About 45 senior businesspeople and executives representing roughly 25 leading US industrial and commercial firms will visit Bangladesh late next week to explore increased American investment. Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin announced the planned visit at a press briefing in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on August 1. The delegation is scheduled to meet officials from government ministries and offices, as well as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Amin said the visit follows a courtesy meeting between Rahman and Sergio Gor, the US president’s special envoy for South and Central Asia. According to the spokesperson, the meeting covered economic ties, trade, investment, export growth, import activity and new areas of bilateral cooperation. He said both sides discussed ways to increase US investment in Bangladesh, expand bilateral trade and strengthen US companies’ role in creating jobs.

Amin also said the US State Department had revised its Bangladesh travel advisory from Level 3 to Level 2, which the government described as a positive signal for investors, businesses, tourists and global engagement. The government expects the upcoming delegation’s visit to create opportunities for new investment, expanded trade and long-term economic cooperation. Rahman separately met local business representatives Saturday to discuss investment conditions, energy shortages, tax reform and investment in industrial zones.

Pakistani rapper and musician Hasan Raheem will come to Bangladesh this month to perform at a concert in Dhaka. Organizer KYN Art said the event will be held on August 28 at the United Convention Centre in the capital. Raheem confirmed his planned Bangladesh appearance through a post on Instagram.

The Dhaka show is part of Raheem’s global music tour titled “Dil Ke Parde.” He has already performed concerts in North America, London and several European countries during the tour, according to the report. The report said audiences responded strongly to each of those concerts. Advance ticket sales for the Dhaka event are expected to begin online soon.

Raheem is known for R&B, hip-hop and indie-pop music. His song “Peechay Hutt” from the 14th season of Coke Studio Pakistan received wide attention and increased his recognition. “Turri Jandi,” performed in the following season, was also praised. Other popular songs listed in the report include “Paisa,” “Radha,” “Faltu Pyar,” “Aisay Kaisay” and “Mehbooba.”

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed that all ports in Bangladesh remain operational 24 hours a day to simplify business and accelerate import-export activities. The instruction was issued at a high-level meeting with leading businesspeople and industrial entrepreneurs at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on Saturday. Mahdi Amin, an adviser to the prime minister and spokesperson for the office, disclosed the decision while briefing journalists after the meeting.

Private-sector representatives had proposed round-the-clock commercial services related to imports and exports at Chattogram Port or Dhaka airport. In response, the prime minister immediately instructed all relevant government offices to coordinate and ensure 24-hour services at every port in Bangladesh. Amin said the measure would make import-export operations faster and more dynamic.

The meeting also discussed private-sector challenges, the investment environment, business expansion, and ways to attract more investment to economic zones under BEZA and BEPZA. Participants considered how to simplify existing complications in those areas. The government said it would provide full policy support to the private sector, while business representatives expressed satisfaction with immediate decisions on policy proposals raised at the meeting.

The death toll from severe flooding in India’s northeastern state of Assam has risen to 82, with nearly 200,000 people still affected, officials said on August 1. Flood impacts persist in at least five districts, although the overall situation has improved somewhat compared with Thursday. Authorities reported that two additional deaths occurred recently in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts.

Sivasagar, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon and Charaideo have suffered the greatest damage. Of 192,799 people affected statewide, Charaideo has reported 77,456 affected residents, followed by Sivasagar with 63,492 and Jorhat with 34,067. Water in the Dikhow and Dhansiri rivers remains above danger levels in Golaghat, Sivasagar and Numaligarh, and residents have been advised to avoid high-risk areas.

The state government announced a special relief package for the hardest-hit districts. About 13,000 people are staying in 54 relief camps, while 5,384 others are receiving services through 26 relief distribution centres. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state cabinet will meet insurance companies and non-banking financial companies on August 5 to discuss faster claims and temporary loan-instalment relief for affected residents.

A major leak has developed in a Titas Gas main transmission pipeline beneath the Arial Khan River in Kazirchar village of Masua union, Katiadi upazila, Kishoreganj. The report, published on August 1, said gas bubbles were continuously surfacing on the river while a strong gas smell spread through the air, alarming local residents.

Residents alleged that the pipeline was damaged during an attempt to obtain an illegal gas connection for a lime-making factory beside the river, though the allegation has not been confirmed by an investigation. Local residents, representatives and Titas Gas sources said the pipeline was installed nearly three decades ago to supply gas from Narsingdi to Kishoreganj. Gas began escaping at high pressure after a hole formed at a welding joint.

Repair supervisor Noman Mia said the large hole has made the work difficult, with 20 to 25 workers operating continuously for several weeks. Upazila Executive Officer Shamima Afroz Marliz inspected the site and said the factory’s legal documents would be checked. An investigation will determine whether an attempted illegal connection caused the leak.

Argentina and South Korea have announced a partnership to deepen cooperation in the critical minerals industry, Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said Friday. The announcement followed a meeting in Buenos Aires between Argentine President Javier Milei and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during Lee’s South American visit. It came one day after South Korea announced a similar critical minerals partnership with Chile.

Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said the agreement aims to encourage investment and joint projects in the exploration, extraction, processing and refining of critical minerals. Argentina’s presidential office said the leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, cooperation in critical minerals and energy, and developing joint projects in strategic sectors. The visit was the first by a South Korean leader to Argentina in 22 years.

On Friday, the Milei administration also authorized South Korean company Posco to expand lithium extraction operations in Salta province in northwestern Argentina. The Economy Ministry said the $547 million project could produce 23,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually and generate more than $300 million in yearly export revenue. Argentina is the world’s fifth-largest lithium producer.

A government multipurpose rescue boat is lying in mud beside the Teesta River near Kolkond Union Parishad in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur, as erosion continues to consume homesteads and farmland. The report, published on August 1, 2026, identifies the vessel as “Teesta-Rangpur-2.” Its markings say it was intended for flood-affected districts and name the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

Local residents said the boat was operated only on its inauguration day after arriving in Gangachara and has not been seen on the river since. Residents Manik Mia and Mokhlesur Rahman said water transport is needed to quickly evacuate people during floods or river erosion, particularly when road links to char areas are cut off.

Gangachara Project Implementation Officer Maidhul Islam said he was newly posted and had learned that the boat was supplied by the ministry, but the project had ended and his office had no information about it. Rangpur District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Golam Kibria said the boat was provided in fiscal year 2020-21, with no further activity after the project closed. Locals called for clarity on responsibility, storage and emergency use, and for the boat to be made operational.

US presidential special envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor said a group of American investors will visit Bangladesh next week to explore investment opportunities. He made the announcement to journalists on Saturday morning after meeting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

Gor described the meeting with the prime minister as productive and said the investors would assess which sectors in Bangladesh could be suitable for investment. He praised Rahman’s leadership, saying stability is returning to Bangladesh under his leadership. Gor also called for a swift, sustainable and political resolution to the Rohingya crisis.

Diplomatic sources said the meeting included exchanges on strengthening existing Bangladesh-US bilateral relations, expanding mutual cooperation, and contemporary regional and international issues. Economic cooperation, trade, investment, security cooperation and matters of shared interest received emphasis in the discussions. Gor stressed the need for coordinated efforts by ASEAN neighbouring countries and all relevant parties to address the Rohingya crisis. The meeting was viewed as one of the important engagements between Rahman and a high-level US representative since the formation of the government.

Bangladesh has no registered or officially recognized rice variety called “Miniket,” yet rice is widely sold under that name in markets, according to an Amardesh report published on August 1, 2026. Officials from the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and the Department of Agricultural Extension said the label is used commercially for rice from other varieties, often after polishing. The report also alleges that BRRI dhan-49 and other varieties are sold as Nazirshail.

The Food Ministry issued a circular on February 21, 2024 requiring rice sacks to list the actual paddy variety, production date, mill name and address, and mill-gate price. The circular cited inspections finding rice from the same paddy variety sold under different names and prices, misleading consumers. The report says the directive was not implemented and cites allegations of illegal transactions involving the former food minister and mill owners; no response was obtained from the accused.

The report alleges many mills polish rice by 15% to 20%, above the stated 5% to 7% limit, reducing nutritional value and weight. A Dinajpur mill owners’ representative rejected claims that Miniket does not exist and denied wrongdoing. Agricultural experts urged strict enforcement of the 2024 circular.

The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has issued a recruitment notice for 587 revenue-funded Trainee SBA-A positions. Interested candidates can submit applications online from August 3, 2026, with the application window remaining open until August 23. The application fee has been set at Tk112.

According to the notice, applicants must have passed HSC in science or an equivalent examination. They must also have at least a second division or equivalent GPA/CGPA in both SSC and HSC examinations. Candidates must be between 18 and 32 years old as of August 1, 2026.

Applicants must be in good health, willing to work hard, and physically capable of climbing electricity poles and other installations. Applications must be completed online through the designated website. Further information and the application procedure are available on the website mentioned in the recruitment notice.

The United Nations has warned that intensifying El Niño conditions could push global temperatures to more alarming levels in the coming months. A report cited by Al Jazeera on August 1, 2026 said the World Meteorological Organization expects the recurring climate phenomenon to become a major driver of weather worldwide, raising risks of heatwaves, severe drought and destructive flooding.

The warning comes as wildfires have become uncontrollable in parts of Africa and Europe, while the monsoon season has brought extensive damage and disruption across South Asia. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said El Niño is strengthening and fuelling regions already on fire. The report said sea-surface temperatures in the central Pacific could rise by at least 2.9 degrees Celsius above normal, disrupting weather systems globally and contributing to extreme heat.

WMO forecasts that nearly all land areas could experience temperatures far above normal, with the strongest harmful effects possible in Africa, southern Europe, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia and South America. Guterres called for stronger climate action and an immediate halt to new coal, oil and gas projects. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo urged governments and humanitarian agencies to turn early warnings into practical action.

Tom Holland and Zendaya-starrer Spider-Man: Brand New Day set a new opening-day box office record for a Hollywood film in India, according to the report. Released in India on July 30, the film earned Rs 60.60 crore net on its first day. The report said the result established the highest first-day collection for a Hollywood release in the country.

Box office analysts said the film surpassed the opening-day earnings of Avengers: Endgame, which collected Rs 53.60 crore net, and Avatar: The Way of Water, which earned Rs 40.30 crore net. The analysis also said it exceeded the Rs 67 crore gross opening collection record of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan.

The film was released in India one day before its wide release in the United States. The report said it achieved the result without block bookings or preview shows, practices sometimes used to raise opening-day collections. Analysts expect its four-day weekend earnings to reach between Rs 150 crore and Rs 200 crore due to a lack of major competition. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film is the 38th Marvel Cinematic Universe release.

A shifting Padma River channel and severe erosion have heightened fears among riverside communities in Munshiganj. Continuous erosion involving the Padma, Meghna, Dhaleshwari and Ichhamati has swallowed more than 50 square kilometres of the district, according to the report. Local residents say more than 100,000 people from 20,000 families have lost their belongings, with property losses exceeding Tk1,500 crore.

Erosion began at the start of this monsoon season at Tongibari’s 200-year-old Dighirpar Bazar. Near Gaondia Bazar in Louhajang, about 200 metres of blocks on a roughly 500-metre permanent river-defense embankment collapsed into the river within two months of construction. Many families moved their homes, while the Bangladesh Water Development Board used geobags and concrete blocks to bring the situation under control.

Executive Engineer Akhlak Ul Jamil said the Padma’s main channel now flows through an area that was previously a branch channel, causing erosion there. He said defense designs must be regularly reviewed using updated hydraulic and morphological data. The board said it has placed 12,000 geobags in Purbarakhi and 18,000 in Shambhu Haldarkandi to curb erosion.

Chattogram-based S Alam Group has announced the closure of 11 factories in different parts of Chattogram, with notices posted in phases from Thursday afternoon through Friday night. The factories were set to close from August 1. Notices said nearly 6,000 workers and employees would receive their outstanding dues in stages. Most of the affected units are located in the Anwara and Karnaphuli industrial areas.

Workers said the factories formally closed after they returned home following work on Thursday, while the company began paying dues to affected employees. Staff who remain on the payroll were told that all arrears and legally mandated payments would be cleared by August 6. Hasmat Ali, an employee of S Alam Refined Sugar Industries, said raw-material shortages and financial difficulties had disrupted production and made wages and allowances irregular for two years.

Another employee, Abdur Rahman, said the factories faced difficulties after restrictions were imposed last August on the company’s movable and immovable assets and bank accounts. The closed units include S Alam Refined Sugar Industries, S Alam Cement, S Alam Oil, S Alam Vegetable Oil, a bag factory and a feed mill. Attempts to obtain immediate comments from S Alam Group officials were unsuccessful.

Food and water shortages in the Garo Hills of Mymensingh are pushing wild elephants into settlements, increasing conflict with residents and farmers. Forest Department figures show that from 2014 to 2026, elephant attacks killed 49 people in the Garo Hills and nearby areas. During the same period, 35 wild elephants died in electric traps, poison bait and retaliatory attacks by people.

The report attributes the crisis to forest clearing, hill cutting for settlements and cultivation, illegal occupation and commercial tree felling, which have reduced elephant habitat and food sources. Irregular rainfall and prolonged drought linked to climate change have also prevented new vegetation from growing and dried up streams. Farmers said elephants destroy crops, while compensation is not adequately received.

Sherpur has been the worst affected district, where 30 people and 30 elephants have died in the conflict. The Balijuri Range has about 120 elephants in 8,330 acres of forest, an area experts consider unsuitable for that number. The Forest Department is planting elephant-friendly trees on 115 hectares and has initiated plans for artificial water reservoirs in several forest areas.