An illegal chemical factory in Keshabpur, Jashore, has caused severe environmental pollution, endangering crops, livestock, trees, and local biodiversity. Residents report that acid and chemical waste from the factory have turned soil and water reddish, spreading foul odors and causing skin and respiratory diseases among men, women, and children. Sixty families from two villages have petitioned the Keshabpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer to shut down the factory and take legal action against its owner, Ruhul Amin.

According to the complaint, Ruhul Amin, from Shyamkur village in Monirampur, established the factory three years ago without official approval or environmental clearance. The facility uses acids and imported chemicals to color metal products and discharges untreated waste into nearby land and water. During the monsoon, about 20 acres of farmland become flooded with chemical water, damaging crops and trees. Locals allege that Ruhul Amin has expanded his operations and amassed wealth through this illegal business.

The Upazila Nirbahi Officer confirmed receiving the complaint and stated that an investigation and legal action will follow.

Road expansion work is continuing on the Dhaka Bypass from Madanpur to Bhulta–Gausia in Narayanganj with electric poles still standing in the middle of the road. The project, part of a 48-kilometer four-lane upgrade under a 2019 public-private partnership, has left hundreds of poles in place, raising fears among drivers, passengers, and local residents about potential accidents. Despite the ongoing construction, no effective steps have been taken to remove the poles, and the situation has become a safety concern.

Local residents expressed frustration that safety issues are being ignored even as the road is being paved around the poles. Officials involved in the project said the Rural Electrification Board has been repeatedly requested to remove the poles but has not acted effectively. In response, the local electricity authority stated that delays in soil preparation by the road construction team have prevented timely removal. The project authority expects completion by December this year despite the slow progress.

The unresolved coordination between the road and electricity departments continues to delay the project and heighten safety risks for road users.

Dubai International Airport continues to operate at nearly full capacity despite ongoing military tensions and airspace restrictions across the Middle East, according to Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths. Speaking to Bloomberg on the sidelines of the Farnborough International Airshow, Griffiths said airport operations remain normal and passenger traffic has not been significantly affected. Emirates Airline is currently operating 80 to 90 percent of its regular flight schedule, using Saudi airspace and southern alternative routes while northern routes remain restricted.

Since the start of the regional crisis, Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airports have handled over six million passengers, more than 32,000 aircraft movements, and over 213,000 tons of cargo. Griffiths said these figures demonstrate the resilience and capacity of Dubai’s aviation infrastructure amid geopolitical uncertainty.

About 50 international airlines are currently operating in Dubai, roughly half the normal number. However, Emirates’ additional flights have offset much of the capacity gap. Some major European carriers, including British Airways and Air France, have delayed resuming services due to government travel advisories and insurance conditions, not operational issues at Dubai Airport.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated that energy security has become a major challenge amid the current global situation. Speaking on Monday at a workshop titled “Voice of Development: Bridging Dialogues, Policies and Partnerships for Sustainable Development” at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, he emphasized the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and expand renewable energy, particularly solar power in rural areas. He noted that NGOs could play a key role by installing rooftop solar panels and using net metering to collect payments.

The minister said that fossil fuel imports have become increasingly difficult, with the government spending about USD 2 billion in two months on energy imports, putting pressure on foreign reserves. He highlighted growing gas shortages and reliance on imported LNG, whose prices are also rising. The government is providing large subsidies to the energy sector, which he described as unsustainable for the long term.

Tuku added that the government plans to raise solar power generation to 10,000 megawatts during its current term, reducing import dependency and saving funds for other development sectors.

Bangladesh’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said the government is moving forward with the implementation of a plan to establish solar power plants with a total capacity of 10,000 megawatts. He made the remarks on Monday while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop titled “Unnayan Konthoshor” organized by the National Development Program at the China Friendship Conference Center.

The minister noted that rising costs in the power and energy sector have become a major challenge for the government. Since taking office, the government has spent around 2 billion dollars on energy imports, with global conflicts driving up import expenses and electricity generation costs, putting pressure on the country’s foreign currency reserves. He also said that although the previous government achieved success in securing maritime boundaries, it failed to ensure effective progress in exploring and extracting marine energy resources, while neighboring countries have advanced in this area.

Tuku emphasized that the development of renewable energy is crucial for building a welfare-oriented state and called for greater investment and technical cooperation from development partners. He added that tax relaxations have been introduced in the current budget to encourage solar power use at individual and commercial levels.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) expects to sign an operational agreement with a Japanese consortium for the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by late August or early September. CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md. Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq confirmed that the terminal’s inauguration date remains set for December 16, and once operational, international flights will operate from the new facility without flight disruptions.

He made the remarks at a workshop on Civil Aviation and Air Traffic Operations held at CAAB headquarters in Kurmitola, Dhaka. The event, organized by CAAB’s Public Relations Department, aimed to enhance journalists’ technical understanding of aviation operations. Senior CAAB officials presented on airport management, air traffic control, passenger services, and international safety standards.

The chairman emphasized the importance of accurate and responsible aviation reporting, noting that the workshop would help journalists gain practical knowledge of civil aviation and airport management. He added that CAAB plans to hold similar sessions on operations and safety to strengthen collaboration with the media.

Muslim Aid UK Bangladesh Field Office has distributed emergency relief to 400 families affected by continuous rainfall, flash floods, and landslides in Lama upazila of Bandarban. The aid was provided in collaboration with Caritas Bangladesh across seven unions and one municipality. The formal distribution took place on Sunday at the Caritas Bangladesh PEP-3 project office in Madhujhiri, Lama municipality, where families received rice, salt, purified water, biscuits, and edible oil.

Local representatives and officials from both organizations attended the event, including the acting chairman of Lama Sadar Union Parishad and several project managers. Beneficiaries expressed gratitude, saying the assistance came as a major relief amid food shortages caused by the prolonged rainfall and landslides that left many people jobless.

Caritas field officer Jevers Tripura stated that supporting disaster-affected people is a humanitarian duty and that such relief efforts will continue. Locals noted that non-governmental organizations are playing a vital role alongside government initiatives in easing the suffering of affected residents.

Registration has begun for the new reality show 'Shaheen Education Family–Channel i Spelling Star 2026', aimed at improving English language and spelling skills among Bangladeshi students. The competition, jointly organized by Shaheen Education Family and Channel i, is open to fourth and fifth grade students from Bangla and madrasa mediums across the country. Registration will continue until August 14, 2026.

The launch event was held at a press conference attended by State Minister for Education and Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj, Shaheen Education Family Chairman Masudul Amin Shaheen, and Channel i Executive Director Harun Rashid. Organizers said the initiative is designed to inspire students and enhance their learning interest. The preliminary selection will take place at 35 venues nationwide, followed by divisional rounds featuring 350 to 400 students. From these, 100 finalists will compete in the main televised round on Channel i.

According to the organizers, the primary goal of the competition is to develop English language and spelling proficiency among primary-level students from an early age.

Global crude oil prices fell slightly after Iran announced that diplomatic communication with the United States was continuing through mediators, despite renewed conflict in the Middle East. Earlier, Brent crude for September delivery had surged nearly 4 percent overnight to 91.42 dollars per barrel, the highest in a month, before easing to around 90.20 dollars.

Since early July, the benchmark oil price has risen about 30 percent. According to SPI Asset Management analyst Stephen Innes, the market is reacting to two opposing forces: geopolitical risks driving prices higher and signs of easing inflation and a cooling labor market in the United States suggesting that the energy shock may not trigger a new inflationary cycle.

Over the past week, reciprocal attacks between Washington and Tehran had pushed crude prices up sharply, raising concerns about long-term disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which previously carried about one-fifth of global oil supply before the conflict.

European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers are under renewed pressure as fresh conflict in the Middle East pushes oil prices upward. The escalation has raised concerns about inflation in the eurozone, prompting debate over whether to raise interest rates again this week. The ECB had increased rates in June for the first time since 2023 after inflation surged, but most analysts now expect the main rate to remain unchanged at 2.25 percent.

Economists cited in the report said the recent rise in oil prices has not yet had a broad impact on eurozone inflation. Felix Schmidt of Berenberg Bank and Carsten Brzeski of ING both suggested that the ECB is likely to hold rates steady, though a small chance of a hike remains. The renewed conflict, including Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has intensified debate between policy “hawks” favoring tighter measures and “doves” preferring flexibility.

Investors are expected to watch ECB President Christine Lagarde’s post-meeting remarks for clues about future policy direction. Some analysts believe another rate increase could come in September, though the outlook remains uncertain.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded on Sunday night with the final match between Spain and Argentina, but the excitement surrounding the tournament has reportedly caused significant economic losses in the United States. According to a report by HR software provider UKG, reduced workplace productivity during the event may have cost the U.S. economy at least $117 billion, while global productivity losses could reach $170 billion. Many employees reportedly left work early, arrived late, or skipped work entirely to watch matches.

Data from workplace management platform Envoy showed that office attendance in the U.S. dropped by 26 percent on July 7, the day after the national team’s elimination by Belgium, a decline nearly ten times greater than the post–Super Bowl drop. External visits such as client meetings and vendor appointments also fell by 32 percent, about three times the usual post–Super Bowl rate. Envoy labeled the day “Knockout Tuesday.”

Some companies, including S&P, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Goldman Sachs, advised employees in host cities to work remotely on match days to avoid traffic and maintain operations.

Iran experienced another earthquake on July 20, 2026, when a magnitude 5.2 tremor struck near the Kuzaran area in the western Kermanshah province. According to the Iranian Seismological Center at Tehran University, the quake occurred at 7:13 a.m. local time (03:43 GMT). Its epicenter was located about 17 kilometers from Kuzaran and 65 kilometers from the provincial capital, Kermanshah, at a depth of 8 kilometers. No casualties or damage have been reported so far.

Earlier, on Sunday, another earthquake measuring magnitude 5 hit the Saland area of Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. Al Jazeera reported that the quake’s epicenter was in Saland, with a depth of about 12 kilometers below the surface, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society cited by state broadcaster IRIB.

The recent tremors highlight ongoing seismic activity across multiple regions of Iran, though authorities have not yet reported any significant losses or disruptions.

After six months of uncertainty, the second revision proposal for the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project is set to be presented at the upcoming Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman, will be held on Wednesday at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The Planning Division has completed preparations to present this proposal along with eight other development projects.

According to the Planning Commission, the revised plan includes three new connections: the Baipail Interchange, access to and from the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and integration with the under-construction MRT Line-1. These additions are expected to enhance connectivity between the expressway and Dhaka’s broader road network. The proposed revision also seeks to increase the project cost from the previously approved Tk 17,553 crore to Tk 26,581 crore, citing currency depreciation, tax changes, customs duties, utility relocation, and additional land acquisition.

The 24-kilometer expressway, financed under a government-to-government arrangement with China, is now proposed to extend its completion deadline to June 2030 due to delays. As of June 2025, financial progress stood at 66.86 percent, with physical progress exceeding 58 percent.

Global crude oil prices rose sharply on Monday as military tensions between the United States and Iran intensified. According to Al Jazeera, crude prices climbed more than 3 percent after disruptions in energy transport through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The escalation followed US airstrikes on Iranian targets for the ninth consecutive night after two American soldiers were killed in an Iranian attack. In response, Tehran suspended its interim peace agreement commitments and effectively halted shipping through the strait.

Brent crude rose by $2.75, or 3.12 percent, to $90.85 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by $2.56, or 3.10 percent, to $85.50 per barrel. Around 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, and the disruption has raised fears of a major supply shortage.

Analysts cited uncertainty in energy supply and rising maritime insurance costs as factors that could sustain volatility in the oil market in the coming days.

According to a Wall Street Journal report cited by Amar Desh Online, Iran exported crude oil worth about $6 billion to China within 20 days after the United States temporarily lifted its export sanctions. The sanctions were lifted on June 17, 2026, following an agreement signed in Islamabad, but were reimposed on July 7 amid renewed tensions. During this brief window, Iran shipped nearly 70 million barrels of crude oil to China using around 20 tankers routed through Malaysia’s eastern coast.

The report stated that Iran took full advantage of the short sanction-free period to boost its oil exports. China remains Iran’s largest oil buyer, purchasing about 90 percent of its total exports. Even during previous sanction periods, Iranian tankers reportedly transferred oil to Chinese vessels in the Eastern Outer Port Limits area of the South China Sea.

After sanctions were reinstated on July 7, the United States also imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, preventing Iranian ships from leaving and foreign vessels from entering.