Severe electricity load-shedding is disrupting rural life and industrial production across Bangladesh, according to a report published on August 4, 2026. Residents in Rajbari, Baraigram in Natore, Rupsa in Khulna, Kathalia in Jhalakathi and Chitalmari in Bagerhat reported frequent and prolonged outages amid intense heat. The disruptions have affected routine household activities, education, commerce and public office operations.

In Rajbari, businesses, courts and offices, and students’ studies have been badly affected, while small industries, shops and irrigation-dependent farming face losses. Baraigram residents alleged 15 to 16 hours of outages over a day and night, affecting poultry operators, fish farmers, vehicle drivers and factory owners. In Rupsa, customers said power is cut four to five times during the day and for long periods at night.

Kathalia electricity officials said national-grid shortages prevent supply from meeting demand: local demand is about 3.8 megawatts while allocation is 1.5 to 2 megawatts. In Chitalmari, the local zonal office said around 43,000 customers require 10 megawatts, but receive five to six megawatts over 24 hours. Residents have called for prompt action to ensure uninterrupted supply.

Severe flooding in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram has caused extensive damage to vegetables and other crops, affecting 27,000 farmers, the report said. Crops on 3,446.5 hectares of land were submerged by hill runoff and tidal water from the sea. The report was published on August 4, 2026.

Most vegetable fields were inundated in Pui Chhari, Napora, Shekherkhil, Chambal, Jaldi, Bailchhari, Gandamara, Baraghona, Saral, Katharia, Baharchhara, Pukuria and Sadhanpur, reducing production. A significant share of vegetables sold in Chattogram markets comes from Banshkhali. Helal, a vegetable grower from East Pui Chhari, said most of his bitter gourd field was destroyed, while the remaining produce was selling for Tk100 per kilogram.

Local prices have risen sharply, with bitter gourd, tomatoes, yardlong beans and okra selling for Tk120 to Tk160 per kilogram, while green chilies cost Tk200. Most vegetables had sold for Tk10 to Tk15 per kilogram only days before the flood. Agriculture officer Shyamal Chandra Sarkar put official agricultural losses at about Tk55 crore. Farmers say actual losses exceed Tk100 crore and seek aid and quickly available loans on easy terms.

A leak has developed in a main Titas Gas transmission pipeline running beneath the Arial Kha River in Kazirchar village of Masua Union, Katiadi upazila, Kishoreganj. The report, published on August 4, said gas has been escaping at high pressure for a prolonged period and has not yet been fully controlled. Continuous bubbles are visible on the river surface and a strong gas smell is spreading through the air, causing concern and fear among riverside residents.

Residents alleged that the pipeline was damaged during an attempt to obtain an illegal gas connection for a lime-making factory beside the river, though the allegation has not been confirmed by investigation. The pipeline was installed about three decades ago to supply gas from Narsingdi to Kishoreganj. A hole recently formed at one of its welding joints, allowing gas to escape. The factory was closed after the allegations emerged, while its owner and workers could not be found.

Repair supervisor Noman Mia said the large hole at the welding section has made repairs difficult, with 20 to 25 workers working continuously for several weeks. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shamima Afroze Marliz visited the site and said the factory’s legal documents would be checked and the cause investigated. Locals demanded prompt repairs, an impartial inquiry and legal action against those involved.

Oil prices rose again on Tuesday as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran reduced hopes for a swift diplomatic resolution. Brent crude futures gained 62 cents, or 0.7 percent, to reach $84.39 a barrel. The report said the worsening tensions were contributing to uncertainty in the oil market.

US West Texas Intermediate crude also increased, rising 61 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $80.95 a barrel. The market response was linked to the lower prospect of a rapid diplomatic settlement between Washington and Tehran.

Before the rebound, Brent had fallen 7 percent and reached its lowest level in three weeks. WTI had dropped more than 5 percent in the previous session, falling to its lowest level in nearly a week. The report identified continued US-Iran tensions and diminished expectations of a quick diplomatic outcome as factors affecting oil market conditions.

Bangladesh Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir said the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, with South Korea could take bilateral economic relations to a new level. Speaking at a dinner in Dhaka’s Hotel Sonargaon on 3 August in honor of South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, he said the proposed deal would serve not only as a bilateral trade agreement but also as a strong foundation for a long-term economic alliance.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and ERD Secretary Mohammad Shahriar Kader Siddiky attended the event, while Commerce Ministry Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan delivered welcome remarks. Muqtadir praised South Korea’s economic progress and expressed hope for a lasting trade and investment partnership. He said ties that began with development cooperation have expanded into trade, investment, industrialization, innovation and shared prosperity.

Yeo said Bangladesh’s economy, industrial base and large market offer significant potential for expanded trade and investment. Citing his work experience in Chattogram, he said he had prioritized concluding negotiations quickly. He said the agreement would create a stable, predictable legal framework. Muqtadir said he expects formal signing after remaining legal and procedural steps are completed.

Bangladesh’s Power Division has urged people not to spread misleading information or propaganda over allegations of excessive electricity bills. In a notice issued on August 3, the division said it and the relevant distribution companies had already resolved the complaints received about excess billing.

The division said some individuals or groups had recently been conducting propaganda centred on complaints of excessive electricity bills. It strongly protested against such campaigning and asserted that there was currently no scope for confusion on the issue.

Customers who still have complaints regarding excessive electricity bills were asked to apply to the relevant authority with necessary supporting documents. The notice said such applications would be verified and necessary action would be taken. The Power Division also requested all concerned to behave responsibly in relation to the matter.

Bangladesh Bank has abolished the TT discounting facility previously available to scheduled banks for short-term liquidity or cash collection. The central bank issued a directive on August 3, and said the decision will be considered effective from July 1 this year. Banks will no longer be able to obtain the facility by placing a lien on balances held in their current accounts with Bangladesh Bank.

The facility had been available to scheduled banks since 1994. Under the earlier rules, banks were required to keep an amount equivalent to 20 percent of their approved limit as a lien in their current accounts at the central bank. Those liened funds were not included in the calculation of statutory cash reserves, or CRR.

Bangladesh Bank said several modern mechanisms now meet banks' daily liquidity needs, including the call money market, repo, the Standing Liquidity Facility and interbank borrowing. Use of TT discounting has fallen to nearly zero in recent years. Yet the lien remained against approved limits even when the facility was unused, preventing the funds from being counted as CRR and creating unnecessary pressure in regulatory ratio management.

Bangladesh began importing green chilies from India through the Hili land port in Dinajpur on the afternoon of August 3 to help control domestic prices. Trucks carrying Indian chilies started entering the country after import procedures were completed. Eleven importers received permission to bring in about 3,400 tonnes through Hili, and traders said news of the imports had already lowered prices by Tk80 to Tk90 per kilogram.

Importer Shahabul Islam said continuous rain and adverse weather had damaged chili fields in several parts of the country, reducing production and creating a supply shortage. He said prices had climbed to Tk300 to Tk400 per kilogram. Importers had sought permission because green chilies were comparatively cheaper in India, and they opened letters of credit and completed other required formalities after approval.

Anwar Hossain, deputy director of the Hili Land Port Plant Quarantine Centre, said the government granted the import permission to control market prices. He said Indian green chilies were last imported through the port on November 20 of last year. Traders expect supplies to increase and prices to decline further if imports continue regularly.

Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) has received international recognition for using space technology to address climate change. The company has gained membership in the Space for Climate Observatory (SCO) and formal recognition for imaging and space-based data as Bangladesh’s national focal point. BSCL announced the development in a press release on Monday.

BSCL applied to join the international alliance on December 8, 2025, with approval from the Department of Posts and Telecommunications. The SCO Steering Committee subsequently approved Bangladesh as an associate country and national focal point. The alliance is led by the French space agency CNES and was established in 2019 at the initiative of the French government.

SCO uses satellite and local socioeconomic data to support observation, forecasting and decision-making on local climate-change impacts. In Bangladesh, its funded BanD-SOS project provides real-time forecasts for cyclones and storm surges. BSCL said the membership will create opportunities for space technology use in disaster-risk reduction, environmental monitoring and SDG implementation. A formal signing ceremony is planned at the Space Summit in Paris on September 9, 2026.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman invited South Korea’s president to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time during a courtesy meeting with South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo. The meeting took place at 2:30 p.m. on Monday at the Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The invitation came as Bangladesh and South Korea move toward signing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, aimed at strengthening trade, investment and economic cooperation.

According to Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Swadhin, Yeo briefed the prime minister on the proposed agreement at the start of the meeting. The South Korean minister said the deal, once effective, would expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation and significantly increase South Korean investment in Bangladesh. He said many Korean companies already operate successfully in Bangladesh and that more are interested in investing there.

Rahman invited Korean companies to invest in toys, electronics, telecommunications, automobiles, semiconductors and shipbuilding. He said South Korea could establish training centres in Bangladesh to provide training and language education for Bangladeshi workers for its shipbuilding industry. The government would take necessary measures if Korean companies seek to invest in Bangladesh’s shipbuilding sector, he said. Plans for a Bangladesh seminar involving Korean companies were also discussed.

Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Professor Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said completion of the Padma Barrage project could add between 0.5% and 1% to Bangladesh’s gross domestic product. He made the remarks on Monday at a National Press Club roundtable titled “Padma Barrage: Prospects and Challenges,” organised by the Institute for Global Co-operation Foundation.

Titumir said the project could store about 2,900 million cubic metres of water for agriculture, irrigation and hydropower generation. It is expected to produce an estimated 113 megawatts of environmentally friendly hydropower. Plans also include developing seven modern townships along riverbanks as part of sustainable urbanisation.

The barrage is intended to maintain dry-season flows in the Hisna, Mathabhanga, Gorai, Madhumati, Chanda, Barashia, Baral and Ichamati rivers. Regular irrigation could be ensured for about 4.69 million hectares of farmland across the greater Kushtia, Faridpur, Jashore, Khulna, Barishal, Pabna and Rajshahi regions. The first phase is targeted for completion by 2029, with the full project planned by 2033.

Bangladesh plans to formally seek permission for 84 weekly flights to Saudi Arabia, up from the current 49, as it moves to modernise and revise its bilateral air services agreement with the kingdom. A high-level delegation led by the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh is travelling to Saudi Arabia on Monday to finalise discussions. The initiative aims to expand air connectivity, resolve landing and take-off slot complications for Bangladeshi carriers, and ease travel for Hajj and Umrah passengers.

Industry participants say Bangladeshi airlines face recurring difficulties securing Saudi airport slots during the Hajj season. Last-minute allocations, unsuitable landing times and sudden schedule changes can leave passengers waiting for hours and lead to flight delays or cancellations. The problems affect travellers from the Ashkona Hajj Camp to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, while also increasing airlines’ operating costs.

If approved, the additional 35 weekly flights could increase services from Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah. Officials from Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines will join direct talks with Saudi slot management authorities. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita said a new agreement could expand commercial opportunities and make travel easier and more affordable for Bangladeshi expatriate workers.

An unprecedented heatwave is continuing across South Korea, where severe heat alerts remained in force across most areas, according to a report published on August 3. Temperatures have surpassed previous records, while heat-related illnesses have increased and raised public-health concerns. The Korea Meteorological Administration said temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in several parts of the country on July 29.

In the southeastern city of Daegu, the temperature rose above 40 degrees Celsius for the first time since August 1942. Nearby Yangsan recorded a high of 42.5 degrees Celsius the previous day, the highest temperature since modern weather observations began in 1904. The report described the reading as a record-breaking national high.

At least 14 people have died during the heatwave since mid-May. On Monday, a 40-year-old man died in Incheon with a body temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius. Two farmers, aged 60 and 80, were also found dead in South Chungcheong Province over the weekend. The weather administration attributed the prolonged heatwave to multiple high-pressure systems over the Korean Peninsula and intense sunlight under clear skies.

Italy issued its highest-level red heat alert for 25 cities on Monday as the country faced its fourth heatwave of the summer. The alert is the largest number of cities placed under the warning simultaneously this summer. According to local newspaper Corriere della Sera, the Health Ministry increased the number of alerted cities from 23 on Sunday to 25 on Monday.

Only Reggio Calabria and Messina were outside the red-alert list, although yellow alerts remained in force there. The Po Valley and central Italy were identified as the areas most affected, while temperatures in inland areas and Sardinia could exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Terni province in central Italy reached 41 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

Some parts of central and northern Italy could see night-time temperatures remain above 25 degrees Celsius, described by meteorologists as “super-tropical nights.” Experts cited the African anticyclone and unusually warm Mediterranean waters, with sea-surface temperatures at or above 30 degrees Celsius across broad areas. Authorities also issued orange wildfire alerts for Sicily and Emilia-Romagna, while yellow alerts warned of possible heavy rain in Apennine areas and inland Sicily.

NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a space telescope used to observe gamma-ray bursts and other high-energy astronomical events, is descending because of orbital decay. The report, published on August 3, 2026, says recent intense solar activity has slightly expanded Earth’s upper atmosphere, increasing atmospheric drag. NASA scientists estimate that, if the current trend continues, Swift could re-enter Earth’s atmosphere during the second half of 2026.

NASA has begun a special orbit-boost mission costing about $30 million to protect the observatory and keep its research operations running. Catalyst Space Technologies’ Link spacecraft was launched from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean on July 3 and is moving step by step toward Swift. Equipped with three robotic arms, Link is expected to reach an orbit near the telescope in about a month.

After arriving, Link will first inspect its solar panels and internal systems before beginning the sensitive rendezvous-and-capture process. Over subsequent months, it will monitor Swift’s movement, position and rotation, then attempt a safe capture using its mechanical arms. Controlled thrust will then gradually raise Swift’s orbit. Launched in 2004, Swift has observed gamma-ray bursts for two decades.