Train movement on the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar route has been suspended after a section of the railway line went underwater due to continuous bad weather, heavy rainfall, and hill torrents. Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at Chattogram station since early Wednesday, July 8, 2026, according to a notice from Bangladesh Railway’s Public Relations Director Anisur Rahman.

The notice stated that the tracks between Janalihat and Soloshohor stations are submerged under about two feet of water, prompting authorities to halt train operations for safety reasons. The Tourist Express from Dhaka, which reached Chattogram on Tuesday, could not continue to Cox’s Bazar and was sent back to Dhaka. Similarly, the Cox’s Bazar Express from Dhaka has been waiting at Chattogram station since early morning.

Bangladesh Railway said passengers wishing to cancel their trips can receive refunds at the Chattogram station counter, while those returning to Dhaka can travel back on the same train at 4 p.m. The railway authority expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the sudden natural disaster.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new pilot program called the package visa to make travel easier for foreign tourists. Under this system, visitors can obtain a comprehensive travel package that includes a tourist visa, flight tickets, accommodation, and other essential travel services. According to a report published on Tuesday, the initiative will initially be implemented through approved travel and tourism service providers.

The program allows travelers to book round-trip flights, licensed hotel stays, and apply for electronic tourist visas in one process. They can also add events, tourism activities, and experiences to their packages. Only authorized travel agencies with digital platforms, technical capacity, and 24-hour customer service can offer this facility. The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to boost the tourism sector, jointly implemented by the ministries of tourism, foreign affairs, interior, and the insurance authority.

Officials expect the package visa to enhance the travel experience, strengthen tourism partners, and make Saudi Arabia a more attractive destination, encouraging longer stays and higher spending by foreign visitors.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Finance announced that the country’s budget deficit for the 2025–26 fiscal year has risen to 7.1 billion Kuwaiti dinars, equivalent to about 23.9 billion US dollars. The ministry attributed the increase to a significant drop in oil revenues, according to a statement cited by Al Jazeera.

Compared with the previous fiscal year, the deficit expanded by 13.2 percent. The government’s total revenue fell by around 10 percent from earlier projections, with income from the oil sector declining by 11.2 percent to 15.3 billion Kuwaiti dinars, or roughly 49.4 billion US dollars.

The data highlight Kuwait’s continued dependence on oil income and the fiscal pressure caused by lower global energy prices, as reflected in the ministry’s report.

Continuous heavy rainfall has raised the water level of Kaptai Lake, enabling the Karnafuli Hydropower Plant in Rangamati to increase electricity generation. With improved water availability, all five units of the country’s only hydropower facility have been brought back into operation, producing a total of 150 megawatts of electricity as of Tuesday evening, July 7, 2026.

According to plant officials, the water level in Kaptai Lake has been rising steadily over the past several days due to persistent rain in Rangamati and surrounding areas. Previously, only two of the five units were operational because of low water levels. The resumption of all units marks a significant boost in generation capacity.

Officials noted that if rainfall continues and the lake’s water level increases further, there will be potential to expand electricity production beyond the current output. The Karnafuli Hydropower Plant has a maximum generation capacity of 230 megawatts.

The High Court has issued a rule questioning why the failure to prevent severe air pollution caused by a fire at the Matuail landfill, the largest waste disposal site under Dhaka South City Corporation, should not be declared illegal. The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice A.F.M. Saiful Karim issued the rule following a preliminary hearing on a related writ petition.

The court asked why the inaction or failure to control toxic smoke and air pollution from waste burning under the Matuail Sanitary Landfill Expansion Project should not be deemed unlawful. It also sought explanations for the absence of preventive measures through law enforcement and implementation of the project’s master plan. The secretaries of the Local Government and Environment ministries, the CEO of Dhaka South City Corporation, the director of the Department of Environment in Dhaka, the project director of the landfill expansion, and the district commissioner were directed to respond.

Lawyer Abul Kalam Azad, who represented the petitioner, argued that open dumping and burning of waste are prohibited under air pollution control regulations, yet the city corporation’s own project has become a major pollution source.

Authorities in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram have imposed a three-day ban on tourist entry to all hilly waterfalls under the Baraidala Range due to adverse weather conditions. The Chattogram North Forest Division and the upazila administration announced the restriction through a notice signed by Range Officer Md Ashraful Alam on Monday afternoon. The ban will remain effective from July 7 to July 10, during which no tickets will be sold and visitors will not be allowed to enter the waterfalls within Baraidala National Park.

Officials said the decision was taken to ensure tourist safety amid heavy rainfall that has increased the risk of flash floods, landslides, and strong water currents in the waterfalls. Leaseholders have been instructed to prevent tourist access and suspend ticket sales during the closure period.

Mirsarai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Somaia Akter stated that the water flow in the waterfalls has risen sharply, making visits extremely risky. Similar precautionary measures are taken every monsoon to prevent accidents caused by heavy rain and hill torrents in the area.

The Sajek Valley tourism center in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati has been temporarily closed following continuous rainfall and adverse weather conditions. According to an emergency notice issued by the district administration, the closure took effect from Tuesday evening, July 7, and will remain in force until further notice. The decision was made to ensure the safety of tourists and residents amid potential risks caused by the current weather.

The notice, signed by Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, stated that all tourist sites, waterfalls, hill trails, remote areas, and risky locations within Sajek Valley will remain off-limits to tourists, tour operators, and the general public during this period. The administration also urged everyone to exercise caution while traveling in different parts of the district and to follow official instructions.

The announcement comes as heavy rainfall continues across the region, prompting local authorities to prioritize public safety and restrict movement in vulnerable areas until conditions improve.

Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves declined following the settlement of Asian Clearing Union (ACU) import bills for the May–June period. According to Bangladesh Bank data, the country’s total reserves stood at 36.17 billion dollars on Tuesday, down from 37.84 billion dollars the previous day. Under the IMF’s BPM-6 calculation method, reserves dropped to 31.72 billion dollars from 33.19 billion dollars, while net reserves were recorded at 27.29 billion dollars.

The ACU payment for May–June amounted to about 1.67 billion dollars. Earlier, Bangladesh paid 1.51 billion dollars for March–April, 1.37 billion dollars for January–February, 1.53 billion dollars for November–December, and 1.61 billion dollars for September–October. The ACU is a regional settlement system among nine Asian central banks, including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, and the Maldives.

The ACU mechanism allows participating countries to settle import and export payments every two months, unlike other international transactions that are settled immediately.

Malaysia has reopened its labor market for Bangladeshi workers, according to Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury. Speaking to journalists at Sylhet Circuit House on Tuesday, he said worker deployment could begin within one to two months under a new system. Bangladesh will now select recruiting agencies to ensure transparency in the hiring process.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s official visit to Malaysia, during which he discussed labor recruitment, regularization of irregular workers, and a free trade agreement with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Malaysia had previously suspended worker recruitment from Bangladesh in March 2024 after irregularities resurfaced, following earlier closures and reopenings since 2018.

The minister also indicated that positive developments may soon follow regarding labor markets in the Middle East, Japan, and Mauritius. Authorities emphasized coordinated efforts between the government and recruiting agencies to prevent syndicates and corruption in the new recruitment framework.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has reduced jet fuel prices for the third consecutive month, providing relief to the country’s aviation sector. According to a notification issued on Tuesday, the new July rates lower domestic jet fuel prices by 19.22 taka per liter, from 150.21 to 130.99 taka. For international routes, the price has been reduced from 0.9808 to 0.8556 US dollars per liter.

This marks a total reduction of 96.09 taka per liter over three months, following sharp price hikes in March and April when domestic rates rose by about 80 percent. The recent cuts follow a decline in global crude oil prices, prompting local adjustments in May and June. Industry stakeholders say the lower fuel costs will reduce operating expenses for both domestic and international flights, though ticket prices are unlikely to drop immediately.

Energy experts note that if global oil markets remain stable, further price adjustments may be possible in the coming months. However, geopolitical instability or supply disruptions could reverse the trend.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new pilot package visa program aimed at simplifying travel procedures for foreign tourists. The initiative, announced on Tuesday, allows visitors to obtain a comprehensive travel package that includes a tourist visa, flight tickets, accommodation, and other essential travel services through approved travel and tourism providers.

According to the country’s state news agency, the program will initially be implemented through authorized agencies with digital platforms, technical capacity, and 24-hour customer service. Travelers will be able to book round-trip flights, licensed hotel stays, and apply for electronic tourist visas in one process, with options to add events and tourism activities. The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to boost the tourism sector, jointly managed by the ministries of tourism, foreign affairs, interior, and the insurance authority.

Officials expect the program to enhance the travel experience, strengthen tourism partnerships, and increase visitor spending and engagement in the country.

Continuous heavy rainfall in Bandarban has sharply increased the risk of hill and landslides, prompting the Youth Red Crescent to launch awareness campaigns urging residents in vulnerable areas to move to safer locations. Under the supervision of unit officer Mohammad Asadul Haidar Chowdhury, trained volunteers used loudspeakers to alert people living at the foothills and along riverbanks.

During the campaign, volunteers visited highly risky neighborhoods such as Godar Para, Barishal Para, and Ujani Para, speaking directly with residents about the potential dangers of landslides. They urged locals to remain prepared for emergencies and to relocate promptly to nearby government shelters if necessary.

The Youth Red Crescent Bandarban unit stated that its awareness and humanitarian assistance efforts will continue until the disaster situation improves, emphasizing the importance of staying calm, avoiding rumors, and following official instructions from local authorities and disaster management committees.

Traffic on the Chattogram-Kaptai road came to a halt on Tuesday morning following a landslide in the Baluchara area of Wagga Union under Kaptai upazila in Rangamati district. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m., temporarily suspending movement of vehicles and pedestrians. According to Kaptai Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mahmudul Hasan Rubel, a team led by Senior Station Officer Delwar Hossain from the Kaptai Fire Service began clearing trees and debris with help from locals. No casualties have been reported.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Raihanul Islam visited the site along with police and local officials to assess the situation and inspect vulnerable areas. Following instructions from the district administration, 18 shelters have been opened across five unions in the upazila to accommodate residents if needed. The administration has arranged food and safety measures for those taking refuge.

Authorities continue cleanup operations to restore normal traffic movement and ensure safety in the affected region.

Sheltech Group, one of Bangladesh’s leading industrial conglomerates, has announced a new investment plan worth Tk 1,504 crore across agriculture processing, real estate, textiles, manufacturing, and renewable energy sectors. The company stated that the initiative could create around 45,000 new jobs, largely through contract farming. The announcement was made on July 7, 2026.

Founded in 1988, Sheltech Group operates in real estate, construction, tiles, electrical poles, agriculture, garments, textiles, and hospitality. The group said the new investments will support industrialization, export growth, employment, and sustainable economic development. Funding will come from internal resources, joint ventures, bank loans, and foreign financing. Managing Director Tanvir Ahmed said the expansion responds to growing global demand for Bangladeshi products.

The plan includes Tk 400 crore already invested in a Spain-Bangladesh agro joint venture in Parbatipur, Tk 575 crore for a 17-story green shopping complex in Banasree, Tk 85 crore in abrasive paper production in Sylhet, and Tk 179 crore to expand blended yarn capacity. Sheltech also plans to install 10 MW of solar power. The group expects annual turnover to rise from Tk 6,700 crore to Tk 9,200 crore by 2030.

Flight operations at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram were disrupted on Tuesday due to severe weather conditions. From the morning, three flights were unable to land and were diverted to Dhaka, while other flights experienced delays ranging from 30 minutes to one hour. The information was confirmed by the airport’s public relations officer, Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil.

According to the official, US-Bangla Airlines flight BS350 from Abu Dhabi to Chattogram and Air Arabia flight G9-526 from Sharjah to Chattogram were diverted to Dhaka. Additionally, Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG121 from Dhaka to Chattogram returned to Dhaka after failing to land. Heavy rainfall and strong winds with speeds of 80–90 kilometers per hour were reported in the airport area, creating unsafe conditions for flight operations.

The adverse weather caused widespread disruption throughout the day, though no reports of flooding at the airport were mentioned in the source.