Combined Islami Bank, aiming to stabilize the financial sector. He added that a forensic audit is underway to identify those responsible for irregular investments, and Bangladesh Bank has been empowered to seize and auction their assets to recover funds. Legal actions are also being initiated to repatriate embezzled money from abroad, with nine international law firms engaged under a 'no win, no fee' arrangement.

Chowdhury reaffirmed that depositors will get back their money with interest, though the process will take time due to the banks’ ongoing losses.

On July 8, 2026, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party launched a fully digital selection process to send skilled women workers to Moldova through its Welfare Trust. The initiative began with 139 female members from the Dhaka Metropolitan Ansar North and East zones participating in the first phase at the Ansar headquarters. Candidates completed self-declaration forms and took live written tests using Google Forms under strict supervision, followed by physical assessments and interviews before a jury board.

The process, guided by Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud, aims to eliminate middlemen and ensure merit-based selection through five oversight committees. A specialized software automatically compiles evaluation results, minimizing human interference. The second phase, involving 161 candidates from the South and West zones, follows the same transparent digital procedure.

Selected candidates will receive advanced training to adapt to European work environments and enhance professional skills. The program seeks to create a sustainable model for safe, legal migration, empowering Bangladeshi women while strengthening the country’s reputation and economy through skilled labor exports.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that Bangladesh will begin exporting jackfruit to China. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, he said that during his recent visit to China, an agreement was signed to facilitate the export. Rahman noted that Bangladeshi jackfruit is very popular in China and expressed optimism about the trade potential.

The announcement came in response to a supplementary question from Mymensingh-6 MP Kamrul Hasan Milon, who highlighted the agricultural potential of Fulbaria, where lemons, pineapples, and jackfruits are produced in large quantities. The Prime Minister also shared that during his earlier visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim mentioned that Malaysia exports durian worth one billion dollars annually to China. Rahman said Bangladesh could similarly earn significant foreign currency through jackfruit exports.

He further mentioned that the government plans to reopen a closed pineapple processing factory in Fulbaria but currently has no plan to establish a separate industrial zone there.

Gas supply in Bogura city and surrounding areas will remain suspended for 24 hours due to urgent maintenance and gas commissioning work. According to the West Zone Gas Company Limited (PGCL), the suspension will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, and continue until 6 p.m. on Friday, July 10. The interruption is required for tie-in operations connected to the Bogura District Regulating Station (DRS) under the SASEC-2 project.

The project involves relocating and removing existing gas pipelines from Bonani Mor to Tinmatha Railgate in the Bogura region. The tie-in work will be carried out at both ends of the pipeline and at the Bogura DRS. During this period, gas supply will remain halted for all categories of consumers, including industrial, captive power, CNG filling stations, commercial, and residential users.

PGCL stated that tie-in work will take place at about 12 points, including Bonani, Tinmatha Mor, Shakpala Bus Stand, Millennium School, Bogura Jahangirnagar Cantonment, Palli Bidyut, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, PGCB, GTCL, and Agathi CNG Filling Station. The company assured that gas supply will be restored as soon as the work is completed.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given policy approval to relocate Dhaka’s Sayedabad inter-district bus terminal to Kanchpur in an effort to reduce traffic congestion in the capital. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury at the Secretariat. The move follows a directive from Prime Minister Tareq Rahman to modernize traffic management in Dhaka.

According to the Local Government Division, Dhaka South City Corporation has been instructed to complete necessary infrastructure and operational preparations within four months to make the proposed Kanchpur terminal functional. The project will be implemented by state-owned Chittagong Dry Dock Limited under the Bangladesh Navy through direct purchase due to state emergency needs.

The estimated cost of the project is Tk 6.88 crore. It includes construction of a 4,012-square-meter platform, installation of tiles, a shed using 15,573 kilograms of profile sheets, 120 ticket counters, 32 toilets, and office rooms. Officials expect the new terminal to significantly reduce traffic pressure in eastern Dhaka and improve overall traffic management.

Abdur Rahman Khan, the recently retired chairman of Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR), is set to be appointed as the country’s next executive director at the World Bank. He will succeed Sharifa Khan, the former senior secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), who currently holds the position. Once the official government notification is issued, Abdur Rahman Khan will represent Bangladesh on the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors.

According to relevant sources, the Prime Minister’s Office has already approved the file related to his appointment. The executive director represents member countries on the World Bank’s board, participating in key decisions regarding loans, grants, development projects, policy matters, and other financial operations. The alternate executive director performs duties in the absence of the executive director and assists in board activities.

The appointment marks a continuation of Bangladesh’s representation in the World Bank’s decision-making body, ensuring the country’s participation in shaping global development and financial policies.

A free shuttle service has been launched at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to ensure safe, convenient, and comfortable transport for arriving and departing passengers. The initiative, funded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), was inaugurated by Group Captain S M Ragib Samad, Executive Director of the airport, at a ceremony held in front of the airport canopy.

The service operates under the guidance of the Minister and State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism and the CAAB Chairman. Initially, the buses will run between the airport and key nearby points including the Airport Bus Stand, Jasimuddin Mor, Airport Railway Station, and Kawla. The service aims to provide free, fast, and secure travel between major connection points for passengers, particularly benefiting senior citizens, women, children, physically challenged travelers, and those carrying heavy luggage.

According to CAAB, the initiative is expected to reduce dependence on private vehicles, ease traffic congestion around the airport, and promote an environmentally friendly transport system while improving overall passenger service quality.

Global oil prices rose sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the ceasefire with Iran was over. The declaration came following overnight retaliatory attacks between the United States and Iran, triggering volatility in energy markets. On Wednesday, international benchmark Brent crude increased by 6 percent to reach 78 dollars per barrel, while U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 5.95 percent to 74.60 dollars per barrel. In contrast, European share prices fell by 1.6 percent.

Earlier, oil prices had already climbed more than 2 percent on Wednesday following renewed U.S. strikes and the reinstatement of trade sanctions against Iran. On Tuesday, prices had risen by nearly 3 percent. The developments reflect heightened geopolitical tensions affecting global energy markets.

Speaking at the NATO summit alongside Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said the memorandum of understanding with Iran was “over” and described it as a waste of time, signaling a further deterioration in U.S.-Iran relations.

The state-owned National Jute Mill in Sirajganj, one of northern Bangladesh’s largest industrial units, has remained closed for two years, leaving thousands of workers unemployed. Machinery has rusted due to prolonged inactivity, while the government continues to spend around Tk 6.5 to 7 million monthly on salaries for 189 officials and employees, as well as electricity bills. Despite generating no income, the mill continues to drain public funds.

The mill, originally built in 1960 as Qaumi Jute Mill, was once a major source of employment for about 5,000 people. It faced repeated closures due to corruption and bureaucratic complications, first in 2007, then again in 2020. A private group briefly leased and operated it in 2022 but shut down in 2024, leaving unpaid wages and bonuses. Workers and local leaders have demanded the mill’s reopening to restore livelihoods and prevent further waste of public money.

The mill’s general manager said efforts are underway through the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation to lease the facility again, expressing hope that operations could resume soon.

Global oil prices climbed again after the United States launched airstrikes on Iran and reinstated trade sanctions. According to a Reuters report, oil prices rose more than 2 percent on Wednesday, with Brent crude increasing by 1.92 dollars to 76.08 dollars per barrel and West Texas Intermediate rising by 1.82 dollars to 72.26 dollars per barrel. The renewed sanctions on Iranian oil sales and the breakdown of a temporary truce between the two countries have fueled market instability.

Analysts noted that while the decision may not cause major structural changes in the oil market, investor anxiety has increased. The United States said its strikes followed Iranian attacks that damaged three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Experts warned that the incident underscores ongoing risks to shipping in the region, and prolonged tensions could reduce global oil supply if vessel traffic falls below half of normal levels.

Oil prices had previously declined after a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran last month, which had raised expectations of increased Middle Eastern oil supply.

A recent report by India’s government think tank NITI Aayog has revealed that despite producing about 20 percent of the world’s generic medicines, India remains heavily dependent on China for key raw materials. The report highlights that over 65 percent of key starting materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients used in Indian drug manufacturing come from China, with dependency exceeding 85 percent for critical drugs such as antibiotics and fever medicines. This structural reliance poses a major risk to India’s pharmaceutical supply chain, which could be disrupted by geopolitical tensions or trade restrictions.

The report contrasts India’s global reputation as the “pharmacy of the world” with its limited financial returns and fragile industrial base. It notes that while India supplies around 60 percent of global vaccines, its share in the vaccine market’s total value is only 0.6 percent. NITI Aayog attributes this imbalance to low research and development investment, bureaucratic hurdles, and restrictive environmental regulations that have driven manufacturers to import cheaper Chinese materials.

The analysis warns that without sustained R&D investment, streamlined patent processes, and practical environmental policies, India’s “Made in India” initiative will remain dependent on “Made in China.”

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new pilot program called the package visa to make travel easier for foreign tourists. Under this system, visitors can obtain a comprehensive travel package that includes a tourist visa, flight tickets, accommodation, and other essential travel services. According to a report published on Tuesday, the initiative will initially be implemented through approved travel and tourism service providers.

The program allows travelers to book round-trip flights, licensed hotel stays, and apply for electronic tourist visas in one process. They can also add events, tourism activities, and experiences to their packages. Only authorized travel agencies with digital platforms, technical capacity, and 24-hour customer service can offer this facility. The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to boost the tourism sector, jointly implemented by the ministries of tourism, foreign affairs, interior, and the insurance authority.

Officials expect the package visa to enhance the travel experience, strengthen tourism partners, and make Saudi Arabia a more attractive destination, encouraging longer stays and higher spending by foreign visitors.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Finance announced that the country’s budget deficit for the 2025–26 fiscal year has risen to 7.1 billion Kuwaiti dinars, equivalent to about 23.9 billion US dollars. The ministry attributed the increase to a significant drop in oil revenues, according to a statement cited by Al Jazeera.

Compared with the previous fiscal year, the deficit expanded by 13.2 percent. The government’s total revenue fell by around 10 percent from earlier projections, with income from the oil sector declining by 11.2 percent to 15.3 billion Kuwaiti dinars, or roughly 49.4 billion US dollars.

The data highlight Kuwait’s continued dependence on oil income and the fiscal pressure caused by lower global energy prices, as reflected in the ministry’s report.

Continuous heavy rainfall has raised the water level of Kaptai Lake, enabling the Karnafuli Hydropower Plant in Rangamati to increase electricity generation. With improved water availability, all five units of the country’s only hydropower facility have been brought back into operation, producing a total of 150 megawatts of electricity as of Tuesday evening, July 7, 2026.

According to plant officials, the water level in Kaptai Lake has been rising steadily over the past several days due to persistent rain in Rangamati and surrounding areas. Previously, only two of the five units were operational because of low water levels. The resumption of all units marks a significant boost in generation capacity.

Officials noted that if rainfall continues and the lake’s water level increases further, there will be potential to expand electricity production beyond the current output. The Karnafuli Hydropower Plant has a maximum generation capacity of 230 megawatts.