Shipping, Road Transport and Bridges, and Railways Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said Mongla’s economy will undergo major change through an economic zone, an LNG station, power generation, a bridge and port-centred infrastructure. Speaking on August 16 at a civic reception organised by Mongla municipal BNP at the permanent port bus stand in Mongla, Bagerhat, he said work on the Mongla special economic zone would begin next October and could create jobs for about 60,000 people.

The minister said an LNG station would be built at Akram Point near Mongla Port, with gas transported to Mongla through an approximately 23-kilometre pipeline. He said there was also an initiative to use the gas for power generation. Ensuring gas supply, he added, could accelerate industrialisation, electricity production and port-based trade, potentially making Mongla an important industrial and commercial centre in the southwest.

Alam also cited plans for the country’s 10th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge over the Mongla River, saying it would be implemented quickly. He said new jetties, cold storage facilities and industrial infrastructure were planned at Mongla Port. Local BNP leaders at the event pledged commitment to Mongla’s development, establishing people’s rights and strengthening the party’s organisational capacity.

Bangladesh Bank has granted special permission to SS Power-1 Limited, an S Alam Group company, to open letters of credit for importing raw materials. Under a directive issued on Sunday, the company may open LCs through Rupali Bank only for raw-material imports after depositing a 100 percent margin. The measure addresses legal complications that arose because the S Alam Group is a loan defaulter.

The directive says Section 27KaKa(3) of the Bank Company Act will not apply to SS Power-1 Limited until December 31, 2027. Under that provision, an affiliated company cannot receive loans or credit facilities when its group is classified as a loan defaulter. A Bangladesh Bank official said the SS Power plant is currently shut and that the facility was granted under a government decision considering the current electricity shortage.

Bangladesh Bank issued the special directive after receiving approval from the Finance Ministry. The directive also states that neither the government nor Bangladesh Bank will assume liability for any loan or financing provided under the arrangement. Lender banks or financial institutions will not be able to seek future financial support from either authority against such loans. Earlier, Shinepukur Ceramics Limited and Abdul Monem Sugar Refinery received similar facilities.

Bangladesh Bank has withdrawn the requirement for importers to maintain a 100 percent cash margin when opening letters of credit for fruit imports. In a circular issued on Sunday and reported on August 16, 2026, the central bank said cash-margin rates for fruit import LCs can now be set based on the relationship between banks and their customers.

The bank said the decision considered public health and nutrition needs, import facilitation, and ensuring necessary supplies through a competitive market. It also cited improving desired stability in the country’s foreign-exchange rate and transactions in recent times, saying this had reduced the need for a full cash-margin requirement on fruit imports.

A September 5, 2024 circular had required 100 percent cash margins for LCs involving certain luxury goods and domestically substitutable imports amid global economic instability; fruit was included in that list. Bangladesh Bank said other provisions of the 2024 circular and subsequent related instructions remain unchanged. The decision is expected to reduce importers’ immediate cash needs and ease import financing, while potentially increasing fruit supply and competition in the market.

Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan inaugurated the divisional modern information complex in Kashipur, Barishal city, on Sunday afternoon. He said the government wants to raise the value of information buildings to global standards, giving importance to practical usefulness alongside the structural value of the facilities. The seven-storey complex was built at a cost of Tk17 crore.

Speaking as chief guest at the event chaired by Information Ministry Secretary Mahbuba Farzana, Swapan said technological capacity does not depend on a building, a mobile phone or its price, but on practical value. He said efforts would be made to extend the information complex's activities to district and উপজেলা levels. A digital library is also planned at the complex, which he said would play an important role in acquiring knowledge.

The minister said the complex would have modern screen facilities. He noted that Bangladesh once had around 1,100 cinema halls, but only 140 remain, citing films unsuited to single-screen venues as one reason. Construction had been expected to finish in 2023, but the building was formally opened nearly three years after the scheduled completion.

A week-long trade licence renewal service began on Sunday at the DCCI auditorium in Dhaka, jointly organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Dhaka South City Corporation. DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam inaugurated the programme as chief guest. The service initiative is scheduled to end on August 20 and aims to make business-related procedures easier for chamber members under the city corporation.

At a discussion on local commerce, law and order, traffic conditions and trade licence services, service recipients called for lower renewal fees and automated, harassment-free renewal procedures. They also sought action to address traffic congestion and waterlogging, register electric autorickshaws and hawkers, clear occupied footpaths, and prevent extortion by political and organisational activists and law enforcement personnel.

DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed stressed effective digital systems and the introduction of multi-year renewals. Abdus Salam said trade licence fees could be reduced if NBR charges within the prescribed fee were lowered. He said a one-stop service is under consideration, while efforts continue to bring electric autorickshaws and hawkers under registration. Representatives of 10 DCCI member firms received renewed licence copies after the event.

Grameen Bank has launched a nationwide initiative to plant 10 million trees to mark its 50th anniversary, aiming to address climate change and protect the environment. The tree-planting programme was inaugurated yesterday at the Mahipur Kalapara branch in the Patuakhali zone, according to a report published on August 16, 2026. The bank began in Jobra village, Chattogram, in 1976 as a small microcredit project.

Professor Dr Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, chairman of Grameen Bank, attended the inauguration as chief guest. Managing Director Sardar Akhtar Hamid, Company Secretary Abdus Sabur Md Bakius, zonal and area managers, and local dignitaries were also present. Chowdhury said the institution had begun a fight against climate change after starting its fight against poverty 50 years ago.

Hamid said the programme seeks to improve nutrition and economic security for member families while making the country more climate-resilient. Distribution of fruit, forest and medicinal saplings among members is under way at Grameen Bank's 2,528 branches across the country. Planting in household yards and open spaces will continue throughout the year.

Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie said Binna grass could offer an effective, environmentally friendly and low-cost natural solution to river erosion, land degradation and soil loss. He made the remarks on Sunday at a meeting on the Binna Grass Policy for Bangladesh at Water Bhaban in Panthapath, Dhaka. State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad was present.

The minister said the grass’s roots penetrate deep into the soil and hold it firmly, helping reduce erosion caused by rainwater, waves and currents. He said planned planting along riverbanks, canal banks, embankment slopes, haor areas and erosion-prone locations could improve soil stability. Its use in such areas could also support environmental balance and increase infrastructure durability.

Annie called for wider use of Binna grass to protect soil on riverbanks and embankments. He said the ministry is prioritising sustainable and environmentally friendly initiatives to conserve rivers, canals, embankments and reservoirs. Azad said climate change is increasing risks from floods, river erosion, heavy rainfall and land degradation, and that nature-based solutions should be considered alongside concrete infrastructure. BUET Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Shariful Islam presented on the grass’s benefits and potential.

Bangladesh and Lithuania discussed new prospects for joint cooperation in information technology, cybersecurity and fintech to strengthen bilateral trade ties. The issues were discussed on Sunday at the Ministry of Commerce in the Secretariat during a meeting between Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Lithuania’s non-resident ambassador to Bangladesh, Diana Mickeviciene. Commerce Ministry Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan also attended the meeting.

Muktadir said bilateral trade remains limited but there is broad scope to expand cooperation. He said Lithuanian technology companies could use Bangladesh’s fast-growing ICT sector, skilled young workforce and freelancers’ capabilities to expand operations in the South Asian market. The minister also described Bangladesh as a promising investment destination, citing facilities for investment withdrawal and repatriation of profits, alongside what he called a stable and investment-friendly environment.

Mickeviciene said Lithuania is advanced in laser technology, GovTech and fintech services, and is interested in exchanging experience and technical cooperation to support Bangladesh’s digital transformation, technology development and stronger cybersecurity. The meeting emphasized taking prompt effective measures to expand trade, increasing business-level contacts, and pursuing joint initiatives in technology-driven sectors.

Severe flooding struck Indiana after days of heavy rain and storms, inundating areas of Noblesville and Indianapolis as the White River rose far above its danger level. The river reached its peak in the Noblesville area on Saturday night local time before rising sharply in northern Indianapolis. Residents in riverside areas were ordered to move to safer locations, while officials described the event as among the state’s worst floods in decades.

At least five people were reported dead in flooding and storm-related incidents across Indiana. Some deaths occurred after trees fell, while others involved people being swept away by floodwaters. Emergency rescue workers continued evacuating people at risk and moving them to safe places. Authorities said some areas received more than 11 inches of rain in only two days, rapidly raising water levels in rivers and canals.

Indianapolis is facing its largest flooding situation in at least 30 years. National Weather Service officials said the flooding was nearing the scale of an event that could occur once in a century. Homes, roads and businesses were submerged in several areas. Indiana’s governor declared an emergency, and the US president approved an emergency disaster declaration following a request for federal assistance. Authorities warned that additional rain could worsen conditions.

China, the world’s largest oil importer, is gaining the ability to influence international oil prices by raising or reducing its purchases, according to a report published on August 16, 2026. The report says Beijing is emerging as a new rival to OPEC and its allies, whose production decisions have long been central to global oil-market pricing. During supply disruptions linked to the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz crisis, China’s reduced imports helped limit price pressure.

From February through June, China cut crude oil imports by nearly half, to about 5.5 million barrels a day. Analysts cited in the report believe Brent crude could have risen by about another $30 without that move. China had built substantial crude reserves when prices were lower from late 2025 into early 2026, allowing it to rely on stockpiles rather than make large new purchases during the crisis.

The report also links China’s ability to manage oil demand to wider electrification, including electric vehicles, public transport and renewable energy use. OPEC remains highly influential, but internal changes and conflicting member interests are complicating its decisions. Supply disruptions, geopolitical tensions, concerns over weak demand, rising US oil inventories and changes in Chinese imports are all affecting prices.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said Bangladesh’s gas and electricity problems cannot be resolved overnight, and that any new arrangement would require at least two years. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at a seminar organized by AmCham at the InterContinental Hotel in the capital. He said the government was working to address the shortages because the economy could not move forward without electricity and gas.

The minister described the power and gas crisis as an inherited problem, saying it could not be solved within six months or a year. However, he said the government was not wasting time in pursuing solutions and was working tirelessly to ease the situation.

For the future energy system, the government is developing an energy mix combining renewable energy, gas and coal-based power generation, Chowdhury said. He also said the government was working to improve the business environment by reducing red tape, corruption and harassment in the tax system. The finance minister added that the country’s capital market was in a better position than before.

Construction of the Madarganj solar power project on a Jamuna River char between Bogura and Jamalpur has missed its original schedule because of financial constraints. Work began in 2023 and about 60 percent has been completed, project manager Didarul Islam Didar said. Electricity had been expected to enter the national grid in December last year, but the project period has been extended until June 2027, with generation now expected in 2027.

The project is being built at Kaiser Char in Madarganj, Jamalpur, beside Uttar Shankarpur village in Sariakandi’s Bohail union. Land filling on 325.6536 acres and RCC block protection against river erosion have been completed. Workers are installing supports for solar panels, building panel frames and constructing power lines for the national grid. The plant is initially described as a 100-megawatt facility, with plans to raise capacity to 110 megawatts.

China’s CREC and Bangladesh’s BR Powergen Limited signed the joint-project agreement on June 13, 2023, with an estimated cost of $131.56 million. About 100 families living within the project boundary were resettled. Didar said large unpaid bills were preventing a faster start to generation. Local residents said they want the plant commissioned quickly because of load-shedding hardships.

Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary A B M Abdus Sattar said Bangladesh’s new pay scale is in its final stage and could be announced at any time. He made the remarks while speaking with journalists at the Secretariat on Sunday. Sattar said 1.8 million government officials and employees have faced inflationary pressure because no pay scale has been introduced over the past 11 years.

He said that although the issue may be difficult for the public, the living standards of government employees need to be adjusted. The chief secretary identified the economy as the government’s main challenge. He said the government is planning to create employment and increase productivity to address the crisis.

Sattar also attributed the current gas, electricity and fuel crisis to the Middle East war and the previous government’s lack of alternative arrangements. He said the government is trying to build a diversified supply chain involving Russia, the Philippines, Indonesia and China. He did not provide a specific date for the pay-scale announcement or details of its structure.

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake was centred about 56 kilometres northeast of Port Olry, a small coastal village in Vanuatu, and originated at a depth of 188 kilometres below the surface.

No immediate damage or casualties were reported after the earthquake. Vanuatu’s natural disaster authorities also did not immediately issue a tsunami warning. The country is prone to earthquakes because it lies in the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire, an area stretching from Southeast Asia to the Pacific basin where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent.

The Vanuatu tremor followed powerful earthquakes in Colombia and Indonesia. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia early Saturday and was followed by more than 100 aftershocks, killing 51 people. In western Colombia, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake on Monday caused extensive damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure around Cali, Pereira and nearby areas. The reported death toll there has reached about 290, with 140 people missing and around 4,000 injured.

Japanese scientists are preparing the uncrewed Martian Moons eXploration, or MMX, mission to collect samples from a moon of Mars. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Tanegashima Space Center within the next few months. The mission could help investigate the formation of the solar system and the origins of life on Earth, while also potentially helping pave the way for future human travel to Mars.

The spacecraft was unveiled to media on Thursday and is expected to remain in Mars orbit for about three years. During that period, it will attempt to land on Phobos and collect at least 10 grams of material from its surface. A rover named Idefix, after the dog in the French comic character Asterix, will examine the moon's surface at the same time.

MMX will also observe Deimos, Mars's other moon, but will not land there. A return capsule is then expected to head for Earth and land in Australia around 2031. The report notes Japan's prior sample-return experience: JAXA's uncrewed Hayabusa-2 returned 5.4 grams of rock and dust collected from an asteroid in 2020.