Bangladesh Bank has issued comprehensive, stricter guidelines governing the establishment, expansion and relocation of bank business centres, as well as office rental, leasing and contract renewals. The Banking Regulation and Policy Department-1 issued the “Guideline on Establishment, Relocation, Rental/Lease and Renewal of Agreements for Bank Business Centres, 2026” on Sunday, according to a report published on July 26, 2026. The new directive replaces instructions issued on January 19, 2023.

The guidelines aim to balance banking services between urban and rural areas, curb unnecessary branch expansion, contain rental and operating costs, and increase financial inclusion. Banks must obtain board approval before such activities and then secure necessary Bangladesh Bank approval. Headquarters must be located at registered addresses, while unnecessary office space and luxurious infrastructure are discouraged.

A bank seeking to open one new urban branch must also apply for a rural branch, and at least 50 percent of approved new branches must be located in rural areas. At least 60 percent of approved sub-branches must be placed in other municipalities and rural areas. Operating or establishing a business centre without approval will be treated as a legal violation, with action under existing laws.

Scientists analyzing NASA’s latest Juno spacecraft observations estimate that Europa, Jupiter’s enigmatic moon, may contain a salty ocean beneath its ice shell holding more than twice the combined water of all Earth’s oceans. The average thickness of Europa’s subsurface ice layer in the observed area was estimated at about 29 kilometers.

On September 29, 2022, Juno flew just 360 kilometers above Europa. Its Microwave Radiometer examined microwave radiation at different wavelengths to determine the ice layer’s thermal properties. Europa has a diameter of 3,120 kilometers, smaller than Earth’s Moon, but scientists estimate its buried ocean could be 60 to 150 kilometers deep. Ice thickness may vary across different regions.

The findings do not settle whether Europa can support life, because water alone is insufficient. Chemical energy, biologically necessary materials, and exchange between the seafloor and ice-covered surface are also needed. NASA’s Europa Clipper, launched on October 14, 2024, is expected to reach Jupiter’s orbit in April 2030 and conduct about 50 missions around Europa using radar, cameras, spectrometers and magnetic measurements.

Bangladesh received $2.29945 billion in remittances during the first 25 days of July, equivalent to Tk28,283.235 crore in local currency. The updated Bangladesh Bank report said Islami Bank handled the largest amount among the country’s banks. The figures were reported on July 26.

Private banks received $1.6571 billion of the remittance inflow during the period. State-owned banks received $337.17 million, while specialised banks received $301.55 million. Branches of foreign banks received a further $3.62 million, according to the Bangladesh Bank report.

Islami Bank received $357.68 million, the highest remittance amount among individual banks in the first 25 days of July. Bangladesh Krishi Bank ranked second with $301.55 million. BRAC Bank received $226.09 million, followed by Agrani Bank with $169.31 million. The report provided the bank-wise figures for remittance received during the period.

A technical fault at one of two floating LNG terminals in Maheshkhali has sharply reduced gas supplies to Dhaka and nearby districts, causing severe disruption in homes, CNG filling stations and factories. The report, published on July 26, says the situation has worsened over the past week, while the energy division has been unable to provide a definite timeline for restoring normal supply.

Residents in New Market, Mohammadpur and the 600 Feet Road area reported little or no gas for cooking, while CNG drivers said many pumps lacked pressure and some queues lasted 10 to 12 hours. Shortages have also affected Narayanganj, Gazipur and Narsingdi, where industrial and household users are facing supply constraints. Normal production at factories in Savar and Gazipur has been seriously disrupted. CNG station owners are also preparing for a strike over demands for higher commissions.

State Minister Anindya Islam Amit said experts from the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates identified the fault and are carrying out repairs, but the technical complexity prevents a firm deadline. Bangladesh supplies about 2,700 to 2,800 million cubic feet of gas daily against demand of 3,800 million. The government says work is underway on additional FSRUs, a land-based LNG terminal at Matarbari and investment initiatives for gas exploration.

An international team of astronomers has reported the first discovery of a moon outside the Solar System, according to a research report published in Nature. The object was identified in the CD-35 2772 star system, 71 light-years from Earth, using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile. Researchers describe the finding as a milestone for space science.

Scientists said the newly found moon has a mass at least equal to Jupiter’s. It orbits a brown dwarf rather than an ordinary planet; the brown dwarf is about 33 times larger than Jupiter and cannot generate the nuclear power needed to become a star. Lead author Kevin Whai of Diego Portales University said brown dwarfs occupy a position between ordinary planets and the smallest stars.

The brown dwarf was detected with an optical telescope in 2011, but the moon could not be seen directly from 71 light-years away. Whai’s team used the radial-velocity method to measure gravitational motion in the brown dwarf and confirm the moon’s presence and size. Researchers are seeking another possible moon, while the planned Extremely Large Telescope is expected to improve future searches.

A floating LNG terminal operated by Accelerate Energy in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, has remained out of service for four days, causing a severe gas shortage in Chattogram and other parts of Bangladesh. In a July 26, 2026 statement, Petrobangla said the outage has created long queues at CNG filling stations while gas-dependent industries are struggling to maintain normal production.

Petrobangla said the specific cause of the fire and technical fault at the FSRU has not yet been identified. Domestic and foreign technical specialists are working continuously to repair the damaged terminal. The impact has been greatest in the Chattogram region, where reduced gas pressure has halted supplies at many CNG pumps and limited operations at others, leaving drivers waiting for hours.

Bangladesh’s daily gas demand is about 3,800 MMCFD, but the outage has reduced national grid supply by roughly 450 MMCFD per day. The country’s two floating LNG terminals normally provide around 970 MMCFD, about 37 percent of total gas supply. Petrobangla did not provide a timeline for restoring service, but said supply would resume after repairs are completed.

Technology experts have advised smartphone users to carefully review permissions requested by new apps before installation, warning that unnecessary access to cameras, locations, microphones and contact lists can endanger personal data and privacy. The advice was published on July 26, 2026, as mobile apps are increasingly used for banking, shopping, social media and photo editing.

Location access may be needed for maps, ride-sharing and food-delivery services, but users are advised to allow it only while an app is in use when continuous access is unnecessary. Microphone permission is normal for voice calls, video meetings and audio-recording apps, while requests from ordinary photo-editing or flashlight apps should prompt caution.

The report recommends granting limited access to selected photos instead of an entire gallery where possible, and checking whether non-communication apps genuinely need contacts access. App permissions can be changed or disabled later through smartphone settings, so users should review them regularly. Download sources also matter: installing apps from unknown or untrusted sources can raise the risk of malware or excessive data collection, according to the report.

At least seven people, including two children, were killed and 20 injured in rain- and flood-related incidents across Pakistan’s Punjab province during the past 24 hours. The report, published on July 26, said continuous heavy rainfall damaged numerous homes and killed livestock. Around 400 square kilometres of Punjab were inundated after heavy rain and overflowing drains carrying water beyond their capacity.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority said 14 rain-related incidents had been reported across the province by 2 p.m. Saturday. Four roof collapses in Lahore killed three people, while a roof collapse in Kasur killed two. A woman died in Faisalabad after a house roof collapsed, and a child drowned near Pathan Colony in Gujranwala. Further injuries were reported in Bahawalnagar, Narowal, Sialkot, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura and Okara.

PDMA Director General Umar Abbas said Punjab had not yet faced a major flood situation because water levels in major rivers, including the Ravi and Sutlej, remained normal. Authorities warned, however, that water in the Chenab and Ravi could reach moderate to high flood levels within 24 hours. The PDMA said rain-related incidents had killed 22 people and injured 183 across Punjab so far this monsoon season.

Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University has developed a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification, or LAMP, test to detect the foodborne bacterium Bacillus cereus in milk, eggs and animal feed. The research was led by Associate Professor Dr Md Atikul Haque of the university’s Microbiology Department and was reported on July 26, 2026. The method can provide a confirmed result within 90 minutes, while the bacterium is associated with health risks including diarrhoea and food poisoning.

Nearly 80 percent of field samples tested positive for at least one toxin gene, according to the research. Animal feed showed the highest contamination, while significant contamination was also detected in milk and eggs. Conventional PCR testing takes three to five hours and requires an expensive thermal cycler. The LAMP test costs about US$2.5 per test and can be conducted using a basic water bath or heating block.

Researchers said the technique is about 10,000 times more sensitive and demonstrated 96.1 percent diagnostic sensitivity. Conducted with Noakhali Science and Technology University, the study was published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. Planned work includes nationwide surveillance, multiplex testing, species-specific detection and portable field kits, although researchers cited limited funding as a constraint on expansion.

Environmental research group Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) says it found harmful microplastics in 26 of 34 toothpastes sold in Bangladesh. The findings of the year-long study were released at a news conference at the organization’s office on Sunday, July 26. Tests found between 20 and 320 plastic particles per 100 grams of toothpaste among the products examined.

ESDO said the research combined a survey of 2,760 consumers nationwide with scientific testing at Jahangirnagar University’s Department of Environmental Sciences Environmental Health and Ecotoxicology Laboratory. The study used stereomicroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Microplastics were found in 22 of 25 Bangladesh-made products, one of five made in India, one of two made in Thailand, and both products made in Vietnam.

Mediplus Fluoride Gel recorded the highest level, with 320 particles per 100 grams. Four of six toothpastes specially made for children also contained microplastics, including 140 particles in Kudumu Ultra Shield Formula. ESDO said no detectable microplastics were found in Genfresh, Parachute Just for Baby (Mango), Close Up Red Hot Zinc Fresh Technology, or the imported children’s product Kudumu Orange.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Professionals Party has announced a programme to plant 10 million trees nationwide as part of a prime minister-declared plan to plant 250 million trees over five years. The programme, titled Tree Planting Programme-2026, was inaugurated on Friday at Harggram Natunpara Cemetery in Rajshahi by the party’s Rajshahi metropolitan and district branches.

Mahfuzur Rahman Riton, administrator of Rajshahi City Corporation and general secretary of Rajshahi metropolitan BNP, attended as chief guest. Ariful Islam Zia, founding president of the party’s central committee, inaugurated the programme. Later on Friday, the organisation held an introduction and discussion meeting for its newly elected Rajshahi district and metropolitan committees.

At the meeting, lawmaker Advocate Mohammad Shafiqul Haque Milon called on people to work together to build the future Bangladesh under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership. Riton said professional organisation leaders should help implement the prime minister’s 31-point agenda. He also sought public cooperation for city development work, including cleanliness, mosquito control, mud removal, tree planting and greening. The group also held introductory meetings in Manikganj and Pabna on Thursday.

Bangladesh Bank plans to set a maximum amount that a single customer can borrow across the entire banking sector, according to a report published on July 26, 2026. The central bank also intends to prioritize the capital market and bond market over banks for large and long-term financing. The measures aim to restore discipline in banking, reduce lending risks and contain non-performing loans. It has begun seeking views from relevant stakeholders and may issue a circular soon if preparations proceed as planned.

A customer can currently borrow up to 25 percent of an individual bank's capital, but there is no limit covering borrowing from the banking system as a whole. Officials said a sector-wide ceiling would reduce the risk of excessive credit concentration in one borrower. They also cited liquidity pressure created when banks use short- and medium-term deposits to finance long-term projects, producing asset-liability mismatches.

The plan is divided into one-year, two-year and five-year stages. Long-term measures include a borrowing cap across banks, stricter action against willful defaulters, legislation for private asset management companies and instructions to use bond issuance instead of bank loans for financing above Tk1,000 crore. Bankers said implementation should be gradual and alternative financing options should be ensured.

Toxic black waste from industries, factories and nearby residential areas in Chattogram is entering the Halda River through the Katakhali and Bamanshahi canals, according to the report published on July 26, 2026. Monsoon and floodwater are mixing with the waste, turning the river’s clear water dark and black. The pollution is described as a serious threat to brood fish, dolphins, the aquatic environment and biodiversity in the river, identified in the report as Asia’s only natural fish breeding ground.

Residents said foul odours from the black water have made movement difficult in Shikarpur and the Madunaghat Kuwaish College area, while people are suffering from various illnesses. The pollution is occurring during the April to June-July spawning season for brood fish. Egg collectors along the riverbank warned that the Halda could face conditions similar to the Buriganga if the situation continues.

Local residents said industrial and household waste from Bahir Signal, Oxygen and Kulgaon reaches canals through drains before flowing into the river. Professor Dr Manjurul Kibria called for protecting the Halda from toxic waste. The report also cited unplanned sluice gates and embankments across 36 tributary canals, rivers and streams as obstructing natural flow.

The Trump administration has imposed a new 10 percent additional tariff on imports from Bangladesh and 59 other countries under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, citing insufficient action against goods or raw materials produced with forced labor. In an interview published July 26, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Mohammad Hatem said the immediate overall tariff burden had not changed significantly because an earlier 10 percent tariff had expired and was replaced at the same rate.

Hatem said repeated tariff changes over the past 14 months had created uncertainty for businesses. He said Vietnam faces a 12.5 percent tariff, leaving a 2.5 percentage-point gap that could offer Bangladesh some price competitiveness. Competition may become harder against India, Cambodia, Indonesia and several Central American countries, he added. If competitors receive lower tariff rates, buyers could turn to alternative sources and Bangladeshi orders could decline.

The BKMEA president rejected the forced-labor allegation, saying there was no acceptable basis for it in Bangladesh and calling for verification by international bodies. He said the association would ask the United States to reconsider and assess Bangladesh’s situation. Hatem also urged greater production capacity, product quality and diversification, market expansion, lower production costs and action on cotton-use tariff relief in the US market.

China has evacuated more than 20,000 people from its southern region as powerful Super Typhoon Noul rapidly approaches the coast, state media reported, citing AFP. China’s National Meteorological Center said the storm could make landfall in coastal areas from Hong Kong to Guangdong province between Saturday evening and Sunday morning. The weather office maintained its second-highest, orange alert under a four-tier warning system on Saturday.

The meteorological center warned of strong winds and heavy rainfall in parts of Guangdong and neighboring Fujian province. CCTV said that by Friday night, more than 20,000 people in Guangdong had been moved to safe shelters. All fishing vessels at sea were ordered to return to safe ports, and they have returned.

Transport and school activities have also been disrupted. Several train services in Guangdong were suspended on Saturday morning, while all rail services in the province are due to be suspended on Sunday, according to CCTV. Local media said schools in Chaozhou city, Guangdong, were instructed to temporarily halt educational and other activities. Extreme weather has already caused extensive damage in southern and central China this month.