India’s stock markets plunged sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump declared the Iran peace deal “over,” erasing about eight lakh crore rupees in market value within hours. On Wednesday, the Nifty index fell 2.12% to 23,882.05 points and the BSE Sensex dropped 2.15% to 76,503.60 points, marking their steepest decline in three months. The announcement also rattled global markets, with major indices in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. futures all falling.

The renewed Middle East tensions pushed Brent crude oil prices up 6.3% to nearly $79 per barrel, the highest in two weeks, after reports of U.S. and Iranian strikes on each other’s targets. As the world’s third-largest oil importer, India faces rising import costs and inflationary pressure when oil prices surge. The rupee weakened 0.62% to 95.555 per U.S. dollar.

Analysts said the developments heightened concerns over energy supply and foreign investor sentiment. Heavy selling by foreign investors, especially in financial and IT sectors, contributed to the broad-based decline across all 16 major sectoral indices.

The Bangladesh government has moved to finalize the draft of the ninth national pay scale, proposing several structural changes. A secretary committee has recommended adjusting the ratio between the highest and lowest basic salaries from 1:8 to 1:7.5, along with revisions to various allowances and a two-phase implementation plan. Although the new pay scale was announced to take effect from July 1, the official gazette has not yet been issued, and the Ministry of Finance expects a delay of two to three months.

The draft also includes differentiated annual increments by grade instead of a uniform rate. Data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ Living Standard Survey 2025 has been used to guide the new structure, reflecting average household expenses. The pay commission proposed a top basic salary of Tk 160,000 and a minimum of Tk 20,000, but the secretary committee is considering Tk 150,000 for the top grade and a slightly lower minimum. Allowances such as medical and education benefits are likely to be lower than the commission’s recommendations but higher than current levels.

Implementation will occur in two stages: basic salary increases in the current fiscal year and allowance adjustments from 2027–28. The proposal is expected to reach the cabinet within two weeks for approval.

Five people, including a child, were killed when a landslide struck two houses in Lama upazila of Bandarban district early Thursday. The incident occurred in Missionpara area of Aziznagar Union following days of heavy rainfall. The victims were identified as Md Yunus, his wife Ranu Akter, their four-year-old son Md Soleman, and another couple, Jewel and his wife Kulsum Akter. A union parishad member, Rehana Begum, was injured in a separate landslide the same night.

Local authorities confirmed the deaths and said police, fire service, and civil defense teams, along with residents, carried out rescue operations. The bodies were later handed over to relatives. Lama police said an unnatural death case would be filed over the incident.

According to the upazila executive officer, residents living at the foot of hills had been repeatedly urged to move to safer areas due to continuous rain, but many ignored the warnings. The administration has pledged full support to the affected families.

Every day, more than four thousand people are settling in Dhaka in search of jobs, education, and a better life, according to field surveys cited in the report. Experts attribute this influx to severe gas and electricity shortages that have halted new industrial growth in districts and forced many existing factories to close. As a result, thousands of unemployed workers are moving to the capital, taking up informal jobs such as hawking and driving autorickshaws.

Urban planners warn that Dhaka, designed to accommodate about eight million residents, now houses over 36.6 million people—thirteen times its capacity. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2026 Global Liveability Index ranked Dhaka 171st out of 173 cities, just above Tripoli and Damascus. The city faces chronic waste, traffic congestion, and flooding problems, with over five thousand slums.

Government officials acknowledge the crisis, citing plans for administrative decentralization and rural job creation to reduce migration pressure. Experts emphasize that without strengthening rural economies and ensuring reliable utilities, Dhaka’s livability will continue to deteriorate.

At a high-level meeting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Bangladesh presented its future plans and historic initiatives to address climate change and ensure water security. Professor Dr. S. M. Abdul Awal, the Prime Minister’s Chief Coordinator on SDG Affairs, represented Bangladesh and highlighted the country’s long-standing efforts in tackling climate challenges.

He recalled the 19-point program announced by former President Ziaur Rahman in 1977, emphasizing its focus on basic needs and rural water security through a nationwide canal excavation initiative. The BNP-led government’s current five-year plan includes excavating 20,000 kilometers of canals to strengthen irrigation and water management networks. Awal also underscored the importance of the Teesta Barrage Project as a people-centered initiative vital for water management and agricultural development in northern Bangladesh.

Concluding his remarks, Awal urged the global community to enhance cooperation on transboundary water-sharing policies to permanently resolve water scarcity in northern Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, told Parliament that contracts with private power companies cannot be canceled at will because they include sovereign guarantees. He made the statement on Wednesday during the parliamentary question-and-answer session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, responding to a supplementary question from MP Mardia Momtaz. The minister explained that canceling such guarantees is a time-consuming process and that discussions are ongoing with the concerned parties to reduce additional fees related to delayed payments.

He added that once a power plant begins production, immediate decisions cannot be made to alter operations, and efforts will continue to keep electricity prices affordable for consumers during the contract period. In response to other parliamentary questions, the minister reported that gas supply remains below demand, with 2,700 million cubic feet supplied daily against a demand of 3,800 million. He also shared updated figures on transmission and distribution losses and confirmed that no quick rental power plants are currently operational.

The minister expressed hope that ongoing discussions would lead to effective solutions regarding payment delays and cost management in the power sector.

Despite continuous heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides disrupting communication in Bandarban, law enforcement agencies and various government and non-government organizations are continuing awareness campaigns to ensure the safety of affected residents. Teams from the Bangladesh Army, Fire Service and Civil Defense, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, municipal authorities, and several NGOs are conducting public announcements and direct outreach in disaster-hit areas.

The campaigns focus on urging people living on risky hillsides, steep slopes, and low-lying areas near rivers and canals to move to safer locations. Authorities are encouraging residents to take shelter in temporary centers established by the administration. Field officials report that some residents remain reluctant to leave their homes, prompting repeated appeals to highlight potential dangers and the importance of relocation.

According to the district administration, the awareness activities will continue until weather conditions improve. The coordinated efforts of government and private organizations are playing a key role in motivating local residents to seek safety during this ongoing disaster.

Two Bangladeshi multiplexes, Lion Cinemas in Keraniganj and Madhuban Cineplex in Bogura, have begun screening live FIFA World Cup matches instead of films to attract audiences. The initiative, launched amid a shortage of quality movies and declining viewership, has drawn strong public interest. Lion Cinemas has already shown several matches across its four screens, with most shows reportedly going houseful as fans buy multiple tickets to enjoy the games with friends and family.

Madhuban Cineplex started its large-screen broadcasts with the Argentina–Egypt match on Tuesday. Managing Director Sayekhuzzaman said the decision followed a sharp drop in cinema attendance, with some shows drawing as few as ten viewers and causing financial losses. To counter this, the cineplex priced tickets at 100 and 200 taka. If the current response continues, the management plans to screen the semifinal and final matches as well.

The move reflects a creative attempt by theater owners to sustain operations and reconnect with audiences through live sports entertainment.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told Parliament that depositors of struggling banks will receive their full money back with interest, assuring that the 'haircut' provision limiting refunds to two lakh taka will not be implemented. He urged depositors to remain patient as the process continues. The statement came in response to a notice from BNP lawmaker Rehena Akter Ranu, who raised concerns about depositors losing access to their savings and called for strict punishment of those responsible for bank fraud.

The minister said five troubled banks have been merged under the Resolution Act to form the Combined Islami Bank, aiming to stabilize the financial sector. He added that a forensic audit is underway to identify those responsible for irregular investments, and Bangladesh Bank has been empowered to seize and auction their assets to recover funds. Legal actions are also being initiated to repatriate embezzled money from abroad, with nine international law firms engaged under a 'no win, no fee' arrangement.

Chowdhury reaffirmed that depositors will get back their money with interest, though the process will take time due to the banks’ ongoing losses.

On July 8, 2026, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party launched a fully digital selection process to send skilled women workers to Moldova through its Welfare Trust. The initiative began with 139 female members from the Dhaka Metropolitan Ansar North and East zones participating in the first phase at the Ansar headquarters. Candidates completed self-declaration forms and took live written tests using Google Forms under strict supervision, followed by physical assessments and interviews before a jury board.

The process, guided by Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud, aims to eliminate middlemen and ensure merit-based selection through five oversight committees. A specialized software automatically compiles evaluation results, minimizing human interference. The second phase, involving 161 candidates from the South and West zones, follows the same transparent digital procedure.

Selected candidates will receive advanced training to adapt to European work environments and enhance professional skills. The program seeks to create a sustainable model for safe, legal migration, empowering Bangladeshi women while strengthening the country’s reputation and economy through skilled labor exports.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that Bangladesh will begin exporting jackfruit to China. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, he said that during his recent visit to China, an agreement was signed to facilitate the export. Rahman noted that Bangladeshi jackfruit is very popular in China and expressed optimism about the trade potential.

The announcement came in response to a supplementary question from Mymensingh-6 MP Kamrul Hasan Milon, who highlighted the agricultural potential of Fulbaria, where lemons, pineapples, and jackfruits are produced in large quantities. The Prime Minister also shared that during his earlier visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim mentioned that Malaysia exports durian worth one billion dollars annually to China. Rahman said Bangladesh could similarly earn significant foreign currency through jackfruit exports.

He further mentioned that the government plans to reopen a closed pineapple processing factory in Fulbaria but currently has no plan to establish a separate industrial zone there.

Continuous heavy rainfall has flooded several low-lying areas in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachhari, disrupting road connections with Baghaichhari, Sajek, and Longadu in Rangamati. As a result, more than 450 tourists have been stranded in the hill resort town of Sajek. The flooding began on Wednesday morning when parts of the Dighinala–Sajek road, particularly the Kabakhali section, went underwater, halting all vehicular movement.

In Merung union, roads and multiple villages were submerged, cutting off direct road communication with Longadu. Rising water levels in the Maini River have started flooding nearby lowlands, raising concerns among residents. The upazila administration has opened 20 shelters to assist affected people, while the district administration has opened 135 shelters and arranged dry food and other relief measures.

According to the Sajek Cottage and Resort Owners Association, stranded tourists are being accommodated with utility bill-based lodging and discounted meals at local restaurants as authorities continue to monitor the situation.

Gas supply in Bogura city and surrounding areas will remain suspended for 24 hours due to urgent maintenance and gas commissioning work. According to the West Zone Gas Company Limited (PGCL), the suspension will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, and continue until 6 p.m. on Friday, July 10. The interruption is required for tie-in operations connected to the Bogura District Regulating Station (DRS) under the SASEC-2 project.

The project involves relocating and removing existing gas pipelines from Bonani Mor to Tinmatha Railgate in the Bogura region. The tie-in work will be carried out at both ends of the pipeline and at the Bogura DRS. During this period, gas supply will remain halted for all categories of consumers, including industrial, captive power, CNG filling stations, commercial, and residential users.

PGCL stated that tie-in work will take place at about 12 points, including Bonani, Tinmatha Mor, Shakpala Bus Stand, Millennium School, Bogura Jahangirnagar Cantonment, Palli Bidyut, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, PGCB, GTCL, and Agathi CNG Filling Station. The company assured that gas supply will be restored as soon as the work is completed.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given policy approval to relocate Dhaka’s Sayedabad inter-district bus terminal to Kanchpur in an effort to reduce traffic congestion in the capital. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury at the Secretariat. The move follows a directive from Prime Minister Tareq Rahman to modernize traffic management in Dhaka.

According to the Local Government Division, Dhaka South City Corporation has been instructed to complete necessary infrastructure and operational preparations within four months to make the proposed Kanchpur terminal functional. The project will be implemented by state-owned Chittagong Dry Dock Limited under the Bangladesh Navy through direct purchase due to state emergency needs.

The estimated cost of the project is Tk 6.88 crore. It includes construction of a 4,012-square-meter platform, installation of tiles, a shed using 15,573 kilograms of profile sheets, 120 ticket counters, 32 toilets, and office rooms. Officials expect the new terminal to significantly reduce traffic pressure in eastern Dhaka and improve overall traffic management.

Continuous rainfall over the past three days has inundated more than a hundred homes in Eidgaon upazila of Cox’s Bazar, leaving over twenty villages waterlogged. Poor drainage has worsened the situation, while heavy downpours have raised fears of landslides and bridge collapses in several areas, including key roads and residential zones. Local residents warned that without prompt administrative action, lives could be at risk.

Union Parishad chairmen from Eidgaon, Jalalabad, Islampur, Islamabad, and Pokkhali reported widespread flooding, with some areas facing severe waterlogging and erosion threats. The Himchhari Bridge on the Eidgaon–Eidgar–Baishari road, a vital link for around two lakh people, has developed a large cavity due to hill runoff, prompting fears of a total collapse. Local officials confirmed awareness of the issue and said emergency measures were underway.

The upazila administration stated that while water has receded in some areas, drainage work continues in others. Concerned citizens urged swift action to prevent waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and dengue if stagnant water persists.