Bangladesh’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave policy approval on June 16, 2026, for a 300-acre free-trade zone beside the Matarbari deep-sea port in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, according to the article. A second 300-acre zone is planned near Chattogram port. The commentary argues that the country must closely assess the economic and geopolitical consequences of what it describes as Bangladesh’s first free-trade-zone initiative.

The article contends that India’s northeastern states could benefit substantially through lower transport costs and shorter delivery times, while Indian businesses could use imported inputs and local labor to export finished goods to ASEAN markets. It contrasts successful free zones in Jebel Ali, Shenzhen and Rotterdam with examples in Panama and Mexico that it says produced weak domestic linkages, customs problems, dependence or environmental damage.

The first phase of Matarbari port development had an approved cost of Tk17,000 crore, including about Tk13,000 crore in JICA loans. The broader MIDA master plan estimates investment of $60 billion to $65 billion over 30 years. The article calls for economic returns from transit concessions, duty-free access for Bangladeshi goods in India’s northeast, 40% local raw-material use, and Bangladeshi capacity and control in port management.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast rain and thunderstorms with gusty winds in Dhaka and several parts of the country on August 2. River ports in the Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet regions were instructed to display warning signal No. 1. Rain or thunderstorms were also forecast at different times of the day in and around the capital.

In an inland river-port forecast valid from 5 a.m. until noon on Sunday, the department said temporary gusty or squally winds of 45 to 60 kilometres an hour could blow from the south or southeast over the three regions. Rain or thunderstorms could accompany the winds. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also possible in some places across three divisions.

For Dhaka, the six-hour forecast from 7 a.m. said skies could remain partly cloudy to temporarily cloudy, with rain or thunderstorms possible. Southerly or southeasterly winds may reach 10 to 15 kilometres an hour, while daytime temperatures could remain nearly unchanged. At 6 a.m., Dhaka recorded 28.5 degrees Celsius and 86 percent humidity. No rainfall was recorded in the capital during the previous 24 hours.

Continuous rain, hill runoff and flooding have damaged vegetable fields, pushing up prices in markets including Lohagara in Chattogram and Shibalaya in Manikganj. A report published on August 2 said low- and middle-income consumers are facing the greatest pressure as supplies tighten. At Amirabad Bottoli market in Lohagara, ridge gourd sold for Tk100 per kilogram, eggplant Tk120, cucumber Tk130 and green chilies about Tk200. The report said these vegetables had been available for Tk30 to Tk40 before the flooding.

In Lohagara, 10 days of heavy rain and hill runoff inundated low-lying vegetable fields. The agriculture office said flooding damaged 150 hectares of crop fields, 5 hectares of betel leaf and 360 hectares of Aus and Aman seedbeds belonging to 9,400 farmers, with losses estimated at Tk5.14 crore. Farmer Jasim Uddin said his vegetable field, valued at Tk500,000, was submerged.

In Shibalaya, green chilies sold for Tk370 to Tk400 per kilogram, round eggplant for Tk100 to Tk120, and tomatoes for Tk130. Sellers cited rain-damaged fields and reduced supply, saying elevated prices could persist for some time. Lohagara agriculture officer Kazi Safiul Alam said technical support and advice are being provided to help farmers rehabilitate and resume production.

An inactive upper stage from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which has been orbiting in space for years, is expected to strike the Moon at 6:34 a.m. local time on August 5. The report says the rocket section will hit at about 8,700 kilometres per hour, nearly seven times the speed of sound. The impact could create a large crater and disperse substantial dust and debris into space.

Astronomers are waiting to observe the event, which may be visible with sufficiently powerful telescopes. Researchers believe the rocket casing may break apart and scatter rather than form a deep crater like a solid meteorite, producing a dust curtain extending about 183 kilometres. University of Texas astronomer Lawrence Traffton said smaller telescopes could distinguish the plume if it rises about 50 kilometres above the lunar edge, though the Moon's brightness may hinder observation.

The report describes the possible impact as a first opportunity to record from Earth an object striking the Moon's sunlit side. It notes that NASA's Lunar Prospector hit the Moon in 1999 while seeking water, without success, while a 2009 mission detected water ice in a dust cloud from a rocket impact. The event could provide information for future lunar exploration and human missions.

Turkiye and Iraq have signed a one-year agreement to keep crude flowing through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, which runs from Iraq to Turkiye. Turkish state firm BOTAS and Iraqi state oil companies SOMO and NOC signed the deal on Saturday in Ankara, days after a decades-old bilateral arrangement expired the previous Monday. The agreement followed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to Ankara and his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan four days earlier.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the transit arrangement covers a daily capacity of 750,000 barrels and was agreed after a meeting with Iraqi Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair. He said efforts toward a new long-term pipeline agreement were continuing. The pipeline’s maximum capacity is about 1.5 million barrels per day, but flows have remained substantially lower in recent years.

According to Turkish data, the pipeline currently carries about 170,000 barrels per day, largely from fields in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Iraq has sought alternative export routes after Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted Gulf shipments. Baghdad and Ankara are also pursuing a broader framework covering oil, electricity, water resources and other cooperation, while Turkiye seeks eventually to carry crude from Iraq’s southern fields.

Postal, Telecommunications and ICT, and Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said Bangladesh aims to ensure that no talent is held back by disability. He made the remarks on Saturday at the closing and prize-giving ceremony of the National IT Competition for Youth with Disabilities 2026 at the University of Asia Pacific on Green Road in the capital.

The minister said disability is not a limitation and that young people with disabilities can become equal partners in digital transformation and national development with proper opportunities, training and technology. He said the government places the highest importance on improving their digital skills and technological empowerment. Under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, he said, the government is working toward a technology-driven Bangladesh in which no social group is left behind.

The event was the competition’s 10th edition, with 70 participants across four categories and 12 prize recipients. Md Shakil Mia, Sheikh Yamin Ahsan, Nahin Siraj and Arian Islam won their respective categories and qualified for the Global IT Competition for Youth with Disabilities in Vietnam in October. The minister said he would personally support the four selected competitors.

Bangladesh received 36 percent more rainfall than normal in July, the Meteorological Department said in a report published on August 1. Although normal rainfall had been forecast at the beginning of the month, several regions recorded substantially more precipitation than expected. Chattogram division received the highest rainfall among the country’s divisions.

Meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque said July is usually Bangladesh’s wettest month, with average rainfall of about 557 millimetres. After June recorded 29.4 percent less rain than normal, July rainfall increased above the seasonal average. All divisions except Mymensingh received above-normal rainfall. Chattogram recorded 1,047 millimetres against a normal average of 692 millimetres, an excess of 51 percent. Final figures were due after Sunday’s monthly meeting.

The weather office forecast rain or thunderstorms with gusty winds on Sunday in many places in Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet, and in some places elsewhere. Heavy to very heavy rain is possible in parts of those three divisions through Tuesday. Rainfall may increase in Dhaka and Rajshahi divisions from August 5, though prolonged heavy to very heavy rain like last month is not currently expected.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh could achieve positive economic change within the next four to five years if the government and business community work together. He made the remarks at a meeting with private entrepreneurs at the Prime Minister’s Tejgaon office on Saturday, August 1, 2026. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, or BIDA, organised the discussion. Rahman said serving the country and its people was the government’s goal, and that existing problems could be overcome through joint efforts.

He said both the government and businesses recognise the economy’s current challenges, and discussions on resolving them would continue. Noting that the government is not yet six months old, he said it had already held several meetings with business representatives and forums and was working on sector-specific issues. He added that many problems raised at an earlier meeting had been resolved, while new concerns raised at the latest session would also be addressed.

The meeting discussed business expansion, increased foreign investment and conditions for new industrialisation. Entrepreneurs sought easier loans, policy support and a business-friendly environment, while expressing satisfaction with progress in government initiatives. Of 28 issues reviewed from the previous meeting, decisions were made on 21 and seven remain under process. The government said it would meet businesses again within two to three months and pledged diplomatic support for a plan to raise export earnings to $100 billion by 2030.

Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said the government is prioritizing research-based agricultural development to counter the risk of reduced farm output caused by climate change. He made the remarks on Saturday after a meeting with officials of district offices and agencies under the agriculture, fisheries and livestock ministries at the Cumilla Circuit House.

The minister said BRRI dhan-118, a cold-tolerant rice variety for the haor region, will be released in the next season. It is expected to allow earlier planting and harvesting, helping farmers bring crops home before sudden floods and reduce losses. He also said another salt-tolerant rice variety will be released next year, while scientists at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute continue work on climate-suitable crop varieties.

Rashid said fish-export prospects through the Cumilla land port would be considered after discussions with the commerce minister. Authorities will assess the need for a fish landing station in Cumilla and the availability of suitable public land. He also cited a major project to expand vaccine production, ongoing canal re-excavation, and seed, farm-input and free livestock vaccination support in flood-affected areas.

About 45 senior businesspeople and executives representing roughly 25 leading US industrial and commercial firms will visit Bangladesh late next week to explore increased American investment. Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin announced the planned visit at a press briefing in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on August 1. The delegation is scheduled to meet officials from government ministries and offices, as well as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Amin said the visit follows a courtesy meeting between Rahman and Sergio Gor, the US president’s special envoy for South and Central Asia. According to the spokesperson, the meeting covered economic ties, trade, investment, export growth, import activity and new areas of bilateral cooperation. He said both sides discussed ways to increase US investment in Bangladesh, expand bilateral trade and strengthen US companies’ role in creating jobs.

Amin also said the US State Department had revised its Bangladesh travel advisory from Level 3 to Level 2, which the government described as a positive signal for investors, businesses, tourists and global engagement. The government expects the upcoming delegation’s visit to create opportunities for new investment, expanded trade and long-term economic cooperation. Rahman separately met local business representatives Saturday to discuss investment conditions, energy shortages, tax reform and investment in industrial zones.

Pakistani rapper and musician Hasan Raheem will come to Bangladesh this month to perform at a concert in Dhaka. Organizer KYN Art said the event will be held on August 28 at the United Convention Centre in the capital. Raheem confirmed his planned Bangladesh appearance through a post on Instagram.

The Dhaka show is part of Raheem’s global music tour titled “Dil Ke Parde.” He has already performed concerts in North America, London and several European countries during the tour, according to the report. The report said audiences responded strongly to each of those concerts. Advance ticket sales for the Dhaka event are expected to begin online soon.

Raheem is known for R&B, hip-hop and indie-pop music. His song “Peechay Hutt” from the 14th season of Coke Studio Pakistan received wide attention and increased his recognition. “Turri Jandi,” performed in the following season, was also praised. Other popular songs listed in the report include “Paisa,” “Radha,” “Faltu Pyar,” “Aisay Kaisay” and “Mehbooba.”

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed that all ports in Bangladesh remain operational 24 hours a day to simplify business and accelerate import-export activities. The instruction was issued at a high-level meeting with leading businesspeople and industrial entrepreneurs at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on Saturday. Mahdi Amin, an adviser to the prime minister and spokesperson for the office, disclosed the decision while briefing journalists after the meeting.

Private-sector representatives had proposed round-the-clock commercial services related to imports and exports at Chattogram Port or Dhaka airport. In response, the prime minister immediately instructed all relevant government offices to coordinate and ensure 24-hour services at every port in Bangladesh. Amin said the measure would make import-export operations faster and more dynamic.

The meeting also discussed private-sector challenges, the investment environment, business expansion, and ways to attract more investment to economic zones under BEZA and BEPZA. Participants considered how to simplify existing complications in those areas. The government said it would provide full policy support to the private sector, while business representatives expressed satisfaction with immediate decisions on policy proposals raised at the meeting.

The death toll from severe flooding in India’s northeastern state of Assam has risen to 82, with nearly 200,000 people still affected, officials said on August 1. Flood impacts persist in at least five districts, although the overall situation has improved somewhat compared with Thursday. Authorities reported that two additional deaths occurred recently in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts.

Sivasagar, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon and Charaideo have suffered the greatest damage. Of 192,799 people affected statewide, Charaideo has reported 77,456 affected residents, followed by Sivasagar with 63,492 and Jorhat with 34,067. Water in the Dikhow and Dhansiri rivers remains above danger levels in Golaghat, Sivasagar and Numaligarh, and residents have been advised to avoid high-risk areas.

The state government announced a special relief package for the hardest-hit districts. About 13,000 people are staying in 54 relief camps, while 5,384 others are receiving services through 26 relief distribution centres. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state cabinet will meet insurance companies and non-banking financial companies on August 5 to discuss faster claims and temporary loan-instalment relief for affected residents.

A major leak has developed in a Titas Gas main transmission pipeline beneath the Arial Khan River in Kazirchar village of Masua union, Katiadi upazila, Kishoreganj. The report, published on August 1, said gas bubbles were continuously surfacing on the river while a strong gas smell spread through the air, alarming local 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 an investigation. Local residents, representatives and Titas Gas sources said the pipeline was installed nearly three decades ago to supply gas from Narsingdi to Kishoreganj. Gas began escaping at high pressure after a hole formed at a welding joint.

Repair supervisor Noman Mia said the large hole has made the work difficult, with 20 to 25 workers operating continuously for several weeks. Upazila Executive Officer Shamima Afroz Marliz inspected the site and said the factory’s legal documents would be checked. An investigation will determine whether an attempted illegal connection caused the leak.

Argentina and South Korea have announced a partnership to deepen cooperation in the critical minerals industry, Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said Friday. The announcement followed a meeting in Buenos Aires between Argentine President Javier Milei and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during Lee’s South American visit. It came one day after South Korea announced a similar critical minerals partnership with Chile.

Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said the agreement aims to encourage investment and joint projects in the exploration, extraction, processing and refining of critical minerals. Argentina’s presidential office said the leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, cooperation in critical minerals and energy, and developing joint projects in strategic sectors. The visit was the first by a South Korean leader to Argentina in 22 years.

On Friday, the Milei administration also authorized South Korean company Posco to expand lithium extraction operations in Salta province in northwestern Argentina. The Economy Ministry said the $547 million project could produce 23,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually and generate more than $300 million in yearly export revenue. Argentina is the world’s fifth-largest lithium producer.