Power generation at the first, or Unit 1, of the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, was temporarily suspended after a mechanical fault was detected on Saturday. Plant authorities said they expect to restart the unit quickly after completing necessary repairs. Before the shutdown, the unit had been supplying 50 to 55 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.

Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant Chief Engineer Abu Bakar Siddique confirmed the development. He said the fault was identified and the required repair work had been completed. If everything remains in order, electricity generation from Unit 1 will resume within the night and its output will be connected to the national grid.

The plant's Unit 3 remains operational. The unit, which has a capacity of 275 megawatts, is currently generating about 175 megawatts for supply to the national grid. Meanwhile, the plant's Unit 2 has remained shut since 2020. The source did not provide further details on the nature of the mechanical fault or the reason for Unit 2's prolonged closure.

Chile’s Vera C. Rubin Observatory has released its clearest image yet of the COSMOS Field, one of the most intensively studied regions of the sky. The cosmic image shows more than 500,000 galaxies and over 50,000 stars in a single composite frame. It was produced with the 3.2-gigapixel, or 3,200-megapixel, LSST camera, described as the world’s largest digital camera, attached to the observatory’s 8.4-metre Simonyi Survey Telescope.

The result is not a single exposure. Hundreds of separate images were stacked to create a long exposure that makes faint light in space visible. The frame includes spiral galaxies, smooth elliptical galaxies, galaxies undergoing collisions, and reddish, faint galaxies from the early universe. A handful of bright foreground stars from the Milky Way add to the image’s visual variety.

The COSMOS Field has been studied for more than two decades since Hubble Space Telescope observations began in 2003, with data gathered across wavelengths from radio to X-rays. Rubin’s contribution is deep, wide and repeated observation under its 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time. Director Bob Blum said the image is only the beginning, with continued observations expected to enable discoveries of further cosmic events.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast rain across several parts of the country on August 3, with moderate to heavy rainfall possible in isolated areas of Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions. Many places in those three divisions may receive rain or thundershowers, while day and night temperatures nationwide are expected to remain nearly unchanged.

In its forecast valid until 6 p.m., the department said some areas of Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions could also see light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds. For Dhaka and surrounding areas, the forecast issued from 7 a.m. for the following six hours said skies could remain partly cloudy, with light rain or thundershowers possible until noon.

Dhaka recorded a minimum temperature of 28.4 degrees Celsius at 6 a.m., with relative humidity at 87 percent. The capital received 1 millimetre of rain in the previous 24 hours, while its highest temperature yesterday was 34 degrees Celsius. No warning was issued for inland river ports from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., meaning no warning signal was required.

Fast-moving wildfires in the Spokane area of Washington state have created a severe emergency, prompting local authorities to order thousands of residents to move to safety. Acting Governor Rob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency as fire intensity increased. On the afternoon of Saturday, August 1, the fire crossed the Spokane River and entered the city’s main area. Authorities placed broad parts of Spokane under the highest alert and told residents to leave their homes quickly for safe shelter.

According to Anadolu Agency, more than 80,900 hectares of land have been damaged across 12 major wildfire areas in the state. Four consecutive years of drought have made Washington’s forests and open areas highly vulnerable to fire, in what the report described as one of the state’s longest drought periods. Ferguson said persistent drought combined with strong gusty winds had made the fires more severe.

A strict ban on open burning and the use of fire in agricultural work will remain in force until the end of September. Suburban residents have faced the greatest losses, the report said, and authorities have opened temporary shelters for people whose homes are at risk or have been damaged. Officials fear that, despite August only beginning, 2026 may become one of the most severe wildfire seasons in recent years.

Bangladesh has proposed importing gas from Myanmar through a pipeline, prioritising expanded energy cooperation with its neighbouring country. The proposal was made during a meeting in Dhaka on August 2 between Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud and Myanmar Ambassador U Kyaw Soe Moe. State Minister Anindya Islam Amit and senior ministry officials also attended the meeting at the Secretariat.

Mahmud said Bangladesh has significant domestic demand for natural gas and is particularly interested in obtaining fuel from Myanmar through a pipeline. The ambassador responded positively to the proposal and said the feasibility of supplying gas as LNG could also be discussed in detail. The energy minister gave a positive response to that suggestion.

The sides also expressed interest in reviving an earlier proposal for a pipeline from Myanmar to Chattogram. Mahmud proposed a ministerial-level meeting between relevant officials of both countries to advance bilateral energy discussions. He said he would formally invite Myanmar’s energy minister to visit Bangladesh and expressed interest in visiting Myanmar if needed. The ambassador suggested reviewing the matter through a Bangladesh-Myanmar joint technical committee.

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) fined Nabisco Biscuit and Bread Factory Limited Tk 200,000 for marketing biscuits that weighed less than stated on their packages and for displaying differing, misleading weights on the front and back of the same packaging. A BSTI mobile court conducted the operation on Sunday in Tejgaon Industrial Area of Dhaka metropolitan city.

The court, led by BSTI Executive Magistrate Lutfunnesa Khanam, imposed the penalty under Section 24(41) of the Weights and Measures Standards Act, 2018. According to BSTI sources, officials checked the labelled weights of several Nabisco biscuit brands against registration certificate information during the operation. The products’ actual weights were found to be lower than the declared package weights.

The mobile court instructed the company to ensure accurate weights matching the information declared on packages when producing, selling and marketing products. It also warned that stricter legal action would follow if similar irregularities recur. Dhaka Metropolitan Police provided support during the operation, which was attended by relevant BSTI officials. BSTI said its mobile court and market-monitoring activities would continue to protect consumer rights, ensure correct weights and maintain fair trade conditions.

Bangladesh’s government has permitted green chilli imports and moved to reduce existing import taxes to curb rising prices. Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid announced the measures after visiting Shantinagar Kacha Bazar in the capital on August 2. He said imports would begin on Monday and expressed hope that prices would return to a tolerable level within two to five days.

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muqtadir, the agriculture minister and State Minister for Food Md Abdul Bari inspected the market to review supplies, prices and overall conditions for essential goods. Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam was also present. The ministers spoke with buyers and sellers and sought information on the availability and prices of different daily necessities.

Green chillies were selling for Tk320 to Tk380 per kilogram in different markets in the capital, after reaching as high as Tk400 several days earlier. Muqtadir said the government would take all necessary measures to keep market conditions tolerable for consumers. Officials hope the steps will normalize supplies of green chillies and other essential products and restore price stability.

Bangladesh received $2.85 billion in remittances in the recently concluded month of July, 15.40 percent higher than in the same period a year earlier. Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the figure in a report published on August 2, 2026.

Central bank data show that remittance inflows exceeded $3 billion for six consecutive months from December through May of the previous fiscal year. The monthly figures were $3.22 billion in December, $3.17 billion in January, $3.01 billion in February, $3.75 billion in March, $3.12 billion in April and $3.43 billion in May. March recorded the highest inflow during that six-month period.

In the final month of the fiscal year, June, remittances fell to $2.81 billion. The report said remittances have remained below $3 billion for the past two months. Expatriates sent a total of $35.56 billion to Bangladesh in fiscal year 2025-26, compared with $30.33 billion in the previous fiscal year, representing growth of 17.30 percent.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) raised the price of a 12-kilogram liquefied petroleum gas cylinder used for cooking by Tk70 to Tk1,598. The previous price was Tk1,528. According to the BERC notification issued on August 2, the revised rate will take effect from 6pm on Sunday.

BERC set the consumer-level retail price of private LPG at Tk133.15 per kilogram in line with international market conditions. The commission said it recalculated private LPG and autogas prices after considering higher international propane and butane prices, shipping costs, trader premiums and the exchange rate of the US dollar.

For August, Saudi Aramco's announced price for propane was $620 per metric ton and for butane was $640, with the average contract price set at $633 per metric ton. The adjustment also used $180 per metric ton for shipping and trader premiums and an average exchange rate of Tk123.69 per dollar. Under the new rates, a 5.5kg cylinder costs Tk732, while the largest 45kg cylinder is priced at Tk5,992.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman ordered authorities to make waterways around Dhaka operational, while directing steps to prevent river pollution, improve drainage and maintain navigability and normal water flow. The instructions were issued at a Sunday meeting on reopening waterways around the capital, chaired by the prime minister at the Cabinet Division’s special meeting room in the Bangladesh Secretariat.

According to Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Swadhin, the meeting decided to revive the waterways surrounding Dhaka. It also decided to consider proposals from interested private companies and allow them to operate water buses on the routes. The prime minister instructed relevant authorities to examine ways to prevent pollution in Dhaka’s rivers and improve the drainage system.

He also directed that various species of trees be planted beside walkways built around the rivers to support environmental protection and enhance the beauty of riverbanks. The meeting was attended by Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam, city corporation administrators and senior officials from relevant ministries and agencies.

A farmer, Abu Bakkar Siddik, 50, died after being struck by lightning while planting transplanted rice in Dhamoirhat upazila of Naogaon. The incident occurred on Sunday morning in a cropland area of Mongolia locality under Alampur union. Siddik was the son of the late Abdur Gafur Mondal of the area.

According to local sources, Siddik went to a field beside his home in the morning to plant rice amid rain. He was seriously injured when lightning suddenly struck during the work. Local people rescued him and took him to Dhamoirhat উপজেলা Health Complex for treatment.

Siddik died while undergoing treatment at the health complex. Dhamoirhat police station duty officer ASI Raihan described the death as caused by a natural disaster. After completing necessary legal procedures, the body was handed over to his relatives.

Major General (Retd.) Dr Md Sahedul Islam has formally assumed office as the new secretary general of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, or BGMEA. The announcement concerning the country’s leading trade body for the ready-made garment sector was published on August 2, 2026.

Dr Islam has more than 35 years of experience in military leadership, international diplomacy and academia. While serving as defence attaché in Washington, DC, he received the United States’ Legion of Merit. He earned PhD, MPhil and MBA degrees from the University of Dhaka, including doctoral work on reviewing and developing workers’ skills, and a Master of Management Studies from Osmania University in India.

He previously served as dean at Bangladesh University of Professionals and as treasurer and professor at Central University of Science and Technology, and also played a role in UN peacekeeping missions. BGMEA leaders said they expect his leadership to support industry growth, skilled workforce development and responses to global challenges. He pledged to work with the BGMEA board and entrepreneurs on economic conditions, product and market diversification, skills development and strengthening Bangladesh’s international market position.

A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman decided to revive waterways surrounding Dhaka and consider allowing interested private companies to operate water buses. The meeting began at 10:30am on Sunday, August 2, 2026, in the Cabinet Division’s special meeting room at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The decisions covered restoring the capital’s surrounding river routes and reviewing proposals from private operators.

The prime minister instructed relevant authorities to prevent pollution in Dhaka’s rivers, improve drainage systems, and maintain normal navigability and water flow. He also directed them to plant different species of trees beside walkways built along the rivers, with the stated aims of environmental protection and improving the appearance of riverbanks.

Those attending included Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam and State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam. Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam, Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atikur Rahman Rumon, and senior officials from relevant ministries and agencies also attended the meeting.

At least eight people have died and 13 were injured in floods and landslides triggered by persistent heavy rain in Kerala, India. Eight others remain missing, Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said on Sunday. Waterlogging and extensive property damage were reported across different parts of the state as rain and flooding continued.

Satheesan said 27 houses were completely destroyed and 196 were partially damaged. Authorities moved 5,792 people to 209 relief camps established across the state. The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for 12 districts amid the severe weather conditions.

According to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, some areas received up to 320 millimetres of rainfall on Saturday, flooding roads and low-lying areas. Ayyankunnu in Kannur district recorded the highest total of 320 millimetres. Many other places in northern Kerala received between 90 and 180 millimetres of rain from 3 a.m. until midnight on Saturday.

Bangladesh’s government is considering shifting retail electricity distribution and customer management to private companies, while retaining electricity generation and wholesale supply under state control. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said the prime minister had given consent to move ahead with the idea, but stressed that it is not being implemented immediately and is still under study.

The government cites mounting financial pressure in the power sector, including Tk67,000 crore in overdue bills and a possible Tk41,000 crore subsidy requirement in the current fiscal year. The Power Development Board buys electricity at higher prices and sells it at lower, regulator-set rates to six distribution companies, with the government covering losses through subsidies. The minister said private management could improve efficiency, billing collection and supply operations.

Energy experts warn that privatization without a strong, independent regulator could raise consumer costs and create service disparities in remote, hilly or sparsely populated areas. They argue that strengthening the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission, improving accountability and revising existing contracts should come before any transfer of distribution responsibilities. Concerns were also raised about workers’ futures and potentially opaque agreements.