Capital Development Authority (RAJUK) Chairman Engineer Md Riazul Islam said authorities are identifying defects in Dhaka buildings and taking action in phases to reduce earthquake risk. He made the remarks on Saturday morning at a discussion titled “Country at Earthquake Risk: What We Should Do,” organized by the Dhaka Utility Reporters Association at the National Press Club. He said building collapse risks stem not only from height, but also flawed designs, soil conditions and construction irregularities.

Because Dhaka has a large number of buildings, RAJUK cannot assess all risks at once, he said. The authority plans rapid visual assessments, preliminary engineering assessments and detailed engineering assessments in stages. It is also pursuing a research institution for pre-earthquake risk assessment, public awareness and future research. Riazul Islam said unauthorized additions, such as raising an approved six-storey building to 10 storeys, or construction after design changes, would not be allowed.

He called for coordinated work by city corporations, disaster management authorities, the fire service and other agencies. Fire Service Deputy Director Saleh Uddin said 41 fire stations around Dhaka have been airmarked and special response teams are prepared, while stressing that preparedness remains insufficient. Speakers emphasized compliance with the Bangladesh National Building Code, regular drills, oversight and public awareness.

Agriculture and Fisheries-Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said the government plans to establish freshwater fish sanctuaries in haors, beels, rivers and water bodies to increase the breeding and production of native freshwater fish. He made the announcement after inspecting Achmita George Institute Stadium in Katiadi on Saturday, ahead of the prime minister's scheduled Kishoreganj visit on August 16.

Under the plan, large pits and channels will be created in haor and wetland areas and reserved for brood fish. Guards will be assigned to prevent fishing inside the sanctuaries. The minister said native freshwater fish production has declined as pesticide and chemical fertilizer use in agriculture has increased and breeding grounds for brood fish have been damaged.

The programme, named “Freshwater Fish Sanctuary,” is due to begin implementation from the next season. Its plan has already been finalized and a budget has been set, the minister said. He added that secure shelter for brood fish would expand breeding opportunities and egg production, gradually increasing native fish output. Relevant stakeholders believe the initiative could also help conserve fish species facing extinction risks in haor regions.

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC held a consultation with prominent Islamic scholars to expand the use of Bangla QR payments at religious institutions as part of efforts toward a cashless Bangladesh. The meeting was held on Saturday at a hotel in the capital. Islamic Foundation Bangladesh Director General Mufti Muhammad Muhibbullahil Baqi attended as chief guest.

The bank’s Additional Managing Director Engineer Mohammad Jamal Uddin Majumdar presented the keynote paper on Bangla QR. Mufti Baqi said financial transactions have changed alongside technological progress and that religious institutions need to be connected with this change. He said the simple digital payment system could help such institutions manage transactions more transparently, securely and systematically.

Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Mohammad Zahir Hossain said expanding digital transactions is important to make the financial system more modern, simple and inclusive. Bringing religious institutions under Bangla QR could create an opportunity to involve a large segment of the population in digital transactions, he said. Acting Managing Director Md Altaf Hossain chaired the meeting and said the bank was working to ensure easy, secure and modern banking services for customers.

A proposed cross-border gas pipeline between Bangladesh and Myanmar requires explicit approval from the Arakan Army, political analysts say, because the group controls much of Rakhine state and the entire border area between the two countries. The proposal gained renewed momentum after an August 2 meeting in Dhaka between Bangladesh’s power, energy and mineral resources minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud and Myanmar’s ambassador U Kyaw Soe Moe. Bangladesh formally expressed interest in importing natural gas from Myanmar’s offshore Shwe gas project by pipeline to Chattogram to address its growing energy shortage.

Regional experts said Myanmar’s junta government does not control the territory needed to implement such commitments. Analyst U Myo Kyaw said the Arakan Army controls about 90 percent of Arakan state, including the Bangladesh border area, making its approval essential for gas transport across the territory.

Since early 2024, the Arakan Army has established full control over key border towns including Buthidaung and Maungdaw, as well as Paletwa township in neighboring Chin state, placing cross-border transit corridors under its administration. Fighting remains intense around strategically important Sittwe and Kyaukphyu. DMG editor-in-chief U Aung Min Oo said the group could support the project if it brings direct local economic benefits and prospects for international recognition, while formal contact with Bangladesh remains limited.

A government special audit has raised 20 objections involving Tk13,361.52 crore in alleged financial irregularities in the Padma Bridge rail link project, according to a report published on August 8. The project cost rose from about Tk35,000 crore to Tk39,000 crore, while the audit cited spending outside the original contract, payments exceeding work completed and releases of money for substandard work. The audit report covered the period from January 1 to March 20 of last year.

The largest objection concerned construction of the Dhaka-Jashore railway line. The audit alleged that contractors received full payment despite reduced work after a design change, identifying Tk2,130.42 crore in excess payment. It also cited alleged losses linked to extra rail imports, reduced granular sand use, increased bills of quantities and contracts priced above estimates. The project authority offered explanations, but the audit said most were not helpful in resolving the objections.

The audit recommended recovering excess payments from contractors, depositing the money in the state treasury and taking departmental action against those responsible. Railway Director General Md Afzal Hossain said most objections had been resolved or withdrawn. Current project director Naznin Ara Keya said responses to the objections were being processed. State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid said the government would act if evidence is found.

Rising water in the Jamuna River has triggered severe erosion in Daulatpur upazila of Manikganj, with homesteads, cropland and rural infrastructure disappearing into the river. In the Jionpur union villages of Boro Lautara and Chonpara, at least 15 to 16 families have lost their homes in sudden erosion over recent days. Many affected families are now living under the open sky, while riverside residents report spending nights in fear and uncertainty.

Displaced residents Mokched Ali and Islam Uddin said the erosion had left them destitute and uncertain about where to go with their families. Local accounts say around 200 families and a century-old educational institution are under threat. Resident Ahammad Ali called for urgent placement of geo-bags, warning that homes, the main connecting road, a mosque, madrasa and other religious and social institutions could soon be lost.

Jionpur Union Parishad Chairman Atowar Rahman said the upazila administration and Bangladesh Water Development Board had been informed, with demands for temporary protection through geo-bags and a permanent embankment later. Bagutia chairman SM Amjad Hossain said more than 300 homes had already been lost in his union. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Silvia Snigdha said emergency steps would be taken after consulting relevant departments.

Fishers aboard the FB Junaid trawler caught 46 maunds of hilsa in a single net cast in the Bay of Bengal off Kuakata, Patuakhali. The fish were auctioned at Monowara Fish market after the trawler arrived at Mahipur fishing port on Friday afternoon, selling for Tk 4.85 million. The large catch brought relief to fishers after a prolonged period of failing to find the desired volume of hilsa at sea.

According to fishers, the catch was made on August 6 near the final buoy of Payra seaport in deep waters, when about 2,200 hilsa were hauled in. Of the total, 24 maunds weighing one kilogram or more sold for Tk 115,000 per maund, generating Tk 2.76 million. The remaining 22 maunds, weighing 800 to 900 grams, sold for Tk 95,000 per maund.

Helmsman Alamgir said it was the largest such haul they had received together in about five years and expressed happiness after extended losses. Fisheries academic Dr Rajib Sarkar described the catch as reassuring and a source of hope for fishers. Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Apu Saha said continued rainfall could bring more hilsa in the coming period.

Prices of essential goods have risen sharply in Chattogram for several weeks, with flooding cited as a reason, according to a report published on August 8. Vegetables, fish, meat, eggs and chicken were described as increasingly unaffordable for ordinary consumers. On Friday, retail markets were selling eggs at Tk150 per dozen and broiler chicken at up to Tk210 per kilogram, compared with Tk185 a week earlier.

Vegetable prices rose by Tk20 to Tk30 per kilogram amid lower supply. At Karnaphuli Market near No. 2 Gate, ridge gourd and okra sold for Tk80 per kilogram, teasel gourd for Tk100, and green chilies for Tk240 to Tk250. Prices of rohu, catla, pabda and tilapia were also Tk50 to Tk100 higher than the previous week. Traders attributed the increases to flood damage to vegetable fields, stronger demand for chicken and eggs, and higher fishing costs.

Onions, garlic and ginger also became more expensive. At Khatunganj, onions sold for Tk43, ginger for Tk95 and garlic for Tk115 per kilogram, while retail ginger prices reached Tk120 to Tk130. Consumer Anwar Hossain called for regular market monitoring. CAB vice-president SM Nazer Hossain alleged that traders had raised prices of other goods by using flooding as an excuse.

Farmers across Khansama upazila in Dinajpur are actively transplanting aman rice after enduring persistent rain and flooding, according to a report published on August 8. Seedlings are being lifted from nursery beds and planted in muddy fields in Alokjhari, Bhabki, Bherbheri, Goaldihi, Angarpara, Khamarpara and nearby areas. Many farmers are working with family members to complete cultivation within the scheduled period.

The Department of Agricultural Extension has set a target of cultivating transplanted aman rice on 13,760 hectares in Khansama this season. Transplanting has already been completed on 11,950 hectares, while work on the remaining land is progressing rapidly. Despite a shortage of labourers, farmers have continued planting because they expect timely transplantation to support a satisfactory yield.

Farmer Jabed Ali said timely rainfall reduced irrigation costs and kept soil moisture adequate, although higher fertilizer and labour costs remain a concern. Under an incentive programme, 3,500 farmers received five kilograms of rice seed, 10 kilograms of DAP fertilizer and 10 kilograms of MOP fertilizer free of charge. Agriculture officer Yasmin Akhtar said the upazila expects about 71,697 tonnes of aman rice if weather conditions remain favourable.

Waterlogging has returned to the Bhobdah area of Abhaynagar upazila in Jashore after persistent rain, flooding wide areas and homes, according to a report published on August 8, 2026. Houses, educational institutions, roads, seedbed fields and fish enclosures have been inundated, renewing concern among local residents.

Residents of Bhobdah spend about six months waterlogged each year, the report said. River and canal re-excavation had begun under army supervision this year, raising hopes of a permanent solution, but heavy rainfall at the start of the monsoon quickly raised water levels. Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Lipton Sardar said 220 fish enclosures were damaged, with preliminary losses estimated at about Tk17 crore.

Bhobdah Water Drainage Struggle Committee leader Iqbal Jahid said tidal river management implementation was also necessary, alongside river excavation. Jashore Water Development Board Executive Engineer Palash Banerjee said delayed dredging in Khornia caused temporary drainage problems. Nine sluice gates are open, he said, and water levels have fallen by about five to five-and-a-half inches. He expects significant improvement within 10 to 15 days if all gates are operating.

Severe gas and power shortages have nearly halted operations at hundreds of textile, dyeing, ceramic and other medium-to-heavy factories, as well as CNG stations, in Bangladesh's Narsingdi industrial area. The report, published on August 8, 2026, attributes the prolonged energy shortage to an accident at the LNG terminal in Maheshkhali, leaving pipeline gas pressure too low for production.

Narsingdi has more than 3,000 textile, dyeing and spinning mills and supplies a large share of the country's cloth demand. Business leaders said nearly 80 percent of mills in the Narsingdi and Madhabdi areas have shut down. Local industrial owners and business representatives estimated average daily losses across the industrial zone at Tk400 crore to Tk500 crore as dyeing, printing, textile and spinning output has become almost fully stalled.

Anisur Rahman Bhuiyan of Bhuiyan Textile and Calender Mills said his factory has been almost closed for two weeks, receiving only one to two PSI of gas pressure against a minimum requirement of 10 PSI. Entrepreneurs said halted production and sales have made monthly wage payments difficult. BTMA spokesperson Abdullah Al Mamun warned that continued energy shortages could trigger public anger.

Guava growers in Nesarabad, Pirojpur, say they are losing crores of taka worth of produce each year because there is no cold storage facility. The floating guava market, located near the canal confluence along the Nesarabad and Jhalakathi border, is busy during the monsoon season, particularly from July to September, drawing domestic and foreign visitors. Farmers say low prices, a lack of business-friendly conditions and the halt in exports have reduced their profits.

Around 4,000 guava growers operate in nearly 24 villages across areas bordering Nesarabad, Banaripara and Jhalakathi. According to the Barishal divisional agriculture office, 3,220 guava orchards cover 878 hectares in 23 villages of three upazilas, with about 16,000 workers involved from orchard care to fruit sales. Growers describe guava cultivation as their main source of income but say maintenance costs are high and have sought bank loans on easy terms.

Farmer Binoy Haldar said several crores of taka worth of guavas spoil annually without cold storage. Exports stopped in 2020 amid storage constraints, alleged non-cooperation from the agriculture department, the effects of Covid-19 and other challenges. Upazila agriculture officer Mahafuzur Rahman said he would inform senior officials about constructing a government cold storage facility.

Japanese authorities ordered about 260,000 residents in the Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures to move to safe locations as powerful Typhoon No. 13 threatened the country’s southwest. More than 500 flights were cancelled on Friday because of adverse weather conditions. The report was published on August 7, 2026.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the Category 1 typhoon had maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometres per hour and gusts reaching 198 kilometres per hour. It was moving toward island chains between the Kyushu region and Okinawa Prefecture, bringing risks of strong winds, heavy rain and rough seas.

Toyota temporarily suspended production at nine factories on Friday for safety reasons. The weather agency warned that the storm could retain its strength as it moved toward Okinawa, potentially damaging or collapsing buildings and other structures. It also warned that linear rain bands could produce extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and a heightened risk of flash flooding. Temperatures in some areas could reach 36 degrees Celsius, prompting a heatstroke warning.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanom said Natore will be developed into a tourist hub with a world-class tourism system. She made the remarks after visiting Uttara Ganabhaban on Friday afternoon, August 7. The minister said the district’s tourism potential would be used to build facilities for visitors and strengthen Natore’s profile as a destination.

Khanom cited Uttara Ganabhaban, Rajbari, Halti Beel and Chalan Beel as sites demonstrating Natore’s substantial tourism potential. She said accommodation and tourism facilities have not developed sufficiently in the area, while many people still do not know detailed information about Natore. She pledged improvements to necessary infrastructure and transport links, along with facilities for tourists’ residence and stays.

Member of Parliament and parliamentary whip Advocate M Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu, District Commissioner Asma Shaheen and Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ifte Khayer Alam were among officials present during the visit. After later visiting Halti Beel, Dulu told a local public meeting that thousands of tourists visit Natore from across the country each year, but inadequate lodging and dining arrangements have discouraged many visitors.

Bangladesh has launched its first food assistance programme for registered fishers dependent on the Sundarbans during the annual June-to-August ban on catching fish and other aquatic resources. Rice is being distributed to eligible fishers in Sundarbans-adjacent areas, including Mongla in Bagerhat, as the government enforces the three-month closure to protect fisheries, biodiversity and wildlife.

The breeding-season restriction covers rivers, canals and forest-adjacent waters of the Sundarbans and leaves thousands of forest-dependent fishers without work. Beneficiaries said the assistance has eased hardship for their families while fishing is prohibited, although they also called for alternative employment opportunities in the future.

Member of Parliament and State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam said 6,662 tonnes of rice had been allocated for 8,271 registered fishers in Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat and Mongla. A fisheries official said food assistance should encourage compliance with the ban. Forest, fisheries and administrative authorities are conducting regular patrols and operations to prevent illegal fishing and crab collection.