The future of the 800MW Rupsa combined-cycle power plant in Khulna is uncertain because it has no assured fuel supply, according to a July 27, 2026 report by Amar Desh. The project has cost about Tk8,500 crore from foreign loans and government funds, but it has not supplied electricity to the national grid. It had been expected to begin supplying power in 2022, but a lack of gas prevented that outcome.

The project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council in 2018. Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank loans of $500 million, alongside government financing, supported construction. Although Petrobangla had provided a gas-supply assurance before the loan agreement, gas has not been delivered as required. Plans involving India’s H Energy and a floating LNG terminal at Payra also did not materialize.

The Justice Moinul Commission described the plant as unnecessary and a waste of state money, recommending legal action against those responsible. Officials say much of the equipment’s lifetime and its warranty period have already elapsed. NWPGCL says it could prepare for commissioning next year if Petrobangla confirms fuel supplies, while commercial generation would depend on gas availability.

At a parliamentary committee meeting on 27 July 2026 at the Parliament Building, NCP lawmaker and committee member Hasnat Abdullah proposed announcing monetary policy every three months instead of the current six-month interval. The parliamentary committee on the Finance Ministry discussed the proposal under chair Mushfiqur Rahman. Bangladesh Bank described the suggestion positively and said it could be adopted.

The meeting reviewed Bangladesh Bank’s monetary policy framework and discussed a gradual move from the current interest rate-based policy toward inflation-targeting monetary policy to achieve long-term economic goals. The central bank presented its existing framework, implementation and future priorities, after which committee members exchanged views on monetary policy and the future of the financial sector.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman called the quarterly policy proposal good advice and said he believed it should be taken. Jamaat lawmaker Saiful Alam also raised problems at Islami Bank and urged Bangladesh Bank to demonstrate a zero-tolerance policy. He said Tk 2,400 crore had been withdrawn from the bank in one month. The governor said Islamic banking was being expanded and that work was under way to strengthen Shariah boards.

Trade through the Petrapole-Benapole border, the main land-port link between India and Bangladesh, has declined, with freight truck movements falling in both directions. The report, published on July 27, 2026, said Indian cargo trucks entering Bangladesh via Petrapole have nearly halved, while Bangladeshi trucks heading to India have also dropped markedly. In normal times, 450 to 500 Indian trucks entered Bangladesh daily; the current figure is 200 to 300. Bangladesh’s daily export truck movements to India have fallen from 250 to 300 to below 100.

During 13 working days from July 1 to 15 this year, 3,038 Indian trucks carrying various goods entered Bangladesh. During the same period, only 753 trucks carrying goods went from Bangladesh to India. Traders attributed the trade crisis mainly to reciprocal restrictions imposed by the two countries after the fall of the Hasina government in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024.

Bangladesh ended facilities for importing Indian yarn through Benapole, Bhomra, Sonamasjid, Banglabandha and Burimari land ports on April 15, 2025. Jashore Chamber president Mizanur Rahman Khan urged government action to restore land-route imports of goods restricted by India. Petrapole representative Kartik Chakraborty said resumed tourist visas and India’s ambassador assuming duties in Dhaka offered hope for normalized relations and stronger trade.

Bangladesh Bank has instructed banks to resolve disciplinary cases against officers and employees within a maximum of two months. The central bank’s Banking Regulation and Policy Department, or BRPD, issued a circular on Sunday, according to a report published on July 26, 2026. Under the new instruction, any pending disciplinary case against a bank officer or employee must be concluded within two months in line with service rules.

The circular refers to a policy governing the recruitment of officers and employees from one bank to another, established under BRPD Circular Letter No. 6 issued on May 4, 2005. Bangladesh Bank said a provision of that earlier circular had been amended because disciplinary allegations at different banks were taking a long time to resolve.

The amendment was made to ensure consistency with the Bangladesh Labour Rules, 2015, the circular said. All other provisions of the 2005 instruction will remain unchanged, according to Bangladesh Bank.

Bangladesh will need about $421 billion in additional financing from fiscal 2026-27 through 2029-30 to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, according to a review of the government’s updated SDG financing strategy. The estimate was presented on Sunday at a national validation workshop on Development Finance Assessment and SDG financing in the capital.

The Economic Relations Division organized the workshop with support from UNDP and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bangladesh. Participants reviewed findings of the Development Finance Assessment report and the updated financing strategy. ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky said the remaining period for SDG implementation was highly challenging because of a large financing gap, limited time and an uncertain global situation.

Dhaka University economics professor Dr Selim Raihan said most of the required funding would need to come from domestic public and private financing, climate finance and international partnerships. UN Resident Coordinator Carol Flore-Smereczniak highlighted opportunities to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio and encourage SDG-aligned private investment. The assessment and financing strategy will be finalized using feedback received at the workshop.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said Japan is an old and trusted friend of Bangladesh that has stood beside the country during difficult times. She made the remarks as chief guest at the Japan-Bangladesh Business Women Conference at Hotel Sheraton in Banani, Dhaka, at 6pm on July 26. She said the two countries were working toward mutual prosperity.

Khanam said Japan has made important contributions to Bangladesh’s infrastructure development and technological progress. She also cited former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s role in women’s empowerment, describing the provision of free secondary education for women as a landmark example that expanded female education and empowerment.

The minister said current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, following Khaleda Zia, had made education free for women through degree level. The conference discussed trade, investment, women entrepreneur development and expanded mutual cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan. Japan’s ambassador to Bangladesh, the chief representative of JETRO, leaders of the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries, businesspeople and women entrepreneurs attended.

Bangladesh Bank has issued comprehensive, stricter guidelines governing the establishment, expansion and relocation of bank business centres, as well as office rental, leasing and contract renewals. The Banking Regulation and Policy Department-1 issued the “Guideline on Establishment, Relocation, Rental/Lease and Renewal of Agreements for Bank Business Centres, 2026” on Sunday, according to a report published on July 26, 2026. The new directive replaces instructions issued on January 19, 2023.

The guidelines aim to balance banking services between urban and rural areas, curb unnecessary branch expansion, contain rental and operating costs, and increase financial inclusion. Banks must obtain board approval before such activities and then secure necessary Bangladesh Bank approval. Headquarters must be located at registered addresses, while unnecessary office space and luxurious infrastructure are discouraged.

A bank seeking to open one new urban branch must also apply for a rural branch, and at least 50 percent of approved new branches must be located in rural areas. At least 60 percent of approved sub-branches must be placed in other municipalities and rural areas. Operating or establishing a business centre without approval will be treated as a legal violation, with action under existing laws.

Scientists analyzing NASA’s latest Juno spacecraft observations estimate that Europa, Jupiter’s enigmatic moon, may contain a salty ocean beneath its ice shell holding more than twice the combined water of all Earth’s oceans. The average thickness of Europa’s subsurface ice layer in the observed area was estimated at about 29 kilometers.

On September 29, 2022, Juno flew just 360 kilometers above Europa. Its Microwave Radiometer examined microwave radiation at different wavelengths to determine the ice layer’s thermal properties. Europa has a diameter of 3,120 kilometers, smaller than Earth’s Moon, but scientists estimate its buried ocean could be 60 to 150 kilometers deep. Ice thickness may vary across different regions.

The findings do not settle whether Europa can support life, because water alone is insufficient. Chemical energy, biologically necessary materials, and exchange between the seafloor and ice-covered surface are also needed. NASA’s Europa Clipper, launched on October 14, 2024, is expected to reach Jupiter’s orbit in April 2030 and conduct about 50 missions around Europa using radar, cameras, spectrometers and magnetic measurements.

Bangladesh received $2.29945 billion in remittances during the first 25 days of July, equivalent to Tk28,283.235 crore in local currency. The updated Bangladesh Bank report said Islami Bank handled the largest amount among the country’s banks. The figures were reported on July 26.

Private banks received $1.6571 billion of the remittance inflow during the period. State-owned banks received $337.17 million, while specialised banks received $301.55 million. Branches of foreign banks received a further $3.62 million, according to the Bangladesh Bank report.

Islami Bank received $357.68 million, the highest remittance amount among individual banks in the first 25 days of July. Bangladesh Krishi Bank ranked second with $301.55 million. BRAC Bank received $226.09 million, followed by Agrani Bank with $169.31 million. The report provided the bank-wise figures for remittance received during the period.

A technical fault at one of two floating LNG terminals in Maheshkhali has sharply reduced gas supplies to Dhaka and nearby districts, causing severe disruption in homes, CNG filling stations and factories. The report, published on July 26, says the situation has worsened over the past week, while the energy division has been unable to provide a definite timeline for restoring normal supply.

Residents in New Market, Mohammadpur and the 600 Feet Road area reported little or no gas for cooking, while CNG drivers said many pumps lacked pressure and some queues lasted 10 to 12 hours. Shortages have also affected Narayanganj, Gazipur and Narsingdi, where industrial and household users are facing supply constraints. Normal production at factories in Savar and Gazipur has been seriously disrupted. CNG station owners are also preparing for a strike over demands for higher commissions.

State Minister Anindya Islam Amit said experts from the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates identified the fault and are carrying out repairs, but the technical complexity prevents a firm deadline. Bangladesh supplies about 2,700 to 2,800 million cubic feet of gas daily against demand of 3,800 million. The government says work is underway on additional FSRUs, a land-based LNG terminal at Matarbari and investment initiatives for gas exploration.

An international team of astronomers has reported the first discovery of a moon outside the Solar System, according to a research report published in Nature. The object was identified in the CD-35 2772 star system, 71 light-years from Earth, using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile. Researchers describe the finding as a milestone for space science.

Scientists said the newly found moon has a mass at least equal to Jupiter’s. It orbits a brown dwarf rather than an ordinary planet; the brown dwarf is about 33 times larger than Jupiter and cannot generate the nuclear power needed to become a star. Lead author Kevin Whai of Diego Portales University said brown dwarfs occupy a position between ordinary planets and the smallest stars.

The brown dwarf was detected with an optical telescope in 2011, but the moon could not be seen directly from 71 light-years away. Whai’s team used the radial-velocity method to measure gravitational motion in the brown dwarf and confirm the moon’s presence and size. Researchers are seeking another possible moon, while the planned Extremely Large Telescope is expected to improve future searches.

A floating LNG terminal operated by Accelerate Energy in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, has remained out of service for four days, causing a severe gas shortage in Chattogram and other parts of Bangladesh. In a July 26, 2026 statement, Petrobangla said the outage has created long queues at CNG filling stations while gas-dependent industries are struggling to maintain normal production.

Petrobangla said the specific cause of the fire and technical fault at the FSRU has not yet been identified. Domestic and foreign technical specialists are working continuously to repair the damaged terminal. The impact has been greatest in the Chattogram region, where reduced gas pressure has halted supplies at many CNG pumps and limited operations at others, leaving drivers waiting for hours.

Bangladesh’s daily gas demand is about 3,800 MMCFD, but the outage has reduced national grid supply by roughly 450 MMCFD per day. The country’s two floating LNG terminals normally provide around 970 MMCFD, about 37 percent of total gas supply. Petrobangla did not provide a timeline for restoring service, but said supply would resume after repairs are completed.

Technology experts have advised smartphone users to carefully review permissions requested by new apps before installation, warning that unnecessary access to cameras, locations, microphones and contact lists can endanger personal data and privacy. The advice was published on July 26, 2026, as mobile apps are increasingly used for banking, shopping, social media and photo editing.

Location access may be needed for maps, ride-sharing and food-delivery services, but users are advised to allow it only while an app is in use when continuous access is unnecessary. Microphone permission is normal for voice calls, video meetings and audio-recording apps, while requests from ordinary photo-editing or flashlight apps should prompt caution.

The report recommends granting limited access to selected photos instead of an entire gallery where possible, and checking whether non-communication apps genuinely need contacts access. App permissions can be changed or disabled later through smartphone settings, so users should review them regularly. Download sources also matter: installing apps from unknown or untrusted sources can raise the risk of malware or excessive data collection, according to the report.

At least seven people, including two children, were killed and 20 injured in rain- and flood-related incidents across Pakistan’s Punjab province during the past 24 hours. The report, published on July 26, said continuous heavy rainfall damaged numerous homes and killed livestock. Around 400 square kilometres of Punjab were inundated after heavy rain and overflowing drains carrying water beyond their capacity.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority said 14 rain-related incidents had been reported across the province by 2 p.m. Saturday. Four roof collapses in Lahore killed three people, while a roof collapse in Kasur killed two. A woman died in Faisalabad after a house roof collapsed, and a child drowned near Pathan Colony in Gujranwala. Further injuries were reported in Bahawalnagar, Narowal, Sialkot, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura and Okara.

PDMA Director General Umar Abbas said Punjab had not yet faced a major flood situation because water levels in major rivers, including the Ravi and Sutlej, remained normal. Authorities warned, however, that water in the Chenab and Ravi could reach moderate to high flood levels within 24 hours. The PDMA said rain-related incidents had killed 22 people and injured 183 across Punjab so far this monsoon season.

Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University has developed a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification, or LAMP, test to detect the foodborne bacterium Bacillus cereus in milk, eggs and animal feed. The research was led by Associate Professor Dr Md Atikul Haque of the university’s Microbiology Department and was reported on July 26, 2026. The method can provide a confirmed result within 90 minutes, while the bacterium is associated with health risks including diarrhoea and food poisoning.

Nearly 80 percent of field samples tested positive for at least one toxin gene, according to the research. Animal feed showed the highest contamination, while significant contamination was also detected in milk and eggs. Conventional PCR testing takes three to five hours and requires an expensive thermal cycler. The LAMP test costs about US$2.5 per test and can be conducted using a basic water bath or heating block.

Researchers said the technique is about 10,000 times more sensitive and demonstrated 96.1 percent diagnostic sensitivity. Conducted with Noakhali Science and Technology University, the study was published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. Planned work includes nationwide surveillance, multiplex testing, species-specific detection and portable field kits, although researchers cited limited funding as a constraint on expansion.