A severe heatwave sweeping across Europe has disrupted daily life in France, Spain, Italy, and Germany, with record-breaking temperatures prompting emergency alerts. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reported that at least 40 people have died in water-related accidents since Thursday as residents sought relief from the extreme heat. Among the victims was a 13-year-old girl who drowned in the Seine River. The Eiffel Tower closed early on Tuesday, and the Louvre Museum shortened its visiting hours through Saturday due to the heat.

France recorded its highest-ever average June temperature at 29.8°C, while Monday night was the warmest in its history with a minimum average of 21.6°C. Two children were found dead in a car in Carpentras, and a young footballer was hospitalized after being rescued from the Rhône River. Spain, Italy, and Germany also faced dangerous conditions, with Spain’s Andalusia region reaching 45°C and Italy issuing red alerts in 15 cities. Germany reported several drowning deaths linked to the heat.

Meteorologists expect slight cooling in the Iberian Peninsula from Wednesday, but warn that the heatwave could intensify in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany by Friday.

Flood conditions have deteriorated across Bangladesh’s northeastern and northern regions after India opened all gates of the Gajoldoba Barrage, releasing upstream water amid continuous heavy rainfall. The Teesta River crossed the danger level at Dalia Point in Nilphamari on Tuesday afternoon, prompting the Water Development Board to open all 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage to control water flow. Low-lying areas in Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha have been inundated, leaving thousands of families marooned.

According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, most major rivers are flowing below danger levels, but the Teesta, Surma, Kushiyara, and Someshwari rivers are at or near warning marks at several stations. Officials warned that heavy rainfall and upstream inflow may continue for the next two to three days, potentially worsening the flood situation in northern districts. Local residents expressed frustration over India’s release of water, urging action to prevent further inflow.

Authorities are monitoring embankments and roads in vulnerable areas while urging residents to remain alert as water levels continue to rise.

Bangladesh Bank has resumed lending to commercial banks by printing new money, providing around Tk 9,000 crore in liquidity support to Islami Bank over the past week. The central bank said the assistance was necessary to help the bank manage heavy deposit withdrawals following unrest over the appointment of its chairman. The funds were created through new money issuance, and economists warned that such actions could exert limited inflationary pressure.

According to officials, Islami Bank had failed to maintain its required cash reserve ratio and faced difficulties meeting customer withdrawal demands. The central bank extended the loan under its lender-of-last-resort function to stabilize the banking system. Former officials and economists noted that while money creation increases supply theoretically, the impact on overall inflation is expected to be minimal due to the limited scale of the support.

Bangladesh Bank stated that the liquidity assistance was temporary and would be repaid within the stipulated period, ensuring the excess money returns to the central bank. The move aimed to restore depositor confidence and prevent further instability in the financial sector.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the plenary session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Dalian, China. The session, titled “Innovation at Scale,” began at 9 a.m. local time on June 24 at the Dalian International Conference Center in Liaoning Province. The WEF President and Chief Executive Officer delivered the opening remarks. Alongside Bangladesh, the prime ministers of China, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, and Guinea also participated in the session.

On the sidelines of the event, Prime Minister Rahman held discussions with several heads of government to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on issues of mutual interest. He also joined a photo session with world leaders during the session break.

According to the report, Rahman’s participation in the “Summer Davos” is expected to expand opportunities for investment and employment in Bangladesh while enhancing national capacity through the adoption of best practices from other countries.

Global oil price trends are increasingly being influenced by China, as the United States and Iran continue discussions on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring Middle Eastern oil supplies. Analysts say China, though not part of these talks, has become the most significant player in determining the next phase of the global oil market. As the world’s second-largest crude oil consumer, China has mitigated the impact of disrupted supplies exceeding 11 million barrels per day by reducing imports, using its vast reserves, and expanding clean energy use.

These measures have helped stabilize international prices despite a supply shortfall exceeding one billion barrels. Brent crude fell below 78 dollars per barrel on Monday, reflecting expectations of resumed trade through the Hormuz Strait. Analysts from Société Générale noted that while the Iran war has affected 14 percent of global supply, prices have not surged as in past crises, crediting China’s balancing role. Experts warn, however, that reliance on reserves cannot last indefinitely, and if prices drop, China may resume large-scale stockpiling, potentially reshaping the market again.

The International Energy Agency cautioned that if Middle Eastern production normalizes, global supply could exceed demand by 4.7 million barrels per day next year, making China’s future buying decisions crucial for market stability.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on world leaders to turn their climate commitments into concrete actions to protect millions of lives threatened by climate change. Speaking on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum’s 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, China, he urged that promises be translated into results so the world can face the future with confidence. He expressed hope that COP-31 would address these challenges and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s readiness to play its part.

Rahman emphasized that climate action should be viewed as an investment in prosperity and stability, not as a cost. He outlined three priorities ahead of COP-31 and COP-32: operationalizing the loss and damage fund, making climate finance more accessible to vulnerable nations, and ensuring adaptation alongside mitigation. He highlighted Bangladesh’s initiatives, including dredging 20,000 kilometers of rivers and canals, constructing the Padma Barrage, modernizing the Teesta Barrage, planting 250 million trees, and expanding renewable energy to 20 percent by 2030.

He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to becoming a climate-resilient nation and called on global leaders to overcome differences and honor their pledges under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.

Prime Minister’s Adviser and Spokesperson Mahdi Amin announced that the government aims to ensure a trustworthy and competitive environment for global investors under the message ‘Bangladesh is open for business’. He made the statement at a press conference held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Dalian, China, during the World Economic Forum’s Summer Davos 2026. Prime Minister Tarek Rahman is attending the event, marking his first participation in a global summit as head of government.

Amin said Bangladesh’s participation focuses on attracting foreign investment, creating employment, and linking sustainable development and climate resilience with international partnerships. He noted that the WEF President and CEO Alois Zwinggi met with the Prime Minister to discuss investment growth and employment creation. The Prime Minister also addressed the ‘Climate Leadership in a Shifting Global Landscape’ session, presenting Bangladesh’s climate initiatives and future plans, including river dredging, tree planting, and renewable energy expansion.

According to Amin, the Prime Minister’s engagement is enhancing Bangladesh’s global stature while opening new opportunities for investment, employment, and knowledge exchange through international collaboration.

Bangladesh’s Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam stated that the government’s current budget focuses on addressing the fragile economic situation and reducing public suffering. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a discussion on the 2026–27 fiscal year budget organized by the MBA Association of Bangladesh at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Highlighting instability in the banking sector, he criticized a previous law limiting depositor refunds to one lakh taka if a bank went bankrupt, arguing that such policies had pushed the sector toward collapse. He expressed deep concern over money laundering and inflation, claiming that about 30 lakh crore taka had been laundered abroad, forcing the dollar rate to rise from 82 to 130 taka, which severely burdened ordinary citizens.

The Chief Whip urged that the budget be viewed from a humanitarian perspective rather than as mere numbers. He called for unity to alleviate the suffering of marginalized people, recover looted wealth, and rebuild the economy through constructive criticism and necessary reforms.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu told parliament that a total of 445 safe shelters have been identified in Dhaka as part of earthquake and urban disaster preparedness efforts. The list includes 256 shelters under Dhaka South City Corporation and 189 under Dhaka North City Corporation. A formal proposal has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office to officially declare these sites as earthquake shelters.

Responding to a question from Gopalganj-1 MP Selimuzzaman Mollah, the minister said a coordinated volunteer database is being developed to keep 100,000 volunteers ready in Dhaka and nearby areas. He added that monitoring and rapid dissemination of earthquake and tsunami information have been strengthened through coordination among the Meteorological Department, Geological Survey, and other relevant agencies.

The minister emphasized that, given Bangladesh’s proximity to earthquake and tsunami-prone zones, the government is prioritizing preparedness and risk reduction measures, including adherence to the Bangladesh National Building Code for earthquake-resistant infrastructure.

Bangladesh’s trade deficit for the 2024–2025 fiscal year reached 24.168 billion US dollars, according to Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir. He presented the figures in parliament on Tuesday, noting that export earnings totaled 55,191.24 million dollars while imports stood at 79,359.24 million dollars. The largest deficit was with China at 17,868 million dollars, followed by India at 7,859.87 million dollars. Other major deficits were recorded with Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, Qatar, and Malaysia.

The minister said Bangladesh remains heavily dependent on the ready-made garment sector, which accounts for 84 percent of total export income. To reduce reliance on a single product, the government has extended bond facilities to exporters in eight additional sectors, including leather, jute, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, ICT, light engineering, frozen food, and plastics. The National Board of Revenue has issued the necessary orders to support this diversification.

He added that Bangladesh is pursuing free trade agreements and GSP Plus benefits with the European Union, China, and India to mitigate potential tariff challenges after graduating from least developed country status in 2026.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir informed the National Parliament that the National Security Intelligence Directorate has identified 31 tea estates as high-risk due to labor unrest over unpaid wages. He made the statement on Tuesday in response to a question from BNP lawmaker Selina Sultana during a session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. The report, dated May 18, 2025, highlighted wage disputes and management disorder following some owners abandoning their estates in August 2024.

The minister said that although there is no current policy for identifying sick tea gardens, the Bangladesh Tea Board has taken several measures to address wage arrears and restore normal operations. Two committees were formed to reopen the closed Burjan and Phultola estates, and financial aid was provided from the Tea Board’s welfare fund. Both gardens are now operating normally.

He added that the government arranged special exports of unsold tea from 12 National Tea Company estates to pay workers’ dues and continues to ensure rations, healthcare, housing, and other welfare benefits for tea workers. A family card program is also being introduced to improve living standards.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced a new type of account called the 'Non-Resident Convertible Taka Account' to encourage investment by expatriate Bangladeshis. According to a circular issued on Tuesday, the account will allow expatriates to deposit remittance funds in offshore banking units, use the money for domestic investments or as loan collateral, and repatriate funds abroad when needed.

The central bank stated that the initiative aims to integrate remittance flows more effectively into the financial system, expand offshore banking operations, and create greater investment opportunities for non-resident Bangladeshis. The account can be opened against foreign currency remitted through banking channels and may function as a savings, current, or term deposit account. Deposits may include remittance funds, transfers from other non-resident accounts, interest or profit income, and proceeds from approved investments.

Banking sector observers noted that the new account is expected to bring more remittance funds under formal banking channels, expand offshore banking activities, and enhance liquidity support for export-oriented industries operating in specialized zones.

A rare and endangered reticulated python was rescued from a house in Muslim Para of Chitmaram Union under Kaptai upazila in Rangamati. The rescue was carried out by the local environmental group 'Prokritir Dol' under the Biodiversity Conservation Project of the Rangamati Hill District Council. The python, measuring about seven feet in length, was recovered on Wednesday morning and later handed over to the Kaptai Range of the South Forest Division.

Following the direction of divisional forest officer S M Sajjad Hossain, the python was released into a national park. Kaptai Range Officer Mohammad Mamunur Rahman confirmed that the snake was freed deep inside the forest. Officials said that around 18 snakes had been released into the wild over the past one and a half months.

The rescue and release were conducted in the presence of forest and biodiversity officials, local journalists, and members of the environmental team, highlighting ongoing efforts to protect wildlife in the region.

The South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance’s Center for Migration Studies at North South University hosted a live webinar titled “Prime Minister’s Malaysia Visit: Will the Closed Labor Market Reopen?” on Monday. The discussion centered on Prime Minister Tareq Rahman’s visit to Malaysia and the potential reopening of the Malaysian labor market for Bangladeshi workers. The session was moderated by Associate Professor Selim Reza.

Speakers highlighted the challenges faced by Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia, including documentation issues, high migration costs, work permit renewals, and limited access to legal support. Dr. Md. Mahbubul Haque noted that no formal agreement on reopening the labor market has yet been confirmed. Other participants emphasized the need for broader economic cooperation, improved worker protection, and transparent recruitment systems. They also called for stronger collaboration between civil society groups in both countries.

The webinar concluded with calls for evidence-based policymaking, sustainable diplomatic engagement, and enhanced protection for Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia.

The United Arab Emirates is set to launch its first passenger train service later this month, according to the state news agency WAM. The announcement followed the inauguration of Abu Dhabi’s new railway station by Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed. The initial route between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah will begin operations on June 30, with standard class tickets priced at 55 dirhams and premium class at 120 dirhams. The service will later expand to connect four of the country’s seven emirates.

Dubai’s railway station is scheduled to open on September 30, while Sharjah’s main station will begin operations on March 30, 2027. Authorities also plan to conduct feasibility studies for extending the network to other emirates. The new fleet will include 13 trains, each capable of carrying up to 400 passengers, and ticket booking opened on Tuesday.

The project reflects the UAE’s long-term vision for an integrated transport network aimed at improving connectivity, efficiency, and opportunities for investment, tourism, and urban development, according to Sheikh Khaled.