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.

Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said nature-based solutions are an effective and sustainable way to protect coastal livelihoods, strengthen food security and increase climate resilience. He made the remarks on August 3 as chief guest at a national technical workshop titled “Prioritizing Nature-Based Interventions for Resilient Coastal Bangladesh” at Hotel Westin in the capital. Friendship and Conservation International organized the workshop.

Tuku said forests, wetlands, coastal vegetation belts and integrated agroforestry systems can support environmental conservation while increasing livestock feed availability and improving animal health. He said such measures also reinforce the integrated One Health concept linking human, animal and environmental health. Bangladesh has gained global recognition for addressing climate impacts, he said, but its coastal regions remain among the world’s most vulnerable areas.

Cyclones, storm surges, sea-level rise, salinity expansion and coastal erosion threaten the environment, economy, food systems and livelihoods, he said. Fisheries and livestock are major contributors to the national economy and a key livelihood base for rural people, but both sectors face climate-related risks. The government is committed to sustainable natural-resource management, ecosystem restoration and evidence-based development planning. Tuku said a national plan to plant 250 million trees over the next five years would help restore ecosystems and build resilience among vulnerable communities.

Bangladesh Coast Guard held a public awareness meeting in Chandpur to conserve fish resources, prevent illegal fishing and raise awareness among fishing communities. The meeting was organized by Coast Guard Station Chandpur at 11am on August 2 in areas adjacent to the Meghna and Dakatia rivers. Media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon disclosed the information in a press release later in the day.

Participants discussed the importance of national fish resources, ending the use of illegal and prohibited nets, abstaining from fishing during breeding seasons, and protecting rivers and aquatic biodiversity. Sustainable fisheries management was also addressed. Local fishers shared their views and problems, while the Coast Guard and relevant agencies assured them of full cooperation in conserving fish resources.

Coast Guard officials attended alongside the district fisheries officer, upazila fisheries officer, other Fisheries Department officials, representatives of local fishers' associations and members of fishing communities. The Coast Guard said it would continue such public-service initiatives to protect fish resources, curb illegal harvesting and increase public awareness.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said the government is working relentlessly to develop Bangladesh’s tourism sector sustainably and make it one of the economy’s main drivers. She made the remarks on Sunday at the oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected executive committee of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh at Gulshan Club in the capital.

Khanam congratulated the new committee and said its leadership would play an important role in developing the tourism industry. She said the government aims to build a sustainable, modern and world-class tourism sector. Work is under way on an integrated tourism master plan covering 1,498 tourist attractions, which she said would provide a long-term framework for tourism development.

The minister identified turning Cox’s Bazar into a regional tourism hub as a government priority and said the newly built Cox’s Bazar International Airport could help attract international visitors and expand the industry. She also announced plans for special discounts for expatriate Bangladeshis at Bangladesh Tourism Corporation hotels and motels. The government has set a target for tourism to contribute 6 to 7 percent of GDP and has initiated a nationwide Tourism Satellite Account to address data gaps.

Retail markets in Kuliarchar, Kishoreganj, were selling green chilies at Tk400 per kilogram, according to a report published on August 3. The sudden increase over several days has put pressure on low-income consumers. Visits to several markets in the upazila, including the traditional Lakshmipur market, found the same retail price.

Housewife Nazma Akter said high vegetable prices had disrupted household budgets, adding that vegetables were becoming unaffordable for ordinary people after fish and meat. Shopper Kajal Mia said he was buying less green chili than needed because of the higher price and that other vegetables had also become more expensive. At Japarabad market, a buyer named Sohag said he could not purchase Tk20 worth of chilies after being told to buy 100 grams for Tk40.

Vegetable trader Shariful Islam said green chilies had sold for Tk250 to Tk280 per kilogram in recent days, but wholesale prices rose after persistent rain. Another trader, Mizanur Rahman, said rain damaged chili crops and reduced supply. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Yasin Khandakar said authorities were regularly monitoring markets to keep essential commodity prices normal.

The High Court has granted bail to television actor Zaher Alvi, also known as Md. Niamat Ullah Bhuiyan, in a case accusing him of abetting the suicide of his wife, Afra Ibnat Ikra. A bench of Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher issued the order on August 2. Relevant court sources confirmed the bail on August 3, removing any barrier to his release from jail.

Senior lawyer Zainul Abedin represented Alvi in the bail hearing. Earlier, on June 18, Alvi surrendered through a lawyer before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin and sought bail. The court rejected his application and ordered him sent to jail.

The investigating officer later sought seven days of remand for a proper investigation. On June 24, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Albiruni Mir approved two days of remand, and Alvi was sent back to jail after the remand on June 30. The case alleges that Ikra was found hanging at their Mirpur DOHS home on February 28. Her father, Kabir Hayat Khan, filed the case at Pallabi police station the next day.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a courtesy meeting with South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo at the Cabinet Division in Bangladesh Secretariat at 2:30 pm on Monday. The South Korean minister briefed the prime minister on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, due to be signed between Bangladesh and South Korea. He said the agreement would expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation and significantly increase South Korean investment in Bangladesh once it takes effect.

Yeo said many South Korean companies are already operating successfully in Bangladesh and that more firms are interested in investing there. The prime minister invited South Korean companies to invest in toys, electronics, telecommunications, automobiles, semiconductors and shipbuilding. He highlighted South Korea's expertise in shipbuilding and Bangladesh's potential workforce.

The prime minister said South Korea could establish training centres in Bangladesh to train Bangladeshi workers and provide language education for work in South Korea's shipbuilding industry. He said the government would take necessary measures if South Korean companies invest in Bangladesh's shipbuilding sector. Bangladesh also outlined plans for a seminar involving South Korean companies and invited the South Korean president to visit Bangladesh.

Raozan Upazila Nirbahi Officer S. M. Rahatul Islam inspected a farmer card data collection drive in Haldia Union of Raozan, Chattogram. The visit took place on Monday afternoon at the programme run by the Upazila Department of Agricultural Extension in Union No. 1 Haldia.

During the inspection, the UNO reviewed how farmers’ information was being collected and registered, and checked the quality of services provided. He instructed the officials concerned to gather information accurately and transparently so that genuine farmers can more easily receive government agricultural services and various incentive benefits.

Raozan Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Masum Kabir, sub-assistant agriculture officers Sanjib Kumar Sushil, Siku Barua, Bhutan Barua and Tamiz Uddin were present, along with BNP leader S. M. Kamal and local dignitaries. The agriculture department said the initiative will update the farmers’ database, enabling government agricultural assistance and incentive programmes to be implemented more effectively in the future.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered the phased installation of solar panels at all important government buildings in Bangladesh to address the ongoing energy crisis and accelerate renewable-energy use. The directive was issued on Monday at a solar power-related meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office of the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat, according to Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

The initial phase will cover Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the Prime Minister’s Office and Finance Ministry buildings at the Bangladesh Secretariat, and the Planning Commission building, alongside other key government facilities. The government will also provide support for importing raw materials used to manufacture solar inverters and develop an economic model intended to make solar power affordable, accessible and profitable for the public.

The prime minister said solar use in government buildings would encourage wider public adoption of the technology. Separate presentations by PRAN-RFL Group and Walton Group addressed residential solar installations and connecting generated electricity to the national grid. They said the initiative could save electricity and energy while creating new employment opportunities.

Bangladesh’s film history marks August 3 as the 70th anniversary of the 1956 release of ‘Mukh O Mukhosh,’ described as the country’s first full-length Bengali sound film. Directed by Abdul Jabbar Khan, the film is regarded as the starting point of the Dhaka film industry and a landmark in the country’s cultural history. It was released on August 3, 1956, with the anniversary falling on August 3, 2026.

The project emerged after a 1953 meeting on the prospects for filmmaking in East Pakistan, where a comment suggested films could not be made in the region’s humid climate. Theatre worker Abdul Jabbar Khan challenged that view and declared that Bengali-language films could be made there. Despite having no prior filmmaking experience, he adapted his own play, ‘Dakat,’ into a screenplay. Filming took place at locations in Dhaka amid limited technology and other difficulties, while editing and printing were completed at Shahnoor Studio in Lahore.

Samar Das directed the music, Abdul Alim and Mahbuba Hasnat provided vocals, and Gawhar Jamil directed dance. The film premiered at Rupmahal Cinema Hall in Dhaka and was also shown in Chittagong, Narayanganj and Khulna. Its strong audience response demonstrated the viability of Bengali filmmaking in the country.

Dhaka South City Corporation handed over and planted 500 tree saplings at the University of Dhaka campus as part of the national tree-planting programme. The event, coordinated with the university unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, was held on Monday at the university’s Mall Chattar premises. DSCC Administrator and freedom fighter Md Abdus Salam formally inaugurated the programme.

Speaking as chief guest, Salam described Dhaka University as a cradle of Bangladesh’s history, heritage and democratic movements. He said its students had played leading roles in movements from the Pakistan era through the most recent July uprising. He paid deep respect to those killed in the July movement and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

Salam urged joint action by the government and citizens to make the prime minister’s initiative to plant 250 crore trees nationwide successful. Citing Dhaka’s poor position among polluted cities, he called for planting trees wherever vacant space is available, including across the university and metropolitan areas. Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Almojaddeedi Alfechani, student leaders and general students attended.

Bangladesh has begun distributing rice at Tk15 per kilogram under its food-friendly programme to support food security for low-income people. Starting on August 1, 5.5 million cardholding families in 495 upazilas are receiving the benefit. Each eligible family can collect 30 kilograms of rice per month.

A government notice said beneficiaries will receive rice for six months each year: August, September, October, November, and March and April of the following year. Fortified rice is being distributed to about 2.529 million beneficiaries in 248 upazilas to address malnutrition and improve nutrition among women and children. Regular rice is being distributed to 2.971 million beneficiaries in 247 upazilas.

Rice and flour sales also continue under the Open Market Sale programme through 1,108 outlets and trucks nationwide. As of August 2, government warehouses held 2,349,385 metric tonnes of food grains, including 1,966,148 tonnes of rice, 280,010 tonnes of wheat and 152,109 tonnes of paddy in rice-equivalent terms. The Food Ministry said the government remains committed to food security, reducing malnutrition and expanding social protection programmes.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on citizens to act more responsibly in protecting the environment, saying a clean and livable Bangladesh requires efforts from both the state and the public. In a message posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday, he urged people across the country to help keep the nation clean and attractive.

Rahman said every citizen has a duty to conserve the environment and that a cleaner setting and better country can be built if individuals properly fulfil their responsibilities. He pointed to litter visible around markets, river landing areas and busy roads in Dhaka, district towns, upazilas and, in some cases, villages.

The prime minister cited discarded tissues, chips packets, plastic cooking-oil bottles and water bottles among waste scattered in public places. He said people would not like such rubbish spread around their own homes, and appealed for collective action to keep the country and its environment clean. He said this would help ensure a healthy country and healthy environment for future generations.

Residents of Rajibpur in Kurigram demanded a permanent river-protection embankment to shield Kodalkati Union and surrounding char areas from continuing Brahmaputra erosion. The demand was raised at a human chain and rally on Sunday at 5 pm on the riverbank in Paikantari Ballabhpara, organized by the Rajibpur upazila branch of the Char Development and Implementation Council. Erosion-affected women, men, elderly people, youths and local residents joined the programme.

Speakers called for the rapid implementation of a proposed permanent erosion-control project, estimated at about Tk 8.5 billion, from Saheber Alga in Ulipur to Mohanganj in Rajibpur. They also sought compensation for erosion victims and a separate ministry for char affairs, alleging insufficient effective action by the Water Development Board and BIWTA. Speakers said homes, farmland, educational institutions and livelihoods are being lost to erosion.

Kurigram Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan said emergency work placed 522,000 sand-filled geobags at 42 erosion points on several rivers this monsoon, at a cost of Tk 240 million. Six additional erosion points have emerged, with work planned once funding is received. District Commissioner Annapurna Debnath said 174,000 geobags have been arranged for immediate protection measures.

A severe wildfire in the Spokane area of Washington state has destroyed at least 600 structures, including homes, businesses and other buildings, according to the report published on August 3, 2026. About 60,000 people have been evacuated for safety as fires continue to affect Spokane and nearby areas in the United States.

Over the weekend, roughly 21 square kilometres of Spokane and surrounding land burned. Across Washington state, wildfires have damaged about 1,000 square kilometres in total. Authorities said several fires, including the Spokane blaze, had not yet been brought under control. No deaths, injuries or missing people had been reported so far.

Officials warned that continuing dry weather could further complicate conditions, while the cause of the fires remains unknown. A separate major wildfire near the Idaho and Oregon border burned about 1,360 square kilometres of grassland, placing more than 600 homes and 800 other structures at risk. In Utah, another wildfire expanded to 145 square kilometres over the weekend, killing more than 100 livestock animals.