Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) has received international recognition for using space technology to address climate change. The company has gained membership in the Space for Climate Observatory (SCO) and formal recognition for imaging and space-based data as Bangladesh’s national focal point. BSCL announced the development in a press release on Monday.

BSCL applied to join the international alliance on December 8, 2025, with approval from the Department of Posts and Telecommunications. The SCO Steering Committee subsequently approved Bangladesh as an associate country and national focal point. The alliance is led by the French space agency CNES and was established in 2019 at the initiative of the French government.

SCO uses satellite and local socioeconomic data to support observation, forecasting and decision-making on local climate-change impacts. In Bangladesh, its funded BanD-SOS project provides real-time forecasts for cyclones and storm surges. BSCL said the membership will create opportunities for space technology use in disaster-risk reduction, environmental monitoring and SDG implementation. A formal signing ceremony is planned at the Space Summit in Paris on September 9, 2026.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman invited South Korea’s president to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time during a courtesy meeting with South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo. The meeting took place at 2:30 p.m. on Monday at the Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The invitation came as Bangladesh and South Korea move toward signing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, aimed at strengthening trade, investment and economic cooperation.

According to Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Swadhin, Yeo briefed the prime minister on the proposed agreement at the start of the meeting. The South Korean minister said the deal, once effective, would expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation and significantly increase South Korean investment in Bangladesh. He said many Korean companies already operate successfully in Bangladesh and that more are interested in investing there.

Rahman invited Korean companies to invest in toys, electronics, telecommunications, automobiles, semiconductors and shipbuilding. He said South Korea could establish training centres in Bangladesh to provide training and language education for Bangladeshi workers for its shipbuilding industry. The government would take necessary measures if Korean companies seek to invest in Bangladesh’s shipbuilding sector, he said. Plans for a Bangladesh seminar involving Korean companies were also discussed.

Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Professor Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said completion of the Padma Barrage project could add between 0.5% and 1% to Bangladesh’s gross domestic product. He made the remarks on Monday at a National Press Club roundtable titled “Padma Barrage: Prospects and Challenges,” organised by the Institute for Global Co-operation Foundation.

Titumir said the project could store about 2,900 million cubic metres of water for agriculture, irrigation and hydropower generation. It is expected to produce an estimated 113 megawatts of environmentally friendly hydropower. Plans also include developing seven modern townships along riverbanks as part of sustainable urbanisation.

The barrage is intended to maintain dry-season flows in the Hisna, Mathabhanga, Gorai, Madhumati, Chanda, Barashia, Baral and Ichamati rivers. Regular irrigation could be ensured for about 4.69 million hectares of farmland across the greater Kushtia, Faridpur, Jashore, Khulna, Barishal, Pabna and Rajshahi regions. The first phase is targeted for completion by 2029, with the full project planned by 2033.

Bangladesh plans to formally seek permission for 84 weekly flights to Saudi Arabia, up from the current 49, as it moves to modernise and revise its bilateral air services agreement with the kingdom. A high-level delegation led by the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh is travelling to Saudi Arabia on Monday to finalise discussions. The initiative aims to expand air connectivity, resolve landing and take-off slot complications for Bangladeshi carriers, and ease travel for Hajj and Umrah passengers.

Industry participants say Bangladeshi airlines face recurring difficulties securing Saudi airport slots during the Hajj season. Last-minute allocations, unsuitable landing times and sudden schedule changes can leave passengers waiting for hours and lead to flight delays or cancellations. The problems affect travellers from the Ashkona Hajj Camp to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, while also increasing airlines’ operating costs.

If approved, the additional 35 weekly flights could increase services from Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah. Officials from Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines will join direct talks with Saudi slot management authorities. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita said a new agreement could expand commercial opportunities and make travel easier and more affordable for Bangladeshi expatriate workers.

An unprecedented heatwave is continuing across South Korea, where severe heat alerts remained in force across most areas, according to a report published on August 3. Temperatures have surpassed previous records, while heat-related illnesses have increased and raised public-health concerns. The Korea Meteorological Administration said temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in several parts of the country on July 29.

In the southeastern city of Daegu, the temperature rose above 40 degrees Celsius for the first time since August 1942. Nearby Yangsan recorded a high of 42.5 degrees Celsius the previous day, the highest temperature since modern weather observations began in 1904. The report described the reading as a record-breaking national high.

At least 14 people have died during the heatwave since mid-May. On Monday, a 40-year-old man died in Incheon with a body temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius. Two farmers, aged 60 and 80, were also found dead in South Chungcheong Province over the weekend. The weather administration attributed the prolonged heatwave to multiple high-pressure systems over the Korean Peninsula and intense sunlight under clear skies.

Italy issued its highest-level red heat alert for 25 cities on Monday as the country faced its fourth heatwave of the summer. The alert is the largest number of cities placed under the warning simultaneously this summer. According to local newspaper Corriere della Sera, the Health Ministry increased the number of alerted cities from 23 on Sunday to 25 on Monday.

Only Reggio Calabria and Messina were outside the red-alert list, although yellow alerts remained in force there. The Po Valley and central Italy were identified as the areas most affected, while temperatures in inland areas and Sardinia could exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Terni province in central Italy reached 41 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

Some parts of central and northern Italy could see night-time temperatures remain above 25 degrees Celsius, described by meteorologists as “super-tropical nights.” Experts cited the African anticyclone and unusually warm Mediterranean waters, with sea-surface temperatures at or above 30 degrees Celsius across broad areas. Authorities also issued orange wildfire alerts for Sicily and Emilia-Romagna, while yellow alerts warned of possible heavy rain in Apennine areas and inland Sicily.

NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a space telescope used to observe gamma-ray bursts and other high-energy astronomical events, is descending because of orbital decay. The report, published on August 3, 2026, says recent intense solar activity has slightly expanded Earth’s upper atmosphere, increasing atmospheric drag. NASA scientists estimate that, if the current trend continues, Swift could re-enter Earth’s atmosphere during the second half of 2026.

NASA has begun a special orbit-boost mission costing about $30 million to protect the observatory and keep its research operations running. Catalyst Space Technologies’ Link spacecraft was launched from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean on July 3 and is moving step by step toward Swift. Equipped with three robotic arms, Link is expected to reach an orbit near the telescope in about a month.

After arriving, Link will first inspect its solar panels and internal systems before beginning the sensitive rendezvous-and-capture process. Over subsequent months, it will monitor Swift’s movement, position and rotation, then attempt a safe capture using its mechanical arms. Controlled thrust will then gradually raise Swift’s orbit. Launched in 2004, Swift has observed gamma-ray bursts for two decades.

Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said nature-based solutions are an effective and sustainable way to protect coastal livelihoods, strengthen food security and increase climate resilience. He made the remarks on August 3 as chief guest at a national technical workshop titled “Prioritizing Nature-Based Interventions for Resilient Coastal Bangladesh” at Hotel Westin in the capital. Friendship and Conservation International organized the workshop.

Tuku said forests, wetlands, coastal vegetation belts and integrated agroforestry systems can support environmental conservation while increasing livestock feed availability and improving animal health. He said such measures also reinforce the integrated One Health concept linking human, animal and environmental health. Bangladesh has gained global recognition for addressing climate impacts, he said, but its coastal regions remain among the world’s most vulnerable areas.

Cyclones, storm surges, sea-level rise, salinity expansion and coastal erosion threaten the environment, economy, food systems and livelihoods, he said. Fisheries and livestock are major contributors to the national economy and a key livelihood base for rural people, but both sectors face climate-related risks. The government is committed to sustainable natural-resource management, ecosystem restoration and evidence-based development planning. Tuku said a national plan to plant 250 million trees over the next five years would help restore ecosystems and build resilience among vulnerable communities.

Bangladesh Coast Guard held a public awareness meeting in Chandpur to conserve fish resources, prevent illegal fishing and raise awareness among fishing communities. The meeting was organized by Coast Guard Station Chandpur at 11am on August 2 in areas adjacent to the Meghna and Dakatia rivers. Media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon disclosed the information in a press release later in the day.

Participants discussed the importance of national fish resources, ending the use of illegal and prohibited nets, abstaining from fishing during breeding seasons, and protecting rivers and aquatic biodiversity. Sustainable fisheries management was also addressed. Local fishers shared their views and problems, while the Coast Guard and relevant agencies assured them of full cooperation in conserving fish resources.

Coast Guard officials attended alongside the district fisheries officer, upazila fisheries officer, other Fisheries Department officials, representatives of local fishers' associations and members of fishing communities. The Coast Guard said it would continue such public-service initiatives to protect fish resources, curb illegal harvesting and increase public awareness.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said the government is working relentlessly to develop Bangladesh’s tourism sector sustainably and make it one of the economy’s main drivers. She made the remarks on Sunday at the oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected executive committee of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh at Gulshan Club in the capital.

Khanam congratulated the new committee and said its leadership would play an important role in developing the tourism industry. She said the government aims to build a sustainable, modern and world-class tourism sector. Work is under way on an integrated tourism master plan covering 1,498 tourist attractions, which she said would provide a long-term framework for tourism development.

The minister identified turning Cox’s Bazar into a regional tourism hub as a government priority and said the newly built Cox’s Bazar International Airport could help attract international visitors and expand the industry. She also announced plans for special discounts for expatriate Bangladeshis at Bangladesh Tourism Corporation hotels and motels. The government has set a target for tourism to contribute 6 to 7 percent of GDP and has initiated a nationwide Tourism Satellite Account to address data gaps.

Retail markets in Kuliarchar, Kishoreganj, were selling green chilies at Tk400 per kilogram, according to a report published on August 3. The sudden increase over several days has put pressure on low-income consumers. Visits to several markets in the upazila, including the traditional Lakshmipur market, found the same retail price.

Housewife Nazma Akter said high vegetable prices had disrupted household budgets, adding that vegetables were becoming unaffordable for ordinary people after fish and meat. Shopper Kajal Mia said he was buying less green chili than needed because of the higher price and that other vegetables had also become more expensive. At Japarabad market, a buyer named Sohag said he could not purchase Tk20 worth of chilies after being told to buy 100 grams for Tk40.

Vegetable trader Shariful Islam said green chilies had sold for Tk250 to Tk280 per kilogram in recent days, but wholesale prices rose after persistent rain. Another trader, Mizanur Rahman, said rain damaged chili crops and reduced supply. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Yasin Khandakar said authorities were regularly monitoring markets to keep essential commodity prices normal.

The High Court has granted bail to television actor Zaher Alvi, also known as Md. Niamat Ullah Bhuiyan, in a case accusing him of abetting the suicide of his wife, Afra Ibnat Ikra. A bench of Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher issued the order on August 2. Relevant court sources confirmed the bail on August 3, removing any barrier to his release from jail.

Senior lawyer Zainul Abedin represented Alvi in the bail hearing. Earlier, on June 18, Alvi surrendered through a lawyer before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin and sought bail. The court rejected his application and ordered him sent to jail.

The investigating officer later sought seven days of remand for a proper investigation. On June 24, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Albiruni Mir approved two days of remand, and Alvi was sent back to jail after the remand on June 30. The case alleges that Ikra was found hanging at their Mirpur DOHS home on February 28. Her father, Kabir Hayat Khan, filed the case at Pallabi police station the next day.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a courtesy meeting with South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo at the Cabinet Division in Bangladesh Secretariat at 2:30 pm on Monday. The South Korean minister briefed the prime minister on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, due to be signed between Bangladesh and South Korea. He said the agreement would expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation and significantly increase South Korean investment in Bangladesh once it takes effect.

Yeo said many South Korean companies are already operating successfully in Bangladesh and that more firms are interested in investing there. The prime minister invited South Korean companies to invest in toys, electronics, telecommunications, automobiles, semiconductors and shipbuilding. He highlighted South Korea's expertise in shipbuilding and Bangladesh's potential workforce.

The prime minister said South Korea could establish training centres in Bangladesh to train Bangladeshi workers and provide language education for work in South Korea's shipbuilding industry. He said the government would take necessary measures if South Korean companies invest in Bangladesh's shipbuilding sector. Bangladesh also outlined plans for a seminar involving South Korean companies and invited the South Korean president to visit Bangladesh.

Raozan Upazila Nirbahi Officer S. M. Rahatul Islam inspected a farmer card data collection drive in Haldia Union of Raozan, Chattogram. The visit took place on Monday afternoon at the programme run by the Upazila Department of Agricultural Extension in Union No. 1 Haldia.

During the inspection, the UNO reviewed how farmers’ information was being collected and registered, and checked the quality of services provided. He instructed the officials concerned to gather information accurately and transparently so that genuine farmers can more easily receive government agricultural services and various incentive benefits.

Raozan Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Masum Kabir, sub-assistant agriculture officers Sanjib Kumar Sushil, Siku Barua, Bhutan Barua and Tamiz Uddin were present, along with BNP leader S. M. Kamal and local dignitaries. The agriculture department said the initiative will update the farmers’ database, enabling government agricultural assistance and incentive programmes to be implemented more effectively in the future.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered the phased installation of solar panels at all important government buildings in Bangladesh to address the ongoing energy crisis and accelerate renewable-energy use. The directive was issued on Monday at a solar power-related meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office of the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat, according to Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

The initial phase will cover Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office and Finance Ministry buildings at the Bangladesh Secretariat, and the Planning Commission building, alongside other key government facilities. The government will also provide support for importing raw materials used to manufacture solar inverters and develop an economic model intended to make solar power affordable, accessible and profitable for the public.

The prime minister said solar use in government buildings would encourage wider public adoption of the technology. Separate presentations by PRAN-RFL Group and Walton Group addressed residential solar installations and connecting generated electricity to the national grid. They said the initiative could save electricity and energy while creating new employment opportunities.