Postal, Telecommunications and ICT, and Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said Bangladesh aims to ensure that no talent is held back by disability. He made the remarks on Saturday at the closing and prize-giving ceremony of the National IT Competition for Youth with Disabilities 2026 at the University of Asia Pacific on Green Road in the capital.

The minister said disability is not a limitation and that young people with disabilities can become equal partners in digital transformation and national development with proper opportunities, training and technology. He said the government places the highest importance on improving their digital skills and technological empowerment. Under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, he said, the government is working toward a technology-driven Bangladesh in which no social group is left behind.

The event was the competition’s 10th edition, with 70 participants across four categories and 12 prize recipients. Md Shakil Mia, Sheikh Yamin Ahsan, Nahin Siraj and Arian Islam won their respective categories and qualified for the Global IT Competition for Youth with Disabilities in Vietnam in October. The minister said he would personally support the four selected competitors.

Bangladesh will require all public transport vehicles to install and keep Global Positioning System devices active from Saturday, August 1, as part of an effort to strengthen order in the road transport system. From that date, operators seeking new registration, fitness certificates or fitness renewals must show proof that GPS is installed. They must also demonstrate through the relevant mobile application that the device is active.

The government said the measure should enable more effective monitoring of public transport movement, improve route management and reduce disorder on roads. The report cited reckless bus operation amid competition for passengers, boarding and alighting outside designated stops, and vehicles occupying multiple lanes as factors behind severe congestion in the capital and elsewhere.

Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association organising secretary Jahangir Alam Khan said contracts for GPS installation had been completed with different companies, but full implementation across all vehicles would not be possible from August 1. BRTA Chairman Habibur Rahman said the authority is developing a technology-based monitoring system to verify whether GPS devices are installed and functioning. Transport experts welcomed the initiative while stressing the need for oversight, transparency, accountability and longer-term reforms.

China has begun commercial production of domestically developed immersion deep ultraviolet, or DUV, lithography machines, Reuters reported. State-owned Shanghai Aisengna Electronic Technology Group is leading the project, developed with engineers from Chinese lithography companies. Chinese researchers also say they are nearing development of homegrown extreme ultraviolet, or EUV, lithography technology, an advance that could mark a major shift in the semiconductor industry.

Lithography is central to advanced semiconductor manufacturing. DUV can produce chips down to 7 nanometres through skilled engineering techniques, while EUV is considered nearly essential for 2, 3 and 5 nanometre processors. Dutch company ASML has long held an effective monopoly in the commercial EUV market. After US export restrictions limited Chinese access to advanced chips, equipment and software, China made semiconductors a national strategic priority and invested tens of billions of dollars in research, manufacturing, equipment, materials and talent.

Analysis found that Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro, launched in 2023, used a 7-nanometre processor made by SMIC. China is investing across chip design, equipment, materials, memory and fabrication, while CXMT and YMTC have expanded their positions. The source says the United States, Taiwan’s TSMC and ASML remain leaders in chip design, manufacturing and EUV technology respectively.

Bangladesh’s Land Ministry has issued 10 directives to strengthen cybersecurity and improve the performance of computers, networks and other ICT devices used in upazila land offices, revenue circle offices and union land offices. The measures are intended to keep automated land-service operations secure, uninterrupted and effective. The ministry has instructed the Land Reform Board to take necessary steps to implement the directives, according to a report published on July 30, 2026.

The ministry recently sent a letter on the matter to the chairman of the Land Reform Board. It called for licensed, up-to-date antivirus software on all computers and the use of designated secure browsers, including current versions of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Offices were also asked to avoid outdated or insecure browsers and review hardware capacity, including RAM, storage and processors, for possible upgrades.

Other requirements include updated network-device firmware, strong passwords and replacement of default usernames and passwords. The directives also cover software updates, removal of unnecessary programs, data backups, multi-factor authentication where needed, physical security for ICT devices and virus scanning of portable storage devices. Staff awareness must be improved, while technical or security problems in digital land-service systems should be reported promptly to relevant technical authorities.

Postal, Telecommunications and ICT and Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam rejected rumors that Nagad is being sold and urged news outlets to verify information before publishing. He made the remarks on Wednesday at the inauguration of a franchise post office in Agargaon, Dhaka, and a ceremony where Nagad transferred part of its 2025-26 fiscal-year profit to the Directorate of Posts.

Nagad formally handed over Tk 18.57 crore to the Directorate of Posts. The minister said government management of the financial institution would continue to maintain market competition. He said the government aims to make state-owned institutions more efficient, profitable and public-oriented, while digital financial services help deliver safe, simple and affordable services to people.

Anam said franchise post offices, already operated in many countries, would help bring postal services closer to citizens in Bangladesh. He expressed hope that all post offices could eventually operate under the model. The government is also pursuing plans to turn more than 9,000 post offices into modern service centers. Postal and Telecommunications Division Secretary Bilkis Jahan Rimi said the partnership with Nagad has increased public confidence, government revenue and postal department income.

Iran’s domestically developed transport and cargo aircraft, Simorgh, is in the final stage of obtaining an operational certificate. Authorities hope to begin commercial operations in the next Iranian year, 1406, around 2027, after required standards and licensing procedures are completed. The report was published on July 28, 2026.

Shokri, secretary of the aerospace, transport and urban development headquarters at Iran’s Vice Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy, told Mehr News that the government continued full support for the project last year. He said coordination is progressing well among the implementing company, Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, and the Civil Aviation Organization. He also expressed hope that the project would advance through obtaining an STC or TC certificate quickly.

Built on the Iran-140 platform, Simorgh is intended to develop domestic cargo transport capacity and strengthen Iran’s aircraft design, testing, quality-control and production capabilities. The project is viewed as strategic amid international sanctions and restrictions on parts supplies. Shokri said some unexpected disruptions last year could cause a slight delay, while the implementing company and Civil Aviation Organization will set the specific certification and commercial-operation timetable.

A slow immigration server at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport caused temporary inconvenience for passengers on Monday evening. Airport sources said the slowdown was delaying some immigration procedures, while passenger services continued through manual processing and alternative arrangements.

Airport authorities described the disruption as a temporary technical problem. They said relevant personnel were working quickly to restore normal server operations and urged passengers not to panic. The report did not specify the number of passengers affected or the extent of the delays.

Manual and alternative procedures are generally used to reduce passenger disruption when immigration servers temporarily slow down or go offline. Authorities said the same process was being followed in this case and expressed hope that the situation would return to normal soon.

Technology experts have advised smartphone users to carefully review permissions requested by new apps before installation, warning that unnecessary access to cameras, locations, microphones and contact lists can endanger personal data and privacy. The advice was published on July 26, 2026, as mobile apps are increasingly used for banking, shopping, social media and photo editing.

Location access may be needed for maps, ride-sharing and food-delivery services, but users are advised to allow it only while an app is in use when continuous access is unnecessary. Microphone permission is normal for voice calls, video meetings and audio-recording apps, while requests from ordinary photo-editing or flashlight apps should prompt caution.

The report recommends granting limited access to selected photos instead of an entire gallery where possible, and checking whether non-communication apps genuinely need contacts access. App permissions can be changed or disabled later through smartphone settings, so users should review them regularly. Download sources also matter: installing apps from unknown or untrusted sources can raise the risk of malware or excessive data collection, according to the report.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh is treating the semiconductor sector as a national priority and will be able to meet its industry goals by 2030. He made the remarks as chief guest at the opening of the two-day National Semiconductor Symposium and BEAR Summit at Novotheatre in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on Saturday, July 25.

The summit is jointly organised by the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association and Silicon River Bangladesh. Policymakers, industry representatives, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and Bangladeshi experts living abroad are expected to participate in the event.

Rahman said the government wants to move the country forward by overcoming all obstacles and expressed hope for a self-reliant, technology-driven Bangladesh. The programme is scheduled to include 11 plenary sessions, seven strategic panel discussions and technology exhibitions over two days.

The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unanimously passed new regulations to prevent satellite collisions and strengthen space safety as the number of satellites in Earth's orbit continues to rise sharply. The rules require satellite operators to share real-time tracking data, a move aimed at reducing the growing risk of orbital debris. The decision has sparked a jurisdictional dispute in Washington over which agency should oversee space traffic management.

Currently, more than 18,000 active and inactive satellites orbit the Earth, with most located in low-Earth orbit. The FCC’s new role has been questioned by members of Congress, who argue that the agency lacks clear legal authority for space traffic control. Lawmakers from both parties urged FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to delay the vote, but the commission proceeded without public response.

Despite the legal debate, the satellite industry has welcomed the FCC’s broader 2,000-page reform package, which simplifies and lowers the cost of satellite licensing. The new performance-based system is expected to benefit startups by removing bureaucratic barriers and reducing financial burdens.

Meta has begun rolling out a redesigned version of WhatsApp for Mac, inspired by Apple’s “Liquid Glass” design language. The update aims to make the desktop experience more consistent with that of iPhone and iPad users. According to WABetaInfo, the update is being released gradually through the Mac App Store, with limited users currently having access. It is expected to reach all Mac users within the next few weeks.

The new version does not introduce major messaging or AI-based features but focuses on improving design and usability. Enhancements include a reorganized sidebar, refined chat bar, updated attachment menu, and smoother navigation aligned with Apple’s latest macOS design principles. Locked chats and Communities now have separate sections, with identity verification required before accessing locked conversations, mirroring iPhone privacy features.

Technology analysts view this update as part of Apple’s broader effort to unify user experiences across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Meta continues to invest in improving WhatsApp’s desktop version as its user base on desktop platforms expands.

France’s parliament has passed a new law prohibiting social media use by individuals under the age of 15. The legislation, introduced by President Emmanuel Macron, aims to protect minors from online bullying, harmful content, sexual predators, and mental health risks. It also bans mobile phone use in high schools and is expected to take effect on September 1.

Under the law, social media platforms must implement age verification systems, though educational digital services are exempt. France becomes the first country in Europe to enact such a measure. Similar initiatives are being considered in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain. The European Union may also announce new online safety guidelines for children in September.

Critics argue that enforcing the ban could be difficult and may raise privacy concerns. Social media companies maintain that they already have measures in place to protect minors online.

The Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) has issued a public warning after discovering a fraudulent group using the name and designation of its Director (Training and Development) to conduct fake training programs and circulate forged documents. In a press release on Tuesday, BCC urged all government offices, educational institutions, and the public to remain alert against such scams.

According to the statement, the group has been spreading false letters and notices under a project titled 'Modernization of Urban and Rural Life through Information Technology.' The forged documents, dated June 28, 2026, falsely claimed that computer application training would be held in 520 secondary schools across 104 upazilas, with financial transactions involving fees and allowances. BCC clarified that all its training and financial dealings are conducted only through official channels and that it never charges trainees any fees.

The council further advised against engaging in any unauthorized financial transactions and stated that it will not bear responsibility for dealings with unapproved individuals or organizations.

State-owned Rupali Bank PLC has launched a public awareness campaign to promote Bangla QR, the universal QR code-based digital payment system introduced by Bangladesh Bank. The campaign aims to increase awareness among customers and the general public about the benefits of Bangla QR and to expand cashless transactions across the country. The event took place on Tuesday in Moghbazar, Dhaka, with the bank’s Managing Director Kazi Md. Wahidul Islam in attendance.

During the program, leaflets were distributed at several locations including Moghbazar intersection, in front of the TCB building at Karwan Bazar, Nayatola, and Rampura. The initiative informed both the public and business owners about the advantages of using Bangla QR and encouraged them to adopt cashless payment methods. Senior officials of the bank, including Deputy Managing Director Hasan Tanvir and Chief Information Technology Officer Md. Ohidul Islam Sarkar, participated in the event.

The campaign also involved managers and officials from Rupali Bank’s regional and branch offices in Dhaka North, Dhaka South, and other key zones, reflecting a coordinated effort to promote digital financial inclusion.

Facebook users experienced disruptions accessing the platform’s desktop version from Sunday noon due to server or technical issues. Many users reported encountering messages such as ‘account temporarily enabled’ or pages failing to load when attempting to log in. The issue appears to be linked to Meta’s backend updates or server malfunctions, according to the report.

Numerous users took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share their experiences using the hashtag #FacebookDown, posting screenshots of the error messages they received. Despite widespread user reports, Meta, Facebook’s parent company, had not issued any official statement regarding the cause or resolution of the problem at the time of reporting.

The outage has raised concerns among users who rely on Facebook’s desktop version for communication and business activities, though the duration and full extent of the disruption remain unclear.