The Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the country’s main source for early disaster warnings, is facing a severe operational crisis as all five of its Doppler radar stations are currently out of service. The radars located in Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar, Khepupara, Rangpur, and Moulvibazar have become nonfunctional due to technical faults, expired components, and lack of maintenance. Experts warn that this situation could significantly reduce the accuracy of real-time forecasts during cyclones, heavy rainfall, and other natural disasters.

Officials from the department claim that they are using alternative data sources, including radars from the Air Force, India’s Agartala, and Japan, as well as satellite imagery, to continue monitoring weather conditions. Repairs are underway for the Rangpur and Dhaka radars, with expectations of partial restoration by July 9. The remaining radars are planned to be replaced under a JICA-funded project.

Experts emphasize that a functional radar network is vital for Bangladesh’s disaster preparedness and public safety. They urge the government to establish a sustainable maintenance system to prevent future disruptions in early warning capabilities.

The US Department of Energy reported that the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve has dropped by 6.2 million barrels to 319.5 million barrels, marking its lowest level since April 1983. The decline is part of an agreement involving the withdrawal of a total of 172 million barrels from the reserve.

According to Al Jazeera, the global energy market continues to feel the effects of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during wartime. Nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through this crucial maritime route, making its disruption highly significant for global energy stability.

Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, indirect talks have begun in Qatar. As a result, the Strait of Hormuz is gradually reopening to shipping, with discussions emphasizing the importance of maintaining normal maritime operations.

China has planted more than 66 billion trees since 1978 under its Great Green Wall project, aimed at halting the spread of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. A recent study found that these planted trees are growing faster than natural forests and play a major role in carbon absorption, helping to maintain environmental balance. The government plans to plant an additional 34 billion trees by 2050 as part of the long-term afforestation effort.

Researchers discovered that the planted trees’ leaf area expanded 66 percent faster than that of natural forests, based on satellite data measuring the leaf area index, a key indicator of canopy density and carbon uptake. The study suggests that human-managed forests, often containing fast-growing species such as eucalyptus and poplar, benefit from controlled conditions like pruning and fertilization, which reduce competition for water and nutrients.

However, scientists noted that the rapid growth of planted trees slows after 30 to 40 years, making their carbon absorption benefits temporary. In contrast, natural forests grow more steadily and provide longer-term carbon storage and ecological resilience.

Thousands of residents across southern Europe have been forced to evacuate as new wildfires spread through Portugal, Spain, France, and Greece. Authorities in France banned spectators from Monday’s Tour de France stage through the Pyrenees due to the fire threat. More than 20,000 hectares of land have burned across the region, with temperatures reaching 43°C in parts of Spain. In France’s Pyrénées area near Perpignan, over 10,500 people were told to leave their homes as flames consumed more than 4,600 hectares.

Firefighters are battling multiple blazes, including in France’s Drôme region and Greece’s Thessaloniki area, where fires reached factories. In Spain’s Costa Brava, more than 2,200 hectares burned in two days. Portugal reported controlling a northern fire that destroyed 13,000 hectares, while Croatia’s Hvar island and Albania’s Tale area also suffered major losses.

Scientists from World Weather Attribution said June’s record heat in Europe would have been “virtually impossible” without human-induced climate change. Authorities have extended heat alerts in Portugal, Spain, and France, warning that the new heatwave could last through the weekend.

Continuous heavy rainfall in Bandarban has triggered a major power outage and increased the risk of landslides across the district. In response, the district administration announced the closure of all tourist destinations until July 10 to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. The power disruption began on July 6 when a 33 kV transmission pole tilted near Hotel Green Peak on the Bandarban–Keranihat road, cutting electricity to several upazilas including Sadar, Ruma, Roangchhari, and Thanchi. The outage also disrupted businesses, hospitals, and communication networks.

According to local accounts, softened soil from days of rain caused the pole to lean, prompting the Power Development Board to suspend supply to prevent accidents. Repair teams are working to restore service gradually. The administration’s emergency notice also warned of risky road conditions and urged people to avoid waterfalls, hill trails, and remote areas. Tourists already in Bandarban have had to alter their travel plans, while authorities advised against unnecessary trips.

Weather officials recorded 164 millimeters of rainfall in 24 hours, with landslides reported in several upazilas. The army and local administration are clearing debris to restore road links, and 220 shelters have been prepared for possible evacuations.

The government has cancelled the remaining term of the contractual appointment of Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank. The Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance issued a notification on Monday announcing the decision.

Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, central bank officials compelled all contractual officers, including deputy governors, to resign. After the formation of the interim government, Deputy Governors Kazi Sayedur Rahman and Md. Khurshid Alam submitted their resignations upon government advice. Zakir Hossain Chowdhury and Kabir Ahmed were appointed to the vacant positions on September 8, 2024. The government has now revoked Chowdhury’s appointment.

The decision marks another change in the central bank’s leadership structure under the interim administration, though no further details were provided in the official notification.

Continuous heavy rainfall over several days has caused severe flooding, landslides, and building collapses across Maharashtra, India, leaving at least 13 people dead. The worst damage occurred in Mumbai, Pune, and Thane, where road and rail services have been heavily disrupted. In Pune’s Maval area near Lohagad Fort, a section of hill collapsed overnight, burying several houses. Authorities fear around 30 people remain trapped under the debris, and rescue operations by the National Disaster Response Force and state disaster teams are ongoing.

A landslide near a tunnel exit on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway forced authorities to close the route, while parts of the old highway remain submerged. Six people, including five children, died when a house collapsed in Mumbai’s Mankhurd area, and a 17-year-old boy drowned in Thane. Maharashtra’s chief minister announced financial aid of five lakh rupees for each victim’s family.

The state meteorological department warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds will continue in Mumbai, Pune, Raigad, Thane, and Palghar, maintaining a red alert for Mumbai and Pune. Schools, colleges, and government offices in Mumbai were closed as authorities urged residents to stay indoors.

The government of Bangladesh announced tax reductions on 63 essential goods in the current fiscal year’s national budget to ease consumer costs. Despite the policy’s aim to reduce import and marketing expenses, retail prices of key items such as rice and edible oil have not fallen. Instead, market instability has increased, with some products becoming more expensive.

According to the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), the benefits of the tax relief are being absorbed by traders rather than reaching consumers. CAB Vice President S.M. Nazer Hossain stated that the government’s intention to reduce public hardship through lower taxes has not materialized in practice. CAB attributes the situation to weak market monitoring and the influence of dishonest traders. The organization noted that import taxes on items like rice, wheat, livestock, onions, garlic, and edible oils were reduced to as low as 0.5 percent, yet retail prices remain unchanged.

Market analysts warn that if the government’s revenue sacrifices do not translate into consumer benefits, the policy’s purpose will be undermined. CAB has urged stronger regulatory action to curb unethical business practices and restore market stability.

Authorities in Moulvibazar’s Barlekha upazila have uncovered large-scale illegal tree felling at the Sabajpur Tea Estate, allegedly carried out without approval from the Forest Department or other relevant agencies. The operation reportedly continued for nearly two months before coming to light when the upazila administration seized about 700 cubic feet of timber. Forest officials have been measuring the felled trees over the past three days to prepare a detailed report.

Local sources claim that hundreds of trees were cut across several hilly areas and sold to timber traders, with allegations of involvement by influential groups. The estate management failed to produce any official authorization documents during inspection. Assistant Commissioner (Land) Naima Nadia confirmed that the trees were cut without required permissions and directed the estate to preserve the logs pending investigation.

The estate’s manager stated that the trees were removed as part of tea cultivation expansion and that an approval request was pending. Environmental experts warned that such unauthorized felling violates laws and threatens local biodiversity, urging a neutral investigation and legal action against those responsible.

A seven-year-old boy named Minhaj was killed in a landslide triggered by continuous heavy rainfall in Pekua upazila of Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Monday in Khalifa Mura area of Toitong Union’s Ward No. 3. According to local sources, a portion of the hill suddenly collapsed, burying the child under the debris. Despite quick rescue efforts by locals, Minhaj died at the scene. He was the son of local residents Kalim Ullah and Rubi Akter.

Following the tragedy, the area was gripped by grief as relatives and neighbors mourned the child’s death. Pekua Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rafiqul Islam said the administration immediately sent the Project Implementation Officer to the site and began investigating the incident. Authorities have warned residents in landslide-prone areas to move to safer locations.

Project Implementation Officer Kawsar Ahmed stated that public announcements were made urging people in Toitong, Shilkhali, and Barabakia unions living near hill slopes and foothills to relocate to nearby shelters. The administration continues to monitor the situation as heavy rainfall persists, raising further landslide risks.

An event marking National Rural Development Day 2026 was held in Nazirpur upazila of Pirojpur, organized by the upazila administration and the local rural development office. The discussion, themed “Developed Villages, Prosperous Nation, Bangladesh First,” took place on Monday morning at the Upazila Agriculture Training Auditorium, with Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sajia Shahnaz Toma presiding.

In her address, the UNO emphasized that rural development should not be limited to infrastructure but must also prioritize education, health, women’s empowerment, and employment generation. She called for coordinated efforts among government and non-government institutions to achieve sustainable progress and highlighted the importance of delivering services to grassroots communities. She also mentioned ongoing initiatives to promote women’s entrepreneurship through proper use of cooperatives and microcredit.

At the end of the event, loan checks were distributed among beneficiaries and students to support rural economic activities. Local officials, freedom fighters, journalists, and representatives from various cooperatives attended the program, expressing optimism that continued rural progress would accelerate national economic growth.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast moderate to very heavy rainfall across the country for the next two days due to an active monsoon low over the land. The agency has instructed all maritime ports, including Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra, to hoist local cautionary signal number three. Inland river ports have been asked to display signal number one as gusty winds are expected in coastal areas.

According to the latest weather bulletin, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, while other regions may experience light to moderate rain with thunderstorms. The rainfall may continue for 48 hours from Monday afternoon, leading to a slight drop in day and night temperatures. The Met Office also warned of possible waterlogging in Dhaka and Chattogram and landslide risks in hilly areas of Chattogram division.

The five-day extended forecast suggests that rainfall activity may further increase. Fishermen in the northern Bay of Bengal have been advised to remain in safe shelter until further notice.

Industry and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir visited the Sitakunda factory of Progoti Industries Limited (PIL), a Green Factory Award-winning automobile assembler, on Monday afternoon. He was welcomed by Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) Chairman Md. Anwarul Alam, Additional Secretary Md. Firoz Uddin, and PIL’s Acting Managing Director Mohammad Abu Saim, along with officials, employees, and labor leaders.

During the visit, the BSEC Chairman briefed the minister on the factory’s main production lines and overall operations. He emphasized the importance of modernizing the plant in line with current market demands and presented plans for launching an environmentally friendly electric vehicle (EV) assembly project. The minister expressed satisfaction with the factory’s production capacity and future plans, acknowledging Progoti’s pioneering role in Bangladesh’s automobile industry.

Khandaker Abdul Muktadir assured full policy and administrative support from the government to help Progoti Industries modernize and adopt eco-friendly technologies. He later met with factory officials and workers, encouraging them to continue working with dedication for the company’s progress.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has directed authorities to take necessary measures to protect the environment of the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake and ensure integrated waste management. The directive came during a meeting held on Monday morning at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting focused on verifying sewage connections of buildings in the Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan areas and implementing actions to make the lake pollution-free, according to Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized coordinated efforts among relevant ministries, city corporations, and responsible agencies to remove waste, control water pollution, and preserve the environment. Officials informed the Prime Minister that short-, medium-, and long-term plans have been adopted to make the lake pollution-free, including measures to stop direct sewage discharge into the lake.

Discussions also highlighted the importance of establishing a sewage treatment plant (STP) for the lake area and keeping the connected canals clean to maintain water flow. Plans were also discussed to prevent waste from the Korail slum from entering the lake.

Bangladeshi singer Asif Akbar has stirred discussion on social media after posting a political statement on his verified Facebook page on Saturday. In his post, he urged people to stay awake in July and claimed that a 'fallen fascist' has returned through three sectors: media, sports, and culture. The post quickly drew attention online, sparking debate among users who either supported or disagreed with his remarks.

The discussion comes amid renewed public engagement around the 2024 mass uprising, which has been a major topic on social media since the beginning of July. Asif, known for his outspoken views on social and political issues, frequently shares his opinions on national matters. His candid comments often attract widespread attention and mixed reactions.

Beyond his social commentary, Asif Akbar remains active in music, releasing new songs and performing in concerts both at home and abroad. His earlier works, including the hit album “O Priya Tumi Kothay,” continue to enjoy popularity among listeners.