Bangladesh’s government has begun drafting a policy for private-sector imports, storage, transport, distribution and marketing of refined fuel oil to ensure uninterrupted and safe supplies. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division said the proposed policy offers no scope for special benefits to any particular individual, institution or group. The statement was issued on Saturday by Deputy Chief Information Officer Muhammad Arif Sadeq.

The proposed 2026 policy aims to strengthen energy security and maintain continuous fuel supplies. It also envisages a transparent, competitive system that can use private-sector infrastructure and investment capacity alongside existing government arrangements in emergencies or crises, in the national interest.

The division said the policy remains under preparation and will be finalized after gathering views and recommendations from all relevant stakeholders. It said consideration of such a policy depends on ensuring public interest, energy security, competitive markets, transparency and accountability. The division also said some media and social-media reports on the proposal contained speculative and false information, and urged all concerned to act responsibly.

A new low-pressure system has formed over the Bay of Bengal, and Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department says rainfall may increase after August 12. Another low-pressure system could bring heavy to very heavy rain across the country for several days from August 15, according to a forecast published on August 8. The system is located over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjacent north Odisha coast.

Meteorologist Dr Abul Kalam Mallik said rain activity may remain lower over the next three to four days before increasing again from August 12 or 13. He said Dhaka has little chance of rainfall before August 15, apart from occasional light rain. In the 24 hours ending 6pm Saturday, Dhaka recorded one millimetre of rain, while Bhola recorded the highest total, 74 millimetres.

The Kushiyara River was flowing above the danger level at the Fenchuganj station in Sylhet. Water levels in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna system are rising and may cross warning levels in parts of several districts within 24 hours, temporarily flooding low-lying areas. Authorities advised caution in river basins as they monitor river and flood conditions.

Typhoon Dolphin left more than 50,000 buildings without electricity in Japan’s southern Okinawa and Kagoshima prefectures and injured at least six people, according to a report published on August 8. Five elderly people were injured in Okinawa on Saturday, including three who fell in strong winds, while one other person was hurt in Kagoshima. Local authorities said none of the injuries was serious.

About 39,000 buildings lost power in Kagoshima and just over 12,000 in Okinawa. The typhoon’s maximum sustained winds reached 162 kilometres per hour, with gusts up to 216 kilometres per hour. ANA and Japan Airlines cancelled several flights to and from Okinawa, while Okinawa and the Amami Islands in Kagoshima were expected to be among the areas most affected.

China issued its second-highest orange typhoon warning and raised its emergency response to Level 3 ahead of a possible landfall between Sunday night and Monday morning. Zhejiang closed port operations and suspended 162 passenger ferry routes, while Ningbo Lishe International Airport suspended all Sunday flights. Taiwan cancelled 78 international flights, and heavy rain and strong winds may affect eastern China through August 12.

Bangladesh’s Energy Division said a proposed policy allowing private-sector imports of refined fuel has not yet been finalized. The statement followed media reports alleging that control of the country’s energy sector was gradually being handed to an influential group. The clarification was issued on Saturday in a press release signed by Muhammad Arif Sadek, deputy chief information officer at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

The government has begun preparing a draft titled the “Policy for Import, Storage, Transportation, Distribution and Marketing of Refined Fuel by the Private Sector, 2026,” the release said. Its stated purpose is to ensure energy security and maintain uninterrupted, safe fuel supplies across the country.

The proposed framework also aims to create a transparent and competitive system, enabling private-sector infrastructure and investment capacity to support national interests during emergencies or crises alongside existing government arrangements. The policy will be finalized after gathering views and recommendations from all relevant stakeholders. The division said it would be considered only if public interest, energy security, competition, transparency and accountability can be ensured, and said it offers no scope for special benefits to any individual, institution or group.

Jute farmers in Kaunia upazila of Rangpur are facing difficulties retting their crop because of inadequate water, despite a good harvest in the current Kharif-1 season. The report, published on August 8, says many farmers have piled cut jute beside fields, roads, canals, wetlands and water bodies. Some are attempting retting in limited water, while others are transporting jute several kilometres to canals or rivers, increasing labour and transport expenses.

According to the upazila agriculture office, the jute cultivation target in Kaunia was 740 hectares, while actual cultivation reached 865 hectares. The production target for the season has been set at 10,101 bales. Farmer Al-Amin of Godai village said good yields have been offset by the added expense of taking jute to distant sites. Babu Haji of Rajib village said insufficient water during retting left fibres dark after washing, leading wholesalers to offer lower prices.

Farmers said the water shortage is affecting hundreds of growers and may prevent them from earning expected profits. Upazila Agriculture Officer Tania Akter said water receded early this year, creating some difficulty, but water remains in local canals and ponds where farmers can ret jute. Local growers called for fair jute prices that account for production and additional retting costs.

Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have signed a new bilateral Air Services Agreement to expand air connectivity and address longstanding operational complications. Published on August 8, 2026, the report said the agreement raises the permitted number of weekly flights between the two countries from 49 to 85. The deal was finalized after Saudi authorities agreed to Bangladesh’s proposal for 36 additional weekly flights.

Flights from Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah are expected to increase significantly. Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Chairman Mostafa Mahmud Hasan Siddique, who was visiting Saudi Arabia, said the higher flight allocation would make travel easier for Bangladeshi expatriates and reduce ticket shortages and high fares. He also said it would resolve various long-running complications involving Hajj and Umrah flight operations.

Siddique said he led a high-level delegation to Saudi Arabia on August 3, during which the agreement was finalized and signed. The delegation met Saudi Slot Management to raise operational issues faced by Bangladeshi carriers. Representatives of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines discussed securing practical schedules, while the new arrangement also emphasizes permanent and effective slot management.

The government has announced a series of development plans for Bogura, including a 400-acre BSCIC industrial park, a multidisciplinary university, the Bogura-Sirajganj railway, and efforts to start flights from Bogura International Airport. The plans were presented on August 8, 2026, at an inauguration ceremony for Bogura Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s newly elected board at Moin Convention Centre.

Commerce, Industries, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said a survey found strong demand for industrial development in Bogura, while development had not matched that demand. State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said Bogura is a food-surplus district whose products create a market worth about Tk3,500 crore across Bangladesh and abroad.

Mir Shahe Alam said the prime minister is expected to lay the foundation stone for the Bogura-Sirajganj rail line in November or December. Authorities are trying to open the airport for domestic routes by January 2027, while work on a drone manufacturing factory is due to begin next month. Plans also include an overpass over the city rail line, Karatoya River restoration, and a sports village with an international-standard football stadium.

Iraq’s oil exports have fallen by 75 percent because of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Oil Minister Basem Mohammed Khudair said. In a report published on August 8, 2026, he linked the steep decline to the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Before the war began, Iraq exported about 3.4 million barrels of oil per day through the strait.

Speaking at a news conference, Khudair said Iraq is currently producing about 2.7 million barrels of oil a day, with roughly 1.5 million to 1.7 million barrels exported daily. He said Iraq needs to create alternative export routes in the future and is focusing on diversifying export infrastructure and routes.

Khudair said Iraq has discussed with Iran the possibility of enabling Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, but no practical initiative has yet begun. The Iraqi government also opposed any attacks on oil companies and agreed to compensate companies if they are damaged in attacks. The source notes that disruption on the major oil and gas transit route could have significant effects on international energy markets.

Capital Development Authority (RAJUK) Chairman Engineer Md Riazul Islam said authorities are identifying defects in Dhaka buildings and taking action in phases to reduce earthquake risk. He made the remarks on Saturday morning at a discussion titled “Country at Earthquake Risk: What We Should Do,” organized by the Dhaka Utility Reporters Association at the National Press Club. He said building collapse risks stem not only from height, but also flawed designs, soil conditions and construction irregularities.

Because Dhaka has a large number of buildings, RAJUK cannot assess all risks at once, he said. The authority plans rapid visual assessments, preliminary engineering assessments and detailed engineering assessments in stages. It is also pursuing a research institution for pre-earthquake risk assessment, public awareness and future research. Riazul Islam said unauthorized additions, such as raising an approved six-storey building to 10 storeys, or construction after design changes, would not be allowed.

He called for coordinated work by city corporations, disaster management authorities, the fire service and other agencies. Fire Service Deputy Director Saleh Uddin said 41 fire stations around Dhaka have been airmarked and special response teams are prepared, while stressing that preparedness remains insufficient. Speakers emphasized compliance with the Bangladesh National Building Code, regular drills, oversight and public awareness.

Agriculture and Fisheries-Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said the government plans to establish freshwater fish sanctuaries in haors, beels, rivers and water bodies to increase the breeding and production of native freshwater fish. He made the announcement after inspecting Achmita George Institute Stadium in Katiadi on Saturday, ahead of the prime minister's scheduled Kishoreganj visit on August 16.

Under the plan, large pits and channels will be created in haor and wetland areas and reserved for brood fish. Guards will be assigned to prevent fishing inside the sanctuaries. The minister said native freshwater fish production has declined as pesticide and chemical fertilizer use in agriculture has increased and breeding grounds for brood fish have been damaged.

The programme, named “Freshwater Fish Sanctuary,” is due to begin implementation from the next season. Its plan has already been finalized and a budget has been set, the minister said. He added that secure shelter for brood fish would expand breeding opportunities and egg production, gradually increasing native fish output. Relevant stakeholders believe the initiative could also help conserve fish species facing extinction risks in haor regions.

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC held a consultation with prominent Islamic scholars to expand the use of Bangla QR payments at religious institutions as part of efforts toward a cashless Bangladesh. The meeting was held on Saturday at a hotel in the capital. Islamic Foundation Bangladesh Director General Mufti Muhammad Muhibbullahil Baqi attended as chief guest.

The bank’s Additional Managing Director Engineer Mohammad Jamal Uddin Majumdar presented the keynote paper on Bangla QR. Mufti Baqi said financial transactions have changed alongside technological progress and that religious institutions need to be connected with this change. He said the simple digital payment system could help such institutions manage transactions more transparently, securely and systematically.

Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Mohammad Zahir Hossain said expanding digital transactions is important to make the financial system more modern, simple and inclusive. Bringing religious institutions under Bangla QR could create an opportunity to involve a large segment of the population in digital transactions, he said. Acting Managing Director Md Altaf Hossain chaired the meeting and said the bank was working to ensure easy, secure and modern banking services for customers.

A proposed cross-border gas pipeline between Bangladesh and Myanmar requires explicit approval from the Arakan Army, political analysts say, because the group controls much of Rakhine state and the entire border area between the two countries. The proposal gained renewed momentum after an August 2 meeting in Dhaka between Bangladesh’s power, energy and mineral resources minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud and Myanmar’s ambassador U Kyaw Soe Moe. Bangladesh formally expressed interest in importing natural gas from Myanmar’s offshore Shwe gas project by pipeline to Chattogram to address its growing energy shortage.

Regional experts said Myanmar’s junta government does not control the territory needed to implement such commitments. Analyst U Myo Kyaw said the Arakan Army controls about 90 percent of Arakan state, including the Bangladesh border area, making its approval essential for gas transport across the territory.

Since early 2024, the Arakan Army has established full control over key border towns including Buthidaung and Maungdaw, as well as Paletwa township in neighboring Chin state, placing cross-border transit corridors under its administration. Fighting remains intense around strategically important Sittwe and Kyaukphyu. DMG editor-in-chief U Aung Min Oo said the group could support the project if it brings direct local economic benefits and prospects for international recognition, while formal contact with Bangladesh remains limited.

A government special audit has raised 20 objections involving Tk13,361.52 crore in alleged financial irregularities in the Padma Bridge rail link project, according to a report published on August 8. The project cost rose from about Tk35,000 crore to Tk39,000 crore, while the audit cited spending outside the original contract, payments exceeding work completed and releases of money for substandard work. The audit report covered the period from January 1 to March 20 of last year.

The largest objection concerned construction of the Dhaka-Jashore railway line. The audit alleged that contractors received full payment despite reduced work after a design change, identifying Tk2,130.42 crore in excess payment. It also cited alleged losses linked to extra rail imports, reduced granular sand use, increased bills of quantities and contracts priced above estimates. The project authority offered explanations, but the audit said most were not helpful in resolving the objections.

The audit recommended recovering excess payments from contractors, depositing the money in the state treasury and taking departmental action against those responsible. Railway Director General Md Afzal Hossain said most objections had been resolved or withdrawn. Current project director Naznin Ara Keya said responses to the objections were being processed. State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid said the government would act if evidence is found.

Rising water in the Jamuna River has triggered severe erosion in Daulatpur upazila of Manikganj, with homesteads, cropland and rural infrastructure disappearing into the river. In the Jionpur union villages of Boro Lautara and Chonpara, at least 15 to 16 families have lost their homes in sudden erosion over recent days. Many affected families are now living under the open sky, while riverside residents report spending nights in fear and uncertainty.

Displaced residents Mokched Ali and Islam Uddin said the erosion had left them destitute and uncertain about where to go with their families. Local accounts say around 200 families and a century-old educational institution are under threat. Resident Ahammad Ali called for urgent placement of geo-bags, warning that homes, the main connecting road, a mosque, madrasa and other religious and social institutions could soon be lost.

Jionpur Union Parishad Chairman Atowar Rahman said the upazila administration and Bangladesh Water Development Board had been informed, with demands for temporary protection through geo-bags and a permanent embankment later. Bagutia chairman SM Amjad Hossain said more than 300 homes had already been lost in his union. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Silvia Snigdha said emergency steps would be taken after consulting relevant departments.

Fishers aboard the FB Junaid trawler caught 46 maunds of hilsa in a single net cast in the Bay of Bengal off Kuakata, Patuakhali. The fish were auctioned at Monowara Fish market after the trawler arrived at Mahipur fishing port on Friday afternoon, selling for Tk 4.85 million. The large catch brought relief to fishers after a prolonged period of failing to find the desired volume of hilsa at sea.

According to fishers, the catch was made on August 6 near the final buoy of Payra seaport in deep waters, when about 2,200 hilsa were hauled in. Of the total, 24 maunds weighing one kilogram or more sold for Tk 115,000 per maund, generating Tk 2.76 million. The remaining 22 maunds, weighing 800 to 900 grams, sold for Tk 95,000 per maund.

Helmsman Alamgir said it was the largest such haul they had received together in about five years and expressed happiness after extended losses. Fisheries academic Dr Rajib Sarkar described the catch as reassuring and a source of hope for fishers. Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Apu Saha said continued rainfall could bring more hilsa in the coming period.