Two farmers were killed in separate lightning strikes on Thursday morning in Raninagar and Manda upazilas of Naogaon district. The victims were identified as Sakhawat Hossain, 55, son of Mohammad Khaybar Ali of Malshan village in Raninagar, and Ismail Sardar, 50, son of Tahir Sardar of Elenga Mridhapara area in Manda.

According to Raninagar Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Zakaria, rain had started on Wednesday night, and Sakhawat Hossain was working in his field near his home when he was struck by lightning. In Manda, Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Matin Mondal said Ismail Sardar was also working in his field when the sky suddenly became cloudy and heavy rain began, followed by a thunderbolt that killed him instantly.

Authorities said necessary measures have been taken following the incidents.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 4.5 percent for the 2026–27 fiscal year, according to its updated Asian Development Outlook released on Thursday. The forecast suggests a modest improvement from the estimated 3.7 percent growth in the previous fiscal year but remains significantly below historical levels. The ADB noted that high inflation, weaknesses in the banking sector, energy supply constraints, and global economic uncertainty continue to weigh on the country’s recovery.

The report attributes last year’s slower growth to high inflation, weak exports, stagnant private investment, rising energy costs, and adverse global conditions. It expects some positive effects this year from easing inflationary pressure, regulatory reforms, improved governance, and sustained remittance inflows. However, the ADB warned that recovery will remain slow due to structural challenges, including energy shortages, high production costs, and limited competitiveness.

The inflation forecast for 2026–27 has been raised from 8.5 to 8.8 percent, reflecting recent adjustments in fuel, gas, and electricity prices. The ADB also cautioned that escalating Middle East conflicts or rising global oil prices could further strain Bangladesh’s external balance and fiscal management.

At least 38 people have died in China following continuous heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides caused by Typhoon Maysak, according to official reports on July 9, 2026. The southern Guangxi region recorded six deaths and the evacuation of about 130,000 residents. State media said more than 40 rivers in Guangxi overflowed, damaging around 13,000 acres of farmland. Footage from CCTV showed a concrete dam breaking as rescue teams worked to evacuate stranded residents using rubber boats.

The central government has dispatched relief supplies, food, raincoats, and boats to affected areas. Flood control authorities in Guangxi have maintained the second-highest emergency alert, while Water Resources Minister Li Guoying warned that river levels at Wuzhou could rise more than six meters above danger levels. In Hubei province, thunderstorms and strong winds killed 11 people and injured 331, while in Gansu province, landslides killed 21 after 33 people were buried in Renchang village.

President Xi Jinping has instructed rescue forces to intensify emergency relief and recovery operations. The government has allocated 30 million yuan for reconstruction in Gansu.

Continuous heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours has submerged most parts of Naogaon town and its surrounding areas. Streets are under knee-deep water, and homes in low-lying neighborhoods have been flooded. Many residents have taken shelter in higher areas to escape the rising water levels.

Authorities reported that the district recorded 240 millimeters of rainfall in 24 hours. Due to the flooding, several schools have canceled their midterm examinations. Meanwhile, the Atrai and Choto Jamuna rivers flowing through Naogaon are nearing the danger level, according to the Water Development Board.

The situation has disrupted daily life across the town, and officials are monitoring the river levels closely to assess further risks of flooding.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman emphasized the importance of caring for all of creation in accordance with the Holy Qur’an. Speaking on Thursday at the China Friendship International Conference Center in Dhaka, he inaugurated World Environment Day and Environment Fair 2026, along with the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair 2026. He highlighted that the relationship between human society and the ecosystem is inseparable.

Quoting a portion of verse 29 from Surah Al-Baqarah, the Prime Minister said that Allah created everything on earth for humankind. He explained that rivers, trees, insects, wild and domestic animals—all elements of the environment—are divine creations meant for human benefit. However, he stressed that humans have responsibilities to care for and nurture all creations properly.

Referring to scientific progress, he noted that it is now proven that the wellbeing of human society is deeply connected to the preservation and development of the ecosystem.

Around 3,000 LPG cylinders were swept away by floodwaters from a Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) bottling plant in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. The incident occurred after heavy rainfall caused the plant’s protective wall to collapse, allowing floodwater to enter the facility. Videos circulating on social media showed the cylinders floating down the Patalganga River.

Authorities fear that some of the cylinders may still contain gas, posing a potential safety hazard. Raigad District Collector Kishan Jawale urged residents to hand over any recovered cylinders to local authorities or HPCL offices instead of attempting to use or store them. He warned that it is unclear whether the cylinders are safe or contain gas, and handling them could be dangerous.

Continuous heavy rainfall over the past week has triggered flooding across several parts of Maharashtra, with Raigad among the worst affected districts. Local rivers are flowing above danger levels, and the administration is monitoring the situation while advising residents to remain cautious.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that the government will facilitate the private sector to encourage new investments. Speaking at a contract signing ceremony at the Secretariat on Thursday, he said the government is working with full effort to create employment across various sectors as quickly as possible. He noted that private sector management tends to be more efficient than government operations, and facilitating private investment would help expand job opportunities.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam stated that the government aims to ensure the maximum and effective use of state resources. To achieve this, initiatives have been taken to attract private investment in closed Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) mills to revive production, employment, and economic activities. Out of 25 closed mills, 20 have been selected for leasing, with 14 lease agreements completed and production already resumed in nine mills.

According to the State Minister, these mills have created about 9,500 jobs and are producing around 160 metric tons of jute goods daily. Additional land leases and new investments are expected to further expand production and employment opportunities.

Continuous heavy rainfall has triggered a severe risk of landslides in Rajsthali upazila of Rangamati, prompting urgent action from local authorities. The upazila administration has launched operations to relocate residents from high-risk hillside areas to nearby shelters to ensure their safety. The situation has become critical in Ghilachhari and Gaindya unions after five days of uninterrupted rain.

On Wednesday evening, Rajsthali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Yusuf Hasan visited several vulnerable areas, urging residents living at the foot of hills to move immediately to designated shelters. Public awareness campaigns, including loudspeaker announcements, are being conducted to alert people about the dangers of staying in risky zones. Local officials and representatives have been instructed to assist in disaster management efforts.

According to the administration, nine shelters have been prepared across three unions, and around 40 residents have already taken refuge. Fire service teams remain active on the ground to respond to any emergency as relocation of remaining residents continues.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for collective awareness and responsibility to transform Dhaka from an unlivable city into a livable one. He made the remarks on Thursday while inaugurating World Environment Day, the Environment Fair, and the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair 2026. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for major reforms in waste management and reiterated the government’s strict stance against deforestation and hill cutting. He also urged citizens to plant a tree with every child’s birth.

Rahman highlighted that most people remain unaware of environmental issues and urged everyone to act responsibly to keep the environment pollution-free. He described raising awareness as a sacred duty for those attending the event. During the ceremony, the Prime Minister presented the National Environment Award 2025 to three individuals and three institutions for outstanding contributions in environmental conservation, education, and research.

Award recipients included academics and organizations recognized for pollution control, environmental education, and innovation in environmental research and technology.

Continuous rainfall, hill torrents, and rising sea tides have severely worsened the flood situation in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram. As of Wednesday night, the main Chattogram–Banshkhali road at Bailchhari went under water, cutting off road communication with the city. More than a hundred thousand residents across several unions are now trapped by floodwaters, facing acute shortages of food and clean water.

According to local officials, the upazila administration is monitoring damaged embankments and affected areas, awaiting government relief supplies for distribution. The Banshkhali Fire Service reported that the situation continues to deteriorate, with rescue teams relocating stranded families to safer places. Many homes and rural roads have been submerged, making it difficult for residents to reach shelters.

In response, the local administration has issued urgent public warnings, urging people in low-lying and high-risk areas to move to nearby shelters. Local representatives have been instructed to assist with announcements and ensure the safe evacuation of waterlogged residents.

Bangladesh Bank has granted President Md. Shahabuddin special permission to withdraw Tk 2 million from his account at Global Islami Bank, exceeding the withdrawal limits set under the bank resolution scheme. The approval was given on June 16, 2026, following his application in late May through the bank’s Gulshan corporate branch, citing medical and family expenses.

Under the resolution scheme, depositors of five merged banks are generally allowed to withdraw up to Tk 200,000, with additional withdrawals of Tk 100,000 permitted every three months for larger deposits. In cases of serious illness, withdrawals of up to Tk 1 million per month may be approved. However, many depositors have complained about difficulties in accessing such special permissions despite medical needs.

Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan confirmed the approval, stating that the President’s position and medical reasons were considered. He added that similar exceptions have been granted previously to other depositors facing critical health conditions.

Global gold prices fell sharply on Thursday, with spot gold dropping 0.3 percent to 4,066.24 dollars per ounce in Asian trading, according to Reuters. The decline followed renewed military tensions between the United States and Iran, after US President Donald Trump declared that the memorandum to halt war with Iran was no longer valid. Shortly afterward, the US military announced new strikes against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict pushed oil prices higher, with crude rising about 5 percent on Wednesday and continuing upward on Thursday. Analysts warned that prolonged Middle East tensions could further raise oil prices and global inflation, prompting the US Federal Reserve to keep interest rates elevated for longer. The dollar and global stock markets also came under pressure.

The International Monetary Fund reduced its 2026 global growth forecast to 3 percent, while Bank of America cut its average gold price forecast for 2026 by 14 percent to 4,360 dollars per ounce, citing the likelihood of tighter US monetary policy.

Chattogram has been experiencing continuous heavy rainfall for several days, with 336 millimeters recorded in the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. Thursday, according to the Ambagan weather office. Over the previous four days, the city received 834 millimeters of rain, and another 33 millimeters fell between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. The weather office forecast that the intense rainfall will continue until July 11.

Low-lying neighborhoods across the city remain submerged, including Muradpur, Chawk Bazar, Kapasgola, Katalganj, Agrabad, Commerce College Road, 2 No. Gate, Soloshahar, Panchlaish, Patenga, Firozshah, Akbarshah Bishwo Colony, and Uttar Pahartali. The flooding has been attributed to a collapsed drainage system and encroachment on canals and drains.

Normal life has been severely disrupted as homes and businesses in low areas are inundated. Public transport has been largely paralyzed, with many vehicles breaking down in floodwaters. Residents are facing severe hardship, and reports indicate that some transport operators are charging extra fares. Landslides triggered by the rain have already caused three deaths in Sitakunda and Chattogram city.

Global oil prices increased following new US airstrikes in Iran that killed eight Iranian soldiers. According to Reuters, as of 12:54 a.m. GMT, Brent crude rose by 78 cents, or 1 percent, reaching 78.80 dollars per barrel. The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also climbed 74 cents, or 1.01 percent, to 74.26 dollars per barrel.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA confirmed that the US strikes occurred early Wednesday in southern Iran, targeting areas near Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. The casualties included members of Iran’s air and naval forces. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks on key US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

The IRGC stated through state broadcaster IRIB that the attacks marked the first phase of a “punitive response,” targeting Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem bases in Kuwait, as well as Juffair and Sheikh Isa bases in Bahrain.

Registration of property gift and donation deeds has been suspended in several parts of Bangladesh for days due to complications arising from the newly imposed donation tax and the introduction of automated e-challan payment systems. The lack of prior understanding of the e-challan process has also led to a sharp decline in the number of sale deeds, reportedly falling to half of previous levels. Overall, deed registration activity at sub-registrar offices has dropped to one-third of normal, resulting in reduced government revenue.

To address the confusion, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued a clarification circular on Tuesday. The circular explains that under the Income Tax Act 2023 and the Withholding Tax Rules 2026, donation tax must be collected via e-challan for property transfers through gifts or donations, but not for sales. It also specifies that land tax receipts must show payment for fiscal year 2026–27, and certain urban property transactions require submission of income tax returns before registration.

Officials expressed hope that the clarification will resolve confusion and restore normal registration activities soon.