Chattogram Port Authority has asked the National Board of Revenue for permission to store empty containers outside port yards and off-docks under the supervision of shipping agents and main line operators. In a letter sent to the NBR chairman on July 26, the authority said empty containers are accumulating because fewer are removed than are emptied each day. The proposal aims to ease congestion and support normal port operations.

Port Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim said more than 3,000 of the slightly over 33,000 containers in different port yards are empty. He said they occupy space, make equipment movement harder, and add operational time and costs. The authority said it had first raised the issue with the NBR on October 13, 2025, but had received no response. It also cited arrangements in neighbouring countries for storing empty containers in non-bonded areas.

Chattogram Customs said empty containers are considered bonded goods and cannot be moved or stored without a bonded warehouse licence. BICDA called the proposal unrealistic, saying 18 off-docks had capacity for more than 30,000 additional containers. It said two new off-docks are expected to add capacity for 18,000 more units.

International oil prices edged lower after reports of progress in talks between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz. By Thursday morning, August 6, 2026, Brent crude futures had fallen 37 cents, or 0.5%, to $79.8 a barrel, according to Reuters.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures also declined, dropping 53 cents, or 0.7%, to $74.69 a barrel. Investors hope the discussions could help create a path toward a peace agreement between the United States and Iran.

The report said such an agreement could end a conflict that has lasted five months and allow navigation through the Strait of Hormuz to return to normal. At the close of trading on Wednesday, Brent crude had risen slightly, while WTI crude finished the day marginally lower.

Germany’s rivers are seeing steadily falling water levels amid a prolonged heatwave and lack of rainfall, with new record lows reported in many locations. Public broadcaster ARD said on Wednesday that rivers in different regions had reached alarming levels and that new lows were being recorded almost daily. The Federal Institute of Hydrology said many rivers had fallen below their “low-water threshold” unusually early this year.

According to the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, the Rhine at the Kaub gauge, between Mainz and Koblenz in southwestern Germany, fell to 24 centimetres. That was 1 centimetre below the previous record set in 2018. On Wednesday morning, Rhine water levels in the Cologne and Duisburg areas also dropped below earlier record lows, while Düsseldorf matched its 2018 record-low level.

The situation is also serious in the eastern city of Magdeburg, where the Elbe at the Magdeburg-Strombrück gauge reached its previous record low of 45 centimetres. It was expected to fall further to 40 centimetres by Friday. Forecasts indicated that rainfall shortages could drive the Rhine lower in coming days. Water-cycle and management expert Klaus Retzsch called for fundamental changes in water management to address climate-change-related water scarcity.

Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department said a new low-pressure area may form over the central Bay of Bengal on August 10 and later deepen into a depression. Its effects could bring heavy to very heavy rainfall across the country from August 14. Meteorologist Dr Omar Faruk said rain would continue nationwide on Thursday, then ease from Friday through August 9 before increasing again on August 10 and 11.

Active monsoon conditions brought rain across Bangladesh on Wednesday and may continue on Thursday. The Bangladesh Weather Observation Team said a partial rain belt called “Nirjhar” could make rainfall most intense on Thursday. By 6 pm Wednesday, Netrokona recorded the highest rainfall at 141 millimetres, followed by Hatiya with 140 millimetres and Cox’s Bazar with 136 millimetres.

The department forecast rain or thundershowers with gusty winds in most places across all eight divisions on Thursday, with moderately heavy to heavy falls in some areas. Water levels at Dalia on the Teesta and Fenchuganj on the Kushiyara were above danger levels. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre warned of flood risks in several districts within 24 to 48 hours and possible inundation of low-lying areas in several basins within 48 to 120 hours.

Several hours of heavy rain on Tuesday morning flooded sections of the Dhaka-Bogura highway in Sherpur, Bogura, leaving knee-deep to waist-deep water in Dharmakam, Hamchayapur and Kathaltala under Shahbandegi Union. Traffic on the important northern highway was severely disrupted, with long queues causing hardship for passengers, transport workers and local residents.

Water covered parts of the road so extensively that the boundary between the highway and drains was difficult to identify. Buses, trucks, microbuses, private cars, motorcycles and CNG autorickshaws moved slowly through the water, while several motorcycles and CNG vehicles broke down, worsening congestion. Roads in Sherpur municipal town and homes and rural roads in several villages were also inundated.

Residents blamed uncleaned roadside drains, rubbish blockages, filled canals and inadequate drainage planning for the recurring problem. They called for drains and canals to be cleared and for an effective modern drainage system. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saiduzzaman Himu said the issue was being treated seriously, relevant departments had been asked to act, and steps would be taken for rapid drainage and a permanent solution.

Three female lions died within a week at Tama Zoological Park in Hino, in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area, as severe heat affected parts of Asia. The zoo suspects heat stress as a preliminary cause. Three-year-old Mugi died on July 28, 11-year-old Ichigo died three days later, and 15-year-old Luena died on Sunday.

The zoo closed its lion exhibit in late July after several animals showed symptoms including loss of appetite and lethargy. Staff sprayed water, used large industrial fans and administered intravenous fluids to cool and treat the animals. Ten lions received treatment; four are recovering while three remain ill. Officials said post-mortem examinations will determine the formal cause of death, although dehydration and signs of multiple organ failure were found in all three lions.

Some parts of Japan recorded temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher for five consecutive days in late July. South Korea recorded 42.5 degrees Celsius in Yangsan on Sunday, its highest temperature in 122 years of weather records. The World Meteorological Organization warned that a strengthening super El Niño could raise the likelihood of above-normal temperatures in large parts of the world in coming months.

The world’s eight leading listed oil producers made about $93 billion in profit from April to June amid the Iran conflict and a global energy crunch, according to a Guardian analysis published on August 5, 2026. The report said the US-Israel war involving Iran pushed energy prices higher, with crude oil exceeding $126 a barrel at one point. Their combined profit was nearly double the figure of just under $50 billion recorded in the same period last year.

The companies were Saudi Aramco, BP, Shell, Equinor, TotalEnergies, Eni, Chevron and ExxonMobil. Aramco reported net income of more than $33 billion, up 34 percent. BP reported $5.73 billion in profit, Shell $9.84 billion in net income, Chevron $12.2 billion, and ExxonMobil $14.5 billion. The eight companies’ combined market value also rose by about $600 billion to more than $3 trillion.

Environmental groups said oil companies had profited from supply instability and urged that some earnings be used for climate-damage measures and renewable-energy investment. Global Witness official Patrick Galey called for oil companies to pay their fair share of tax. UN climate chief Simon Stiell said coal, oil and gas use must be reduced rapidly in favour of renewable energy.

Continuous heavy rainfall and mountain runoff from upstream in India have pushed the Teesta River above its danger level in Lalmonirhat. At 9am on Wednesday, August 5, water at the Dalia point of the Teesta Barrage was flowing 13 centimetres above the danger mark. The water began rising rapidly from Tuesday night, raising fears of severe flooding among residents of riverside areas.

The Water Development Board and local sources said heavy rainfall in the upstream Indian areas over several days had increased the river’s flow. Roads and cropland in char areas have begun to go underwater, while low-lying riverside parts of Lalmonirhat have already been flooded. Boats and rafts have become the only means of communication in some char areas. Waterlogged families are facing hardship with livestock, children, elderly people and persons with disabilities, alongside concerns over snakes and poisonous insects.

Residents said flood-control embankments and elevated riverside roads are at risk under intense water pressure, alleging that the embankments have not been repaired for a long time. Dalia Water Development Board Executive Engineer Amitabh Chowdhury confirmed the water level. Lalmonirhat Executive Engineer Sunil Kumar Ray urged riverside and char residents to move with maximum caution.

Iraq exported more than 30 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz between July 4 and August 4, according to an AFP report published on August 5, 2026. The volume was about 29 percent of Iraq’s average monthly exports before the war. Iraq’s state oil marketing company SOMO said an estimated 35.5 million to 37 million barrels were transported through the strait in July.

Before the war, Iraq exported an average of 105 million barrels of oil each month through the Strait of Hormuz. Most of those supplies came from oil terminals in the southern Basra area. SOMO chief Ali Nizar provided the July transport estimate cited in the report.

Nizar said Iraq also exported another 7 million barrels through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline via the port of Ceyhan during the same period. Iraq transported some crude through Syria by tanker trucks as well. Discussions are still under way on plans to build a pipeline to Syria’s port of Baniyas.

At least seven people have died in landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rain in central Sri Lanka, according to an Al Jazeera report published Tuesday. Several others were injured, while schools in the country’s central highland areas were ordered closed because of the conditions. Heavy rainfall caused extensive damage in the tea-producing mountainous region.

Pradeep Kodippili, a spokesperson for the government’s Disaster Management Centre, said five people died after two houses were buried by landslides in the central region. Two other people drowned in floodwaters. The rain and flooding damaged 129 homes, and about 3,500 people were moved to safer locations.

Sri Lanka’s navy and army were deployed to rescue people stranded by floodwaters. Footage aired by local broadcaster Hiru TV showed soldiers walking along submerged roads to evacuate trapped families. Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts are mountainous and difficult to access, with slopes long vulnerable to landslides during the rainy season. Officials have not announced when schools in affected districts will reopen, saying the decision will depend on weather conditions in the coming days.

Heavy rainfall and upstream flows have made the Teesta turbulent in Nilphamari, where water is running 13 centimeters above the danger level. At 9am on Wednesday, the water level at the Dalia point in Dimla was recorded at 52.28 centimeters, against a danger mark of 52.15 centimeters. The river remained at the same level at 10am.

Floodwater has begun entering low-lying areas in Dimla upazila, including Purba Chhatnai, Khagakharibari, Tepakharibari, Khalisha Chapani, Jhunagach Chapani and Goyabari unions. Low-lying areas of Golmunda, Dawabari and Shaulmari unions in Jaldhaka upazila have also started receiving floodwater.

The district’s average rainfall was recorded at 132.0 millimeters. Authorities opened 44 sluice gates on the barrage. Amitabh Chowdhury, executive engineer of the Dalia Water Development Board, said Teesta water had been flowing 13 centimeters above the danger level since 6am.

International crude oil prices declined on hopes of a possible agreement to normalize shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The report, published on August 5, said Brent crude, a key global benchmark, had fallen below $80 a barrel after exceeding $100 during the most intense period of the war.

By 1:10 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time on Wednesday, Brent had risen 26 cents, or about 0.33 percent, to $79.62 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude was trading 12 cents, or 0.16 percent, higher at $75.90 a barrel. Investor confidence also increased amid expectations of a possible deal to restore shipping through the strait.

Analysts said ongoing talks between Iran and Oman, the stability of the US economy, and record profits at US companies contributed to positive market sentiment. On Tuesday, as Brent declined, the Dow Jones ended above 54,000 points at a new record. Analysts cautioned, however, that the positive market situation could change quickly if the Hormuz discussions fail to produce an agreement.

Kuakata, a tourist destination in Patuakhali, is experiencing up to 15 or 16 power cuts a day because it receives roughly half of its electricity demand from the national grid. The report, published on August 5, says tourists, hotel and resort owners, restaurant operators and local residents are facing severe disruption. Many tourism-related businesses are relying on generators for much of the day to keep operating.

The Kuakata zonal office of Patuakhali Palli Bidyut Samity supplies Kuakata municipality and the unions of Mahipur, Latachapli, Dhulasar and Dalbuganj. Residents said outages have occurred frequently during both day and night for several days. About 200 residential hotels and motels, more than 100 restaurants and other tourism businesses have had normal operations disrupted, while generator fuel and operating costs have increased.

Deputy General Manager Mostafa Aminur Rashed said local demand stands at 11 to 12 megawatts, while the area receives only 5 to 6 megawatts from the national grid. He said Kuakata has no additional allocation or special budget as a tourist destination, and the office has requested extra power allocations from higher authorities. Residents and tourism stakeholders called for a separate allocation and increased grid supply.

A concert titled “Barsha Biplober Gaan” has been arranged at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital on Wednesday afternoon to mark the Victory Day of the historic July mass uprising. Organizers said the event, arranged by the Monsoon Cultural Alliance, will begin at 3 p.m.

Performers listed for the concert include Parsa Mahjabeen, Sejan, Kureghor, Arbovirus, AvoidRafa, Asif Akbar, Shironamhin, Ark (Hasan) and Artcell. Hasnat Abdullah MP, chief organizer for the southern region of the National Citizen Party, is serving as convener of the event’s implementation committee.

Tahsin Riaz, joint member secretary of the NCP, is overseeing overall management. Acting Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal is expected to attend as chief guest, while Whip Nur-e-Alam and opposition chief whip Md Nahid Islam are listed as special guests.

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Human Resources, Muhannad bin Ahmed Al-Issa, said Bangladeshi workers can renew their iqama under another employer if their original employer or sponsor does not renew it. The announcement was made during a bilateral meeting on Tuesday with Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, according to a report published on August 4, 2026.

Al-Issa said workers would be able to renew their iqama promptly under another employer or sponsor in such circumstances, without legal obstacles. Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Consular Dr. Mohammed A. M. Alshamri was also among the Saudi delegation at the meeting.

Bangladesh proposed formal reviews and renewals of three domestic worker recruitment agreements, a Skills Verification Program agreement, and a general worker recruitment agreement. It also called for meetings of a joint commission and joint technical committee, and proposed a Saudi-Bangladesh joint technical training institute in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi officials urged increased recruitment of skilled workers ahead of the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, protections for female domestic workers, and clemency for Bangladeshi workers held in Saudi detention facilities during Ramadan and Eid.