Bangladesh Bank extended a record Tk 4.10 trillion in liquidity support to commercial banks in June 2026, according to its ‘Money Market Dynamics’ report. The central bank provided the funds through repo, Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF), and Special Liquidity Facility mechanisms, marking the highest single-month assistance on record. The move came as the banking sector faced mounting liquidity pressure.

Sector insiders said weaker banks have long depended on central bank support, but the situation worsened in June following instability linked to the appointment of a new chairman at Islami Bank, which triggered heavy deposit withdrawals. As a result, Bangladesh Bank had to extend additional liquidity assistance to stabilize the bank and the broader sector.

The report showed Tk 1.79 trillion was lent via repo, Tk 1.49 trillion under SLF, and Tk 804.73 billion through the Special Liquidity Facility. Officials noted that stronger banks typically use repo borrowing, while weaker or irregular banks rely more on special facilities. Most of these short-term loans are repaid within their maturity periods, keeping net exposure relatively low.

International oil prices fell slightly on Tuesday as reports emerged of mediation efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran. Brent crude dropped by 35 cents, or 0.4 percent, to 88.87 dollars per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for September delivery remained nearly unchanged at 82.47 dollars. The decline followed a recent surge that had pushed prices above 90 dollars per barrel earlier in the month.

The price movement came amid heightened geopolitical developments. Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about disruptions to oil supplies from one of the world’s leading exporters. A senior Iranian official said Tehran had received a 10-day ceasefire proposal from mediators aimed at building on a June 17 interim agreement. However, hostilities continued as the US launched new strikes on Iranian cities, prompting retaliatory attacks by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on American military sites in the Middle East.

Analysts noted that while the ceasefire discussions have temporarily eased price pressures, uncertainty remains over whether the negotiations will yield lasting results.

An illegal chemical factory in Keshabpur, Jashore, has been accused of severely polluting the local environment with acid and chemical waste, endangering crops, livestock, birds, plants, and public health. Residents report that the soil and water have turned reddish, and many people are suffering from skin and respiratory diseases. Sixty families from two villages have submitted a petition to the Keshabpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer demanding the closure of the factory and legal action against its owner, Ruhul Amin.

According to the complaint, Ruhul Amin established the factory three years ago in Khatiakhali village without environmental clearance, using acids and imported chemicals to color iron products. The factory lacks a waste treatment system, releasing thousands of liters of chemical-laden water into nearby fields and homes. Teachers and residents say the contamination is destroying crops and trees, while monsoon rains worsen the pollution, flooding about 20 acres of farmland.

The Upazila Nirbahi Officer confirmed receiving the complaint and stated that an investigation is underway to take legal measures against the illegal operation.

The construction of the Anandabazar Bridge on the Garaduara–Mekhal Sarang Road in Hathazari, Chattogram, remains incomplete even two years after work began. Despite an extension beyond the original deadline, the contractor has not finished the project, leaving thousands of residents, including students, facing serious travel difficulties. Local authorities have stated that efforts are underway to complete the remaining work as soon as possible.

On-site observations show that the bridge pillars are finished, and iron structures for one span have been installed, but progress is slow. Recent rainfall has raised water levels in the river, further complicating construction. To maintain connectivity, the contractor has built a temporary bamboo footbridge, which residents and students use at personal risk.

According to the Hathazari Upazila LGED office, the project began on October 10, 2023, under contractor Majed Enterprise, with a budget of Tk 31.67 million and a completion target of October 14, 2024. Officials cited heavy rainfall as a key reason for the delay and confirmed that instructions have been issued to expedite completion.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a major relaxation in the renewal process for domestic workers’ residency permits, known as Iqama. From now on, employers can issue or renew Iqamas for as short as three months, instead of paying fees for one or two years at once. The initiative was jointly launched by the Ministry of Interior, the General Directorate of Passports, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and the recruitment platform Musaned.

According to local media Okaz, the new system allows employers to pay only for the selected duration, such as three months or its multiples, easing the financial burden on households. The service is available online through the government’s Absher digital platform.

Authorities said the decision aims to accommodate the diverse needs of domestic work, align with employers’ financial capacities, and modernize residency services as part of expanding digital government operations.

Heavy rainfall and upstream hill torrents have caused erosion at the Karatoa River embankment in Chak Rahimapur village under Sapmara Union of Gobindaganj upazila, Gaibandha. To prevent further damage, a geo bag dumping project worth 2.9 million taka has been launched, involving the placement of 8,000 geo bags. The initiative was inaugurated on Sunday afternoon by Zulfiqar Ali, Sub-Divisional Engineer of the Water Development Board, Gaibandha, under the direction of Member of Parliament Shamim Kaiser Lincoln.

The inauguration event was attended by officials from the Water Development Board, the project contractor Hasanur Rahman Chowdhury Duke, local government representatives, and residents from nearby villages. According to Engineer Zulfiqar Ali, 500 sand-filled geo bags have already been checked, marked, and prepared for placement, while the remaining bags will be dumped urgently at the erosion site to control the river’s strong current.

The project aims to stabilize the embankment and protect nearby communities from potential flooding and further erosion caused by the rising water flow.

Continuous rainfall has severely damaged the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Sonargaon, turning several sections into dangerous death traps. Thousands of vehicles are forced to travel through pothole-ridden stretches daily, facing high risks of accidents and increased fears of robbery, especially at night. The damaged areas extend roughly 14 kilometers from the eastern side of Kanchpur Bridge through Madanpur, Langalbandh, Mograpara intersection, and Meghna toll plaza.

Drivers report that potholes filled with rainwater make it difficult to judge their depth, leading to frequent accidents and vehicle breakdowns. Many complain that poor-quality repair work has worsened the situation. Taxi and bus drivers say nighttime driving has become particularly hazardous due to hidden holes and mechanical failures.

According to the Roads and Highways Department’s executive engineer Abdur Rahim, continuous rain and poor drainage have caused new potholes. He said repair work has already begun and, weather permitting, the road could be made safe for travel within a week.

Continuous heavy rainfall and mountain runoff have caused severe flooding in Lohagara upazila of Chattogram, damaging homes, roads, and public infrastructure. According to the upazila administration’s preliminary report, losses across 13 sectors—including housing, agriculture, fisheries, education, health, and power—amount to Tk 43.35 crore. The floods affected 23,750 families in nine unions, leaving many people stranded and homeless as water from the Tonkaboti, Dolu, and Hangor rivers inundated large areas.

The administration reported partial damage to 83 kilometers of roads, four bridges, 20 culverts, 184 hectares of cropland, and 15 kilometers of electrical lines. Relief efforts have included distribution of 1,005 packets of dry food and 50 tons of rice, while additional requests for 15 tons of rice and 1,200 bundles of tin have been made to higher authorities. Local social groups and donors have also joined the relief work.

Officials said floodwaters have started receding as rainfall subsides, and a detailed damage report has been sent to higher authorities for further action.

Continuous rainfall and upstream hill floods have caused a steady rise in the Jamuna River’s water level in Sirajganj, leading to severe erosion along riverbanks. Hundreds of residents in Shahjadpur, Kazipur, and Chowhali upazilas have lost homes and farmland as the river devours new areas daily. Low-lying and char regions are now inundated, and several educational institutions and flood centers face imminent risk.

According to the Sirajganj Water Development Board, the river has been rising since July 13, with water levels increasing by three centimeters in the last 24 hours at both the Sirajganj town protection embankment and Kazipur’s Meghaighat point. The Civil Surgeon’s Office has identified 32 of the district’s 83 unions as vulnerable and has taken health preparedness measures to address potential post-flood risks.

Local residents blame illegal sand extraction during the dry season for worsening erosion during the monsoon. Authorities are currently using sandbags to slow down the damage, but many families remain displaced and without shelter.

An illegal chemical factory in Keshabpur, Jashore, has caused severe environmental pollution, endangering crops, livestock, trees, and local biodiversity. Residents report that acid and chemical waste from the factory have turned soil and water reddish, spreading foul odors and causing skin and respiratory diseases among men, women, and children. Sixty families from two villages have petitioned the Keshabpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer to shut down the factory and take legal action against its owner, Ruhul Amin.

According to the complaint, Ruhul Amin, from Shyamkur village in Monirampur, established the factory three years ago without official approval or environmental clearance. The facility uses acids and imported chemicals to color metal products and discharges untreated waste into nearby land and water. During the monsoon, about 20 acres of farmland become flooded with chemical water, damaging crops and trees. Locals allege that Ruhul Amin has expanded his operations and amassed wealth through this illegal business.

The Upazila Nirbahi Officer confirmed receiving the complaint and stated that an investigation and legal action will follow.

Road expansion work is continuing on the Dhaka Bypass from Madanpur to Bhulta–Gausia in Narayanganj with electric poles still standing in the middle of the road. The project, part of a 48-kilometer four-lane upgrade under a 2019 public-private partnership, has left hundreds of poles in place, raising fears among drivers, passengers, and local residents about potential accidents. Despite the ongoing construction, no effective steps have been taken to remove the poles, and the situation has become a safety concern.

Local residents expressed frustration that safety issues are being ignored even as the road is being paved around the poles. Officials involved in the project said the Rural Electrification Board has been repeatedly requested to remove the poles but has not acted effectively. In response, the local electricity authority stated that delays in soil preparation by the road construction team have prevented timely removal. The project authority expects completion by December this year despite the slow progress.

The unresolved coordination between the road and electricity departments continues to delay the project and heighten safety risks for road users.

Dubai International Airport continues to operate at nearly full capacity despite ongoing military tensions and airspace restrictions across the Middle East, according to Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths. Speaking to Bloomberg on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Airshow, Griffiths said airport operations remain normal and passenger traffic has not been significantly affected. Emirates Airline is currently operating 80 to 90 percent of its regular flight schedule, using Saudi airspace and southern alternative routes while northern routes remain restricted.

Since the start of the regional crisis, Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airports have handled over six million passengers, more than 32,000 aircraft movements, and over 213,000 tons of cargo. Griffiths said these figures demonstrate the resilience and capacity of Dubai’s aviation infrastructure amid geopolitical uncertainty.

About 50 international airlines are currently operating in Dubai, roughly half the normal number. However, Emirates’ additional flights have offset much of the capacity gap. Some major European carriers, including British Airways and Air France, have delayed resuming services due to government travel advisories and insurance conditions, not operational issues at Dubai Airport.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated that energy security has become a major challenge amid the current global situation. Speaking on Monday at a workshop titled “Voice of Development: Bridging Dialogues, Policies and Partnerships for Sustainable Development” at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, he emphasized the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and expand renewable energy, particularly solar power in rural areas. He noted that NGOs could play a key role by installing rooftop solar panels and using net metering to collect payments.

The minister said that fossil fuel imports have become increasingly difficult, with the government spending about USD 2 billion in two months on energy imports, putting pressure on foreign reserves. He highlighted growing gas shortages and reliance on imported LNG, whose prices are also rising. The government is providing large subsidies to the energy sector, which he described as unsustainable for the long term.

Tuku added that the government plans to raise solar power generation to 10,000 megawatts during its current term, reducing import dependency and saving funds for other development sectors.

Bangladesh’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said the government is moving forward with the implementation of a plan to establish solar power plants with a total capacity of 10,000 megawatts. He made the remarks on Monday while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop titled “Unnayan Konthoshor” organized by the National Development Program at the China Friendship Conference Center.

The minister noted that rising costs in the power and energy sector have become a major challenge for the government. Since taking office, the government has spent around 2 billion dollars on energy imports, with global conflicts driving up import expenses and electricity generation costs, putting pressure on the country’s foreign currency reserves. He also said that although the previous government achieved success in securing maritime boundaries, it failed to ensure effective progress in exploring and extracting marine energy resources, while neighboring countries have advanced in this area.

Tuku emphasized that the development of renewable energy is crucial for building a welfare-oriented state and called for greater investment and technical cooperation from development partners. He added that tax relaxations have been introduced in the current budget to encourage solar power use at individual and commercial levels.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) expects to sign an operational agreement with a Japanese consortium for the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by late August or early September. CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md. Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq confirmed that the terminal’s inauguration date remains set for December 16, and once operational, international flights will operate from the new facility without flight disruptions.

He made the remarks at a workshop on Civil Aviation and Air Traffic Operations held at CAAB headquarters in Kurmitola, Dhaka. The event, organized by CAAB’s Public Relations Department, aimed to enhance journalists’ technical understanding of aviation operations. Senior CAAB officials presented on airport management, air traffic control, passenger services, and international safety standards.

The chairman emphasized the importance of accurate and responsible aviation reporting, noting that the workshop would help journalists gain practical knowledge of civil aviation and airport management. He added that CAAB plans to hold similar sessions on operations and safety to strengthen collaboration with the media.