Leaders of the Small Meat Processing and Sellers Society alleged that corporate pressure, past government failures and corrupt officials have pushed retail meat prices higher for small vendors. President Md Abdul Halim Quraishi (Chan) and General Secretary Md Bhutto said meat that could be sold for Tk400 per kilogram is now being sold by small traders for Tk800 to Tk900 per kilogram.

In a statement, the leaders said wealthy corporate companies and corporate farm operators were using multiple strategies against small meat sellers. They alleged that dishonest businesses seek to halt small-scale meat sales and shift the trade entirely toward packaged products controlled by departmental stores, leaving ordinary consumers dependent on those outlets.

The group also claimed that shortages of cattle and buffalo had made horse meat readily available and alleged that official statistics during the previous government had misrepresented livestock availability. It protested what it described as misleading and one-sided media reports, and said comments by Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam showed reluctance to clearly disclose the truth.

American music star Beyoncé Knowles has pledged $1 million, about Tk 119 million, to support people affected by a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia. The funding is intended to provide food and emergency housing supplies for residents of the Chocó region, identified as the area hit hardest by the disaster.

According to the report, 331 people had died as of the latest update. More than 29,000 homes were destroyed, while nearly 69,000 people were left homeless by the earthquake. Beyoncé’s announcement comes amid efforts to assist communities facing severe disruption after the natural disaster.

Colombian singer Shakira separately pledged $1.25 million to help rebuild schools damaged by the disaster in her home country. In a statement, she said schools are vital to helping children return to normal life and regain mental stability after a disaster. Both artists called on other wealthy individuals and international organizations to contribute to relief efforts.

Reduced rainfall in mid-Bhadra has pushed temperatures higher across Bangladesh, causing oppressive humid heat and disrupting daily life. On Thursday, Rajshahi recorded the country’s highest temperature at 37 degrees Celsius, while Dhaka reached 35.5 degrees, up from 34.1 degrees on Wednesday. Weather officials said several districts have experienced conditions consistent with a mild heatwave in recent days, though it was not formally reported as such.

Meteorologist Shahinul Islam said the situation is temporary and temperatures may ease somewhat from Friday, which is why the heatwave has not been highlighted. The weather department defines temperatures from 36 to 37.9 degrees Celsius in multiple districts as a mild heatwave, 38 to 40 degrees as moderate, 40 to 42 degrees as severe, and above 42 degrees as very severe.

Rainfall may remain limited through Saturday, while higher humidity could intensify the muggy conditions nationwide. A low-pressure system may form around September 1, potentially increasing rainfall from Sunday. In the 24 hours ending 6pm Thursday, most areas received no rain; Teknaf recorded 39 millimetres and Dhaka 34 millimetres in the preceding 24-hour period.

Manchester Airports Group said on Thursday that a cyberattack by an unauthorised third party exposed information belonging to about 8.7 million customers of Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports in the United Kingdom. The group operates the three airports and described the incident as a cyberattack on its systems.

The compromised data relates to bookings for car parking, lounges and fast-track services, as well as airport Wi-Fi sign-ups. According to a MAG spokesperson, the information taken includes email addresses, telephone numbers, vehicle registration numbers and postcodes.

MAG said no customer bank-account or payment-related information was affected. It also said the attack did not disrupt normal airport operations. The company has informed the relevant authorities and is working in coordination with them.

The Bangladesh Agrochemical Manufacturers Association (BAMA) has welcomed the government’s move to simplify imports of raw materials for agricultural pesticide production and remove mandatory sourcing from specified countries or origins. In a statement, BAMA President and agriculturist KSM Mostafizur Rahman described the decision as timely and farmer-friendly, saying it would bring positive results for Bangladesh’s agricultural sector and farmers.

Rahman said previous complex policies and requirements to import from particular countries or sources had imposed additional costs on manufacturing companies. Under the new policy, importers will be able to procure quality agricultural chemicals and raw materials from international markets at competitive prices while maintaining quality standards.

BAMA said the change could help ensure an uninterrupted supply of agricultural chemical inputs in the domestic market and keep production costs under control for farmers. The association noted that dependence on a limited number of countries had previously created artificial shortages of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals when global supply chains were disrupted, causing unusually high prices. It said removing source-country restrictions would promote open-market competition and allow lower-cost imports.

Gyirong port on the China-Nepal border has become a focal point for rescue operations after severe flooding and landslides in China. CCTV footage showed the large building marking the border being swept away by powerful flows of mud and water, while hundreds of people ran toward safer ground. The building stood in the deepest of five Himalayan valleys.

The port became an important trade and transport hub after the 2015 earthquake damaged other routes. It served as a main entry point for tourists travelling between Nepal and Tibet. More than 100,000 people used the port during the first six months of the current year, and it handled more than 30 percent of total China-Nepal trade.

Following the disaster, some users on Chinese social media questioned why such an important land port had been built in a geographically unstable deep valley. Heavy rainfall last year also triggered destructive landslides and flash floods that killed 17 people. The source notes that valleys are the natural routes for crossing the Himalayas, and this passage has been used for more than 1,300 years by nomads, herders, Nepali traders and local villagers.

Dhaka University honored 62 teachers and researchers whose Google Scholar profiles have received 2,000 or more citations, recognizing their research contributions and role in raising the university’s international visibility. The awards were presented on Thursday at the Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam attended the event as chief guest.

The ceremony was chaired by Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education Professor Dr Abdus Salam, while Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Administration Professor Dr Mohammad Al-Mojadded Al-Felchani and Treasurer Professor Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury spoke as special guests. Honorees represented a wide range of disciplines, including science, engineering, health, social sciences, business, computing and fine arts. Professor Dr Md Anwarul Islam delivered introductory remarks and presented on the importance of citations in assessing research quality and international acceptance.

The vice-chancellor congratulated the recipients and called for a stronger researcher role in developing the university into a research-oriented institution and improving its international ranking. He said work is under way on a 20-year academic development plan, alongside proposed funds of Tk1,000 crore each for research and student welfare. He also highlighted efforts to strengthen industry-academia links, alumni networking and international research collaboration.

Recruitment agency associations from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar have raised concerns over Malaysia’s foreign worker recruitment system and called for equal opportunity, transparency and fair competition for all legally licensed agencies. The groups issued a joint statement on Thursday, urging Malaysia and relevant stakeholders to review the FWCMS recruitment system.

The statement was signed by representatives of Nepal’s Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies, Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Association and Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association. They said they support digitalisation, transparency, efficiency and responsible recruitment, but warned that no digital platform or system should enable syndication, monopoly or exclusive control over migrant worker recruitment.

The associations said thousands of agencies in sending countries are properly licensed and deserve equal, transparent and non-discriminatory access to legal recruitment. They warned that preferential access for a limited number of agencies could weaken fair competition, transparency and ethical recruitment, while potentially increasing costs and limiting choices for employers and migrant workers. They listed four demands, including open competitive distribution of recruitment opportunities and prioritising migrant workers’ rights and welfare. On August 21, FWCMS published a list of 25 agencies for recruiting workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia.

Basanta Raj Adhikari, director of Tribhuvan University’s Center for Disaster Studies in Nepal, has warned that second and third waves of flooding could strike today or tomorrow. He said the situation’s course remains uncertain and that researchers do not yet know how events will develop.

Adhikari said discussions are continuing with colleagues monitoring conditions in China. While there has not been heavy rainfall, he said landslides could occur. His team has been monitoring natural hazards in the Himalayan region for a long time.

The disaster studies director said climate change is genuinely occurring in the region. He added that researchers had been watching the situation, but could not determine the specific day on which such an event would happen.

Rescue teams in Nepal are facing major challenges after a devastating flash flood left people trapped under debris and stranded in remote areas. Many roads and bridges were destroyed, making overland access to affected communities difficult and forcing rescuers to rely on helicopters. Local survivor Janak Bahadur told Reuters that the floodwater arrived suddenly, “exploding like a bomb.”

Bahadur said the river had appeared small from a distance before water levels suddenly rose and the current swept through the entire area. Another flood victim said the loss of road connections had become the biggest problem. Debris has prevented access to many locations, leaving authorities unable to confirm how many people remain stranded or buried beneath rubble.

The powerful floodwaters damaged homes, roads, bridges and other structures across remote affected areas. Rescue workers said restoring communications and transport links, while delivering food, water and emergency assistance, is now urgent. They are also working against time to find anyone who may still be alive under the debris.

Flash floods are sudden, powerful surges of water that can rapidly move through gorges, valleys and other low, narrow areas. The article cites recent severe losses and more than 800 missing people in Nepal, while noting that such floods have also been reported in Bangladesh and elsewhere. Unlike slower river flooding after prolonged rain, flash floods can turn dry riverbeds into overflowing channels after only three to four hours of rainfall.

Heavy rain linked to thunderstorms is a main trigger, while rapid snow and ice melt, dam failures and landslides can also cause flash floods. Steep terrain and impermeable surfaces such as rock, roads and roofs accelerate runoff toward lower areas. The report says warmer air can hold more moisture, potentially increasing heavy rainfall, though scientists say it is still too early to determine climate change's role in Nepal's event.

Experts say flash floods can be forecast, but warning time is limited and data are scarce in remote mountain basins. Radar, satellites and automatic sensors can provide real-time information on lake levels and dam conditions. Nepalese specialists called for stronger international data systems, satellite monitoring in uninhabited risk zones and avoiding settlement in vulnerable areas.

Bangladesh Bank has completed agreements with 17 banks to provide Tk41,000 crore for its Tk60,000 crore incentive package aimed at reopening closed factories and restoring momentum to the stagnant economy. The package was announced on May 23 to restart shut industrial units, increase private-sector investment and revive economic activity.

The participating banks are Sonali, Agrani, Rupali, BRAC, City, Jamuna, Dutch-Bangla, Mutual Trust, Uttara, Prime, Bank Asia, NCC, Pubali, Eastern, Mercantile, Trust and Southeast Bank. Commercial banks will contribute Tk41,000 crore under the package, while Bangladesh Bank will provide the remaining Tk19,000 crore.

The largest allocation, Tk20,000 crore, has been reserved for restarting industrial factories that have remained closed for a long time. Private-sector borrowers will receive loans from this fund at an average interest rate of 7.5 percent.

Nepal’s flood death toll rose to 359 after bodies were recovered from eight districts by 5 p.m. Thursday, police said. The deadly flooding began Wednesday, and Nepal Police spokesperson Abhi Narayan Kafle confirmed the updated figure to The Post. The previous reported death toll on Thursday was 289.

Police reported 132 bodies in Chitwan, 82 in Nawalparasi East, 33 in Dhading, 30 in Gorkha, 28 in Nuwakot, 22 in Tanahun, 17 in Rasuwa and 15 in Nawalparasi West. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said at least 826 people, including residents, security personnel and domestic and foreign tourists, remain missing.

The missing include 44 Nepal Army personnel, 28 Nepal Police members and 13 Armed Police Force members. Authorities said 644 tourists are missing, including 517 foreign nationals and 127 Nepalis. Reuters reported that about 1,500 people were missing across Himalayan areas of Nepal and Tibet in China. Government agencies and security forces continue rescue, search, relief, information collection and verification work in affected areas.

India’s plan to expand nuclear power generation nearly tenfold over the next two decades faces fresh obstacles under proposed rules for foreign-designed reactors. The country aims to raise nuclear capacity to about 100 gigawatts by 2045, requiring an estimated $210 billion in investment, as New Delhi seeks lower carbon emissions and stronger energy security amid heavy reliance on coal-fired electricity.

A new atomic law last year opened India’s tightly controlled nuclear sector partially to private and foreign companies, with the aim of drawing technology, capital and expertise for faster plant construction. However, the recently published draft regulations impose additional requirements on overseas reactor designs. A foreign-designed reactor must be approved by the regulator in its country of origin and must already be operating in that country or elsewhere.

Before construction can begin in India, the design must also receive separate approval from India’s nuclear regulator. Industry participants fear the conditions could delay access to newer technologies, particularly small modular reactors, many of which remain at an early commercial stage. Tata Power, Adani Power, Reliance Industries, Rosatom, EDF and GE Hitachi have shown interest, but remain cautious pending final regulations. NPCIL is pursuing nearly 14 gigawatts of added capacity by 2032.

A new lake formed by a landslide near the Nepal-China border is raising fears of another major disaster after severe flooding in the area. The lake, located in Nepal near the Gyirong port area, has accumulated about 2 million cubic metres of water, while another 3 million cubic metres could enter it over the next three days. Authorities fear the natural dam created by the landslide could fail, unleashing floodwater, mud and rocks downstream.

Drone footage released by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed water filling a large depression left by an earlier landslide. According to CCTV, the lake is expanding rapidly and has already begun to overflow. Continued rainfall is forecast in Gyirong County over the next three days, increasing risks of landslides, mudflows and flash floods.

A local Chinese military commander, Chen Shi, said mountain slopes could collapse at any time because roads run along steep mountain edges. Several military units are on standby for rescue and relief operations. Rescue efforts are already being hampered by rugged terrain, expected rain and the risk of further landslides, while authorities closely monitor the lake.