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.

The 1,320-megawatt Bangladesh-India jointly owned Rampal coal-fired power plant has reportedly shut down 30 times over the past year, including 27 times because of technical faults, according to an August 16, 2026 report by Amar Desh. Power Division sources cited in the report said equipment at the plant has deteriorated within three years, repeatedly failing again soon after repairs and requiring substantial maintenance spending.

The report said the project was developed by Bangladesh Power Development Board and India’s state-owned NTPC through the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company. It said Bangladesh now carries the burden of a $1.6 billion loan from India’s Exim Bank. Power Division officials told the newspaper that although ownership is split equally, Indian parties controlled installation and operations. The report also alleged that nine Indian officials left on January 24 after an Anti-Corruption Commission inquiry began.

Plant spokesperson Anwarul Azim said locally appointed engineers have gradually restored operations following the departure of Indian officials. He said faults had been relatively limited over the past month and that the plant’s two units were now supplying 800 to 900 megawatts daily to the national grid. Power Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said Bangladesh had raised the technical faults and financial losses with India.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed US sanctions for rising prices in Iran, saying the measures have disrupted goods imports through the country’s ports. In remarks published Friday, he said shipments that previously arrived by sea must now take longer routes to reach Iran, increasing the cost of finished goods and the cost of living.

Pezeshkian said the increase in prices was therefore natural, according to his remarks. He also said Iran’s income had declined because it could no longer sell oil as it had previously. The president linked the country’s financial pressures both to disrupted trade and to reduced oil-sale revenue.

He further said several industrial factories had been destroyed in bomb attacks, reducing the government’s ability to collect taxes from them at previous levels. Emphasizing the need to keep the country functioning despite these pressures, Pezeshkian said Iran’s economic wheel must continue turning.

Extensive jute retting in the Chitra and Nabaganga rivers has caused severe water pollution in Narail, according to a report published on August 16, 2026. Rotting jute has turned previously clear river water black and unusable, while direct connections from Narail town’s drainage system and riverside housing sanitation facilities to the Chitra have compounded the pollution. The foul smell from the stagnant, rotten water has also affected air quality in nearby areas.

Local residents said farmers once retted jute in nearby ditches, canals, ponds, haors and other water bodies that held sufficient water. As those sources disappeared over time, farmers began using the Chitra, Nabaganga and other rivers and canals. Farmers said they know the practice damages river water but lack adequate alternative reservoirs. They also said transporting jute from wetlands to rivers is costly, while river-retted jute is often considered of comparatively better quality.

The report said pollution affects the rivers’ freshwater for about four months from June to September, with low oxygen levels hindering fish reproduction and threatening biodiversity. Environment Banchao Andolon president Shah Alam called for restoring lost water bodies and promoting modern retting methods. Deputy Commissioner Dr Abdul Salam said authorities would coordinate with relevant parties to develop effective alternatives that discourage river retting.

Agricultural losses from Switzerland’s ongoing severe drought could exceed the record 500 million Swiss francs reported during the 2003 crisis, Swiss Farmers’ Union president Markus Ritter warned. In remarks reported on August 16, Ritter said he had never seen such an unprecedented drought in his working life. A shortage of soil moisture from the beginning of summer has created an exceptional situation across the country, while prolonged dry weather is placing heavy pressure on farmers.

Potatoes and sugar beet have suffered the greatest impact, while maize production is also expected to decline significantly. Wheat and barley have been comparatively less affected because much of those crops matured and was harvested before the drought intensified. Livestock farmers are facing feed shortages, with many already using fodder reserved for winter to get through summer. Straw prices have risen by as much as 50 percent, adding financial pressure on livestock and dairy farms as pastures deteriorate.

Ritter opposed declaring an emergency, urging farmers not to panic and saying the union remains in close contact with federal authorities. Swiss authorities are flying water to several Alpine pastures and have removed import duties to reduce the cost of imported animal feed. Ritter said discussions with retailers on sharing costs would take place, but acknowledged farmers may ultimately bear much of the loss.

The death toll from a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake in eastern Indonesia rose to 47 after it struck early Saturday, injuring many others and damaging hundreds of homes and public facilities. The United States Geological Survey said the quake hit the Flores region at 5:58 a.m. local time on Saturday, with a depth of only 10 kilometers. Authorities reported that people in several areas fled their homes and took shelter on streets during the strong shaking.

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency, BNPB, said 24 deaths were reported in Manggarai Regency, 17 in East Manggarai, three in Sikka, and one each in Ngada and Ende. The earthquake severely damaged 157 houses, moderately damaged 41 and lightly damaged 148. Damage was also reported at 87 educational institutions, 18 health centers, five places of worship and six government offices.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency issued tsunami warnings for several areas before later lifting them. Rescue teams continued recovering and treating injured people, while BNPB sent food and other essential relief supplies to affected areas. Nearly 2,000 people were moved to safer locations. Authorities recorded 111 aftershocks, including one measuring 6.1.

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said Bangladesh may need about two years to build the infrastructure required for a lasting exit from its ongoing gas crisis. Speaking to journalists after a workshop in Sylhet on Saturday afternoon, he acknowledged that gas shortages are disrupting production at industrial factories and said infrastructure development was essential for a permanent solution.

Muktadir said mills and factories across the country were suffering from the gas shortage and that the situation could not be denied. He said the current government had inherited the crisis rather than created it. According to the minister, the government is working beyond conventional approaches to address the energy shortage, while seeking time to establish the necessary infrastructure.

He said the government was also working on emergency measures alongside long-term construction. On possible LNG imports from Malaysia, Muktadir said Malaysia's smaller ships were currently deployed elsewhere, limiting the ability to bring gas quickly. He said the government was nevertheless trying to determine whether temporary steps could bring some improvement to the situation.

Five brick kiln owners in Lama upazila of Bandarban district were fined a total of Tk350,000 for cutting hills and endangering the environment. The penalties were imposed during inspections of brick kilns in different locations of the Raimyakhola area from Saturday afternoon to evening. Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Md Moin Uddin held a mobile court and issued the fines, according to a report published on August 15.

Sources said nearly 30 brick kilns had been established in various places in Faitong union without any permission. Their owners were allegedly cutting nearby hills and taking soil for brick production. The report identified this activity as causing environmental harm.

The mobile court fined the owners of DBM, MMB, MBI, UBM and ABC brick kilns. Md Moin Uddin said action would be taken in the future against anyone who damages the environment by establishing illegal brick kilns.

Prime Minister’s postal and telecommunications adviser Rehan Asif Asad said Bangladesh aims to bring 70 million people under mobile internet coverage within the next six to 12 months. He made the announcement on Saturday at a roundtable titled “Spectrum for a Connected Bangladesh: Enabling Internet for All,” organised by the Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh at a hotel in the capital.

Asad said about half of the country’s roughly 140 million mobile phone users still use 2G or button phones. Moving those estimated 70 million users to smartphones overnight would not be possible, he said, but a gradual transition could be achieved through joint efforts. Work on the issue began two weeks before the budget, he added. Manufacturers said a phone could not be produced for Tk3,000, but could be made for Tk5,000 to Tk6,000.

He cited a roughly $39 Android phone sold by India’s Reliance, saying its combination of a smaller touchscreen and keypad reduced costs by about $6. Bangladeshi manufacturers have begun pursuing similarly low-cost smartphones. He urged mobile operators to work with manufacturers on co-branding and bundled voice and data packages.

Bangladesh’s SMW-5, one of the country’s main international submarine internet cables, resumed operation after being disconnected for about two and a half hours. Both eastern and western connections of the cable were fully cut at around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, and service was restored at around 2 p.m. The restoration eased immediate fears of a major nationwide internet disruption.

During the outage, many customers experienced slower internet speeds, delays accessing foreign websites and servers, and temporary difficulties using online platforms. International server-based work, online meetings, gaming and file downloads were affected. Internet service providers had to divert traffic through alternative routes, while customers of providers able to move connections quickly to backup lines faced comparatively fewer problems.

Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC said it could not immediately provide an estimated repair time because it was awaiting information from the main consortium. An initial assessment suggested a possible problem with power supply or equipment at the landing station in Matara, Sri Lanka, but the final cause has not been confirmed. Bangladesh also has SMW-4 and multiple international terrestrial cable connections with India, which served as backup capacity. BSCPCL is awaiting the consortium’s final fault report.

The National Press Club held a qawwali evening on Friday, featuring performances by Bangladeshi qawwali and Sufi music artists Samir Qawwal and Syed Sajjad Hossain Arman with their teams. The programme began at 7pm and presented qawwalis in Urdu, Hindi and Bangla for the audience at the National Press Club.

The performers sang “Ali Ali Maula Ali,” “Parda Hai Parda,” “Amar Deho Mon Bole Nabi Nabi,” “Ishqe Nabi Dil Me Payda Karo,” “Damadum Mast Qalandar,” and “Khwaja Baba Khwaja Baba Marhaba Marhaba,” among other selections. The report said the performances captivated audience members.

Press Club General Secretary Ayub Bhuiyan delivered the opening welcome address, while club President poet Hasan Hafiz declared the event open. Kader Gani Chowdhury, convenor of the special events and hospitality subcommittee, moderated the programme. Attendees included Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan MP, Professor Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain MP, former Dhaka University vice chancellor Professor Dr Anwarullah Chowdhury, and Manab Zamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, alongside several club management committee members.

Fish farmer Abul Kalam Kala of Bagmara village in Boxmahmud Union, Parshuram, Feni, has built a successful aquaculture operation by using feed he prepares himself. The report, published on August 15, 2026, says the locally made feed helps him control production costs while creating an opportunity to produce comparatively healthier fish.

Kalam began fish farming about 13 years ago after leasing a small pond in his village for Tk1,500. His farm now includes 19 small and large ponds covering about 5.66 hectares in Jamiargaon, Bagmara and Teteshwar villages. Rather than hybrid fish, he raises rohu, mrigal, kalibaush, catla, carpu, sarputi and grass carp. His feed includes oilcake, bran, husk, fishmeal and molasses.

Kalam says he sells fish fry of different species worth Tk3 million to Tk4 million each year. He said flooding in 2024 washed away fish from all his ponds, causing losses of about Tk6 million, but he resumed farming and recovered. Upazila fisheries officer Syed Mostafa Zaman said Kalam had set an example through skill, hard work and proper guidance.

The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, or BKMEA, has sought special payment relief for garment factories facing financial losses amid severe gas and power shortages. In a letter to Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem requested that gas and electricity bills for July and August be paid in 12 equal instalments instead of a lump sum.

BKMEA said production at most garment factories was seriously disrupted during July and August because of shortages of gas and electricity. It said the suspension of natural-gas supplies to industries through open cylinders or cascade cylinders prevented many factories from maintaining normal production. To keep operations running, factories had to rely on alternative fuels.

According to the association, many firms purchased diesel, LPG and other fuels at higher prices with cash, increasing production costs and straining cash flow. BKMEA said lower output and additional fuel expenses have caused significant financial losses, making one-time bill payments difficult. It urged relevant ministries and agencies to issue necessary instructions, saying instalment facilities could ease financial pressure and help maintain production and export operations.

Pineapple growers in Naogaon and Rangamatia unions of Fulbaria upazila in Mymensingh expect bumper production and sales this season. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, farmers may earn more than Tk125.64 crore by selling Jaldubi, Calendar and Honeyqueen pineapples. The area, adjacent to Madhupur upazila, relies heavily on pineapple cultivation as a source of farmers’ income.

The upazila agriculture office recorded pineapple cultivation on 750 hectares this season: 315 hectares of Jaldubi, 425 hectares of Calendar and 10 hectares of Honeyqueen. Jaldubi cultivation rose by 65 hectares from last year. Farmers are increasingly choosing Jaldubi because it requires less time, land and production cost while offering higher returns. It produces a full crop within one year, compared with about one and a half years for Calendar and Honeyqueen varieties.

Production from 315 hectares of Jaldubi is projected at about 25.2 million fruits, valued at Tk63 crore at an average Tk25 each. Calendar pineapple sales could generate Tk61.2 crore, while Honeyqueen and other varieties may bring Tk1.44 crore. Farmer Solman Sarker said he sold Tk11 lakh worth of fruit from three acres planted with 60,000 seedlings.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman said ensuring access to justice is part of guaranteeing human rights, and the state must enable citizens to exercise their inherent and universal rights. He made the remarks on Saturday morning at the opening of a two-day coordination meeting in Rajendrapur, Gazipur, for the “Accelerating Digital Legal Aid Services in Bangladesh” project, attended by judges, legal aid officers and other stakeholders.

The meeting discussed how to effectively deliver digital legal assistance to disadvantaged and marginalised communities. Participants focused on strengthening and coordinating 57 upazila legal aid committees and 413 union legal aid committees across nine districts. The effort aims to help poor people, women, persons with disabilities and other underserved groups obtain legal advice and assistance, including opportunities to resolve disputes through mediation before going to court.

The minister directed steps to recognise eight outstanding legal aid officers, one from each division, and 20 judicial officers nationwide. He said Bangladesh has about 4.5 million pending cases and aims to reduce the number significantly within a year through combined use of legal aid, mediation, digital technology and judicial work. The second day on August 16 will discuss training, records, reporting and areas for improving digital services.