Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said Bangladesh’s gas and electricity problems cannot be resolved overnight, and that any new arrangement would require at least two years. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at a seminar organized by AmCham at the InterContinental Hotel in the capital. He said the government was working to address the shortages because the economy could not move forward without electricity and gas.

The minister described the power and gas crisis as an inherited problem, saying it could not be solved within six months or a year. However, he said the government was not wasting time in pursuing solutions and was working tirelessly to ease the situation.

For the future energy system, the government is developing an energy mix combining renewable energy, gas and coal-based power generation, Chowdhury said. He also said the government was working to improve the business environment by reducing red tape, corruption and harassment in the tax system. The finance minister added that the country’s capital market was in a better position than before.

Construction of the Madarganj solar power project on a Jamuna River char between Bogura and Jamalpur has missed its original schedule because of financial constraints. Work began in 2023 and about 60 percent has been completed, project manager Didarul Islam Didar said. Electricity had been expected to enter the national grid in December last year, but the project period has been extended until June 2027, with generation now expected in 2027.

The project is being built at Kaiser Char in Madarganj, Jamalpur, beside Uttar Shankarpur village in Sariakandi’s Bohail union. Land filling on 325.6536 acres and RCC block protection against river erosion have been completed. Workers are installing supports for solar panels, building panel frames and constructing power lines for the national grid. The plant is initially described as a 100-megawatt facility, with plans to raise capacity to 110 megawatts.

China’s CREC and Bangladesh’s BR Powergen Limited signed the joint-project agreement on June 13, 2023, with an estimated cost of $131.56 million. About 100 families living within the project boundary were resettled. Didar said large unpaid bills were preventing a faster start to generation. Local residents said they want the plant commissioned quickly because of load-shedding hardships.

Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary A B M Abdus Sattar said Bangladesh’s new pay scale is in its final stage and could be announced at any time. He made the remarks while speaking with journalists at the Secretariat on Sunday. Sattar said 1.8 million government officials and employees have faced inflationary pressure because no pay scale has been introduced over the past 11 years.

He said that although the issue may be difficult for the public, the living standards of government employees need to be adjusted. The chief secretary identified the economy as the government’s main challenge. He said the government is planning to create employment and increase productivity to address the crisis.

Sattar also attributed the current gas, electricity and fuel crisis to the Middle East war and the previous government’s lack of alternative arrangements. He said the government is trying to build a diversified supply chain involving Russia, the Philippines, Indonesia and China. He did not provide a specific date for the pay-scale announcement or details of its structure.

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake was centred about 56 kilometres northeast of Port Olry, a small coastal village in Vanuatu, and originated at a depth of 188 kilometres below the surface.

No immediate damage or casualties were reported after the earthquake. Vanuatu’s natural disaster authorities also did not immediately issue a tsunami warning. The country is prone to earthquakes because it lies in the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire, an area stretching from Southeast Asia to the Pacific basin where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent.

The Vanuatu tremor followed powerful earthquakes in Colombia and Indonesia. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia early Saturday and was followed by more than 100 aftershocks, killing 51 people. In western Colombia, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake on Monday caused extensive damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure around Cali, Pereira and nearby areas. The reported death toll there has reached about 290, with 140 people missing and around 4,000 injured.

Japanese scientists are preparing the uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration, or MMX, mission to collect samples from a moon of Mars. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Tanegashima Space Center within the next few months. The mission could help investigate the formation of the solar system and the origins of life on Earth, while also potentially helping pave the way for future human travel to Mars.

The spacecraft was unveiled to media on Thursday and is expected to remain in Mars orbit for about three years. During that period, it will attempt to land on Phobos and collect at least 10 grams of material from its surface. A rover named Idefix, after the dog in the French comic character Asterix, will examine the moon's surface at the same time.

MMX will also observe Deimos, Mars's other moon, but will not land there. A return capsule is then expected to head for Earth and land in Australia around 2031. The report notes Japan's prior sample-return experience: JAXA's uncrewed Hayabusa-2 returned 5.4 grams of rock and dust collected from an asteroid in 2020.

Despite the peak season, the Meghna River in Tajumuddin, Bhola, is not yielding the expected hilsa catch, leaving more than 5,000 fishers unemployed and over 300 boat owners frustrated. The report, published on August 16, said catches are so low that fishers cannot recover their boats’ fuel costs, making it difficult for them to support their households.

According to the upazila fisheries office, Tajumuddin has 19,500 registered fishers, including more than 7,000 directly involved in catching fish. Nearly 5,000 of them are currently without work. At Sluice Gate, Gurinda Bazar and Choumuhani landing points, traders and fishers were seen passing idle time at fish depots. Supplies of other fish have also fallen, prompting many people to close their businesses.

Teacher and fish trader Md Monir said he stopped sending his three boats out after low catches, despite investing about Tk 2 million in boats and nets. Upazila Fisheries Officer Md Amir Hossain said underwater sandbars are disrupting the normal movement of hilsa coming from the sea. He said higher authorities have given assurances about pursuing dredging to remove the sandbars.

Indonesia’s North Sumatra province was struck by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Saturday evening, 12 hours after a powerful magnitude 7.7 quake hit the country’s east. The new tremor occurred at 5:54 p.m. local time, with its epicentre 7 kilometres northwest of Pematangsiantar, one of North Sumatra’s largest cities. The US Geological Survey said it originated at a depth of 183.2 kilometres.

No major damage or casualties had been reported from the latest quake, and no tsunami warning was issued. Earlier on Saturday, at 5:58 a.m., the magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck offshore, 68 kilometres northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. That quake originated just 10 kilometres below the surface and was followed by 341 aftershocks of comparatively lower magnitude.

Indonesia’s weather agency initially issued a tsunami warning after the earlier offshore earthquake but withdrew it after three hours when no tsunami signs were detected. The magnitude 7.7 quake caused reported deaths and damage across eastern Indonesia and other areas, with 47 people killed, at least 54 buildings completely collapsed, and several hundred homes partially damaged.

Residents in the Banshkhali hills of Chattogram say gas bubbles are emerging from leaks around three old wells and from cracks in the surrounding hillsides, renewing discussion about possible oil and gas reserves. The wells were drilled about six decades ago at Do-Chailla hill, in forest between the Jaldhi Range and Lohagara Chunati Range, about two kilometres east of Jaldhi municipal headquarters. The report was published on August 16, 2026.

Local sources and elderly residents said the then Pakistan government drilled three wells in 1960 through the Oil and Gas Development Corporation. They also said five more wells were later drilled with assistance from Korean and Russian experts. Locals claim surveys identified large reserves and that experts extracted about 300 barrels of crude oil, but these claims have not been independently verified.

Bapex geology department manager Alamgir Hossain confirmed that three wells had been drilled in Jaldhi hills. No effective extraction initiative has been taken since the 1960 survey, according to the report, and the reason the wells were sealed with lead remains unclear. Former Banshkhali mayor Kamrul Islam Hossaini called for new scientific exploration to assess the potential.

Bangladesh’s garment exports to the European Union fell sharply in the first half of 2026, with EU imports declining 16.43% year on year to €8.6448 billion from €10.3444 billion. The decline of about €1.70 billion came as the EU clothing market weakened between January and June, adding pressure to Bangladesh’s competitive position in the European market.

Eurostat data showed the EU’s total garment imports from global suppliers fell 9.70% to €41.10 billion during the six-month period, while import volume dropped 6.40% and average unit prices declined 3.53%. Bangladesh’s supplied volume fell 8.22%, while its average unit price dropped 8.94% to €13.88 per kilogram. Most major suppliers, including China, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Indonesia, also recorded negative growth.

There were signs of a limited recovery in June. EU garment imports from Bangladesh rose 0.87% that month to €1.3674 billion, as supply increased 6.53% despite a 5.31% fall in average prices. Vietnam was the exception over the six months, posting 0.36% growth as its average unit price rose 13.43% to €29.32 per kilogram.

Bangladesh’s banking sector recorded excess liquidity of more than Tk408,000 crore at the end of June, as private investment and demand for loans weakened. Bangladesh Bank data showed surplus funds rose from Tk327,877 crore in May and Tk378,135 crore at the end of March. Deposits continued to increase, but banks struggled to deploy the additional money because new investment activity remained slow.

Banking-sector sources cited gas and electricity shortages, high interest rates, political uncertainty and law-and-order conditions as factors reducing appetite for new investment. Greater caution by banks in lending has also slowed private-sector credit flow. Deposit growth stood at 10.74 percent in June from a year earlier, while private-sector credit growth fell to 4.47 percent, described in the report as a historic low.

Banks are placing funds in treasury bills and bonds, the call-money market, deposits with other banks and Bangladesh Bank’s Standing Deposit Facility. Bangladesh Bank recently reduced the repo rate from 10 percent to 9.5 percent and announced a Tk60,000 crore incentive package to support economic recovery and reopen closed factories. Banks holding excess liquidity are expected to provide Tk41,000 crore under the package.

Kuwait’s oil sector has been largely paralysed for several months as war in the Gulf region disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sharply reducing oil exports. The disruption has created a major crisis for Kuwait, where oil accounts for more than 90 percent of government revenue and nearly all export earnings. The strait is Kuwait’s main route for oil exports.

Unlike Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait has no alternative pipeline route to transport oil while bypassing the strait. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation chief executive Sheikh Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah described the situation as the country’s biggest oil-sector crisis since Iraq’s 1990 invasion. While the current war has not caused destruction on that scale, Kuwait’s oil infrastructure has been damaged.

KPC declared force majeure within days of the war’s start because it could not meet contractual obligations, then withdrew the notice in June. Iranian attacks damaged water-treatment and fuel facilities, while KPC headquarters was hit by a drone attack in April. Before the war, Kuwait produced slightly more than 2.6 million barrels daily and planned to reach 4 million barrels by 2040. KPC expects transport to normalise if Hormuz reopens.

At least five people have died in severe storms and flooding in the U.S. Midwestern state of Indiana, according to a report published on August 16. People are being rescued by boat from flooded homes as several rivers, including the White River through Indianapolis, have risen above danger levels and inundated surrounding areas.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett described the event as the area’s worst flooding in more than 30 years. The U.S. National Weather Service said some locations received more than 280 millimeters of rain in only two days. In Delaware County, authorities recovered the body of a 58-year-old woman on Friday; she is believed to have died while attempting to drive through floodwaters.

A four-year-old child died after a tree fell onto a home in Jennings County. Law enforcement also recovered the body of a teenager who had been missing since jumping into a river on Wednesday. Governor Mike Braun requested a presidential emergency declaration on Friday to secure additional federal help. On Saturday, Braun said President Donald Trump had agreed to approve the request and that the federal government would assist those affected.

Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department is operating under severe pressure from staff shortages, a long-running promotion backlog, ageing technology and reduced budget allocations, according to a report published on August 16, 2026. Of 1,338 posts approved under its new organisational structure, only 557 are filled. Many weather observation centres and key divisions are being run by acting officials or extremely limited staffing, affecting the agency’s capacity to provide accurate forecasts and disaster warnings.

The department has 61 observation stations under eight divisional offices, with 24 stations staffed by only one to three people despite round-the-clock operations requiring far more personnel. Officials said recruitment and promotions have been halted since 2013. Stakeholders also raised concerns over the status of the top leadership post and attempts to fill a technical role with administrative cadre officials.

Funding for fiscal year 2026-27 was reduced to Tk 99 crore 51 lakh 72 thousand from Tk 109 crore 19 lakh in the previous year. Three radar systems have become permanently inoperable due to age and maintenance problems, while radar systems in Dhaka and Rangpur remain operational, acting director Mominul Islam said. He said a new organogram and policy had been approved and expressed hope that recruitment, promotions and radar replacement would be addressed soon.

Twenty popular songs by Bangladeshi band music legend Ayub Bachchu are set to be released in new arrangements to mark his birthday. The special album, titled “Uttoradhikar,” will be issued on double CD and digital platforms. Eight bands and 12 artists from the country have reinterpreted the songs for the project.

Dalchhut performed “Rupali Guitar,” Arbovirus recorded “Nil Bedona,” Shonar Bangla Circus performed “Gotokal Rate,” and Shubhojatra recorded “Cholo Bodle Jai.” Calypso performed “Chand Mama,” RockSalt recorded “Ochena Jibon,” Dopamine performed “Madhobi,” and A K Rahul sang “Mon Chaile Mon.”

Other performers include Babna Karim and Russell Ali, Romel Ali, Chandan Jaman Ali-Menon, Kaniz Suborna and Sajjad, Palash, Joy Shahriar, Adit, Bakhtiar Hossain, Atika Yamin, Autumnal Moon, Kanak Acharya, and Taufiq-AB-Menon. Iqbal Asif Jewel mastered all the tracks. Project coordinator Chishti Iqbal said Ayub Bachchu’s wife Ferdous Akhtar Chandana initiated the idea, after which discussions finalized the 20-song album.

Rupali Bank has moved to auction nearly 26 acres of mortgaged land and property belonging to Beximco Limited in Gazipur and Narayanganj to recover defaulted loans. A notice issued by the bank’s head office and reported on August 16, 2026 said the relevant outstanding amount from Beximco Textile was Tk 190.92 crore, excluding unpaid interest. The bank said the scheduled movable and immovable assets would be sold in their existing condition to recover its dues, related costs and court interest.

The notice names Bangladesh Export Import Company Limited as the borrower; the company was previously known as Bextex Limited. Padma Textile Mills and Beximco Knitting have merged with Beximco Limited. Listed properties include land in several Gazipur areas, including Sarabo, and in Tarabo and Jatramura mouzas of Narayanganj. The schedules describe 25.96 acres in total, including 17.41 acres in Narayanganj and 8.55 acres in Gazipur.

Beximco company secretary Asad Ullah said he was unaware of the auction and argued that repayment was difficult while the company remained closed. Bids must be submitted by 2 pm on September 14 and will be opened five minutes later. Economist Abu Ahmed said a negotiated settlement between the bank and borrower would be preferable.