An international team of about 80 scientists and crew members is embarking this week on a research expedition to Greenland aboard the polar vessel RSS David Attenborough. The mission, led by the British Antarctic Survey, aims to determine whether the rapid melting of Greenland’s glaciers could disrupt the Atlantic Ocean’s major current systems and influence Europe’s climate. The five-to-six-week voyage is part of the £20 million Greenland Ice Sheet to Atlantic Tipping Point (GIANT) project.

The study follows record-breaking heat across the United Kingdom and Western Europe in June, which caused power disruptions, school closures, and excess deaths. Researchers warn that even small climate shifts are proving difficult for societies to adapt to. The expedition will deploy a high-tech submersible, nicknamed “Boaty McBoatface,” to collect data from depths of up to 1,500 meters where glaciers meet the sea.

The collected data will support the development of next-generation climate models and early warning systems for glacier collapse, according to the research team.

Bangladesh’s position in the European Union’s apparel export market has weakened significantly in early 2026. According to Eurostat data, from January to May 2026, Bangladesh recorded the steepest decline among the EU’s top ten garment suppliers. The country’s apparel exports to the EU fell by 18.89 percent to 7.28 billion euros, with export volume down 10.46 percent and average unit price dropping 9.41 percent. In May alone, export earnings declined 17.12 percent, reflecting both lower demand and falling prices.

The overall EU apparel import market contracted by 9.96 percent year-on-year to 33.84 billion euros, driven by a 6.46 percent drop in import volume and a 3.74 percent fall in average prices. While Bangladesh suffered the most, competitors such as China and Vietnam showed more resilience. China’s export value fell only 4.20 percent while its shipment volume rose 1.96 percent, and Vietnam maintained higher income through increased unit prices.

Analysts cited in the report view Bangladesh’s simultaneous decline in both export volume and price as a sign of deeper structural challenges in competitiveness, product diversification, and market strategy. They warned that prolonged weakness in the EU market could negatively affect the country’s overall economy unless efficiency and product value are improved.

The government has imposed a fishing ban to protect fish stocks, leaving thousands of fishermen in Netrokona’s Mohanganj, Madan, and Khaliajuri areas facing severe hardship. The first phase of the ban ran from May 28 to June 28, followed immediately by a second phase. With no alternative employment or food assistance, many families are living in hunger, and local authorities are finding it difficult to enforce the restrictions.

According to the Department of Fisheries, Netrokona has 49,378 registered fishermen and an additional 30,000 to 40,000 unregistered or seasonal ones, most of whom depend entirely on fishing. On June 3, government ministers visited the area, released 16 tons of fish fry, and announced the new ban. However, fishermen say no measures were taken to support their livelihoods. On July 12, police seized four large nets from Dingapota Haor, but the next day, hundreds of fishermen retrieved them, leading to a case against over 800 people.

Experts warn that without plans to protect both fish and people, the ban may remain ineffective on the ground.

Global crude oil prices increased following continued retaliatory attacks between the United States and Iran. On Friday, the international benchmark Brent crude rose by more than one percent, surpassing 85 dollars per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed to nearly 80 dollars. The gains erased the previous day's losses in the oil market.

Throughout the week, both Brent and WTI prices rose by about 12 percent. Brent marked its third consecutive week of price increases, and WTI recorded its second straight week of gains. The rise in oil prices also affected stock markets in Asia, where trading turned downward on Friday morning. Japan’s main stock index, the Nikkei 225, fell by more than three percent at the start of the day’s trading.

The report links the oil price surge directly to geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran, which have intensified through ongoing reciprocal attacks.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that discussions with Bangladesh on a potential new loan will continue over the next few months. The talks will focus on the size of the loan, the scope of the program, and the reform commitments tied to it. The statement followed a five-day visit to Dhaka by an IMF mission led by Ivo Krznar, which concluded on Thursday. The mission reviewed Bangladesh’s recent economic and financial conditions and discussed the government’s reform priorities.

According to the IMF, Bangladesh’s economic growth may slow to 3.5 percent, and could fall below 3 percent in the medium term if fiscal and banking sector pressures persist. The mission noted that inflationary pressures, rising subsidy costs, and external balance challenges have intensified due to higher global commodity prices and supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. However, remittance inflows remain strong. The IMF emphasized the need for stronger revenue collection, rational subsidy reforms, and targeted social protection to support vulnerable groups.

The IMF also recommended maintaining tight monetary and prudent fiscal policies to control inflation and rebuild reserves, and implementing the 2025 crawling peg exchange rate system to enhance external stability.

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant (Health) Dr. S.M. Ziauddin Haider announced that separate development projects worth about Tk 800 crore have been undertaken for Jhalakathi district. The plan includes construction and improvement of rural roads, bridges, culverts, and other infrastructure. He made the announcement on Thursday morning at a development and assistance distribution meeting held at the Jhalakathi Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium.

Dr. Haider said that Tk 150 crore has been allocated for building the country’s first Cultural Village in Jhalakathi. Land acquisition has started for a modern sports complex, which has been included in the Annual Development Programme. The complex aims to promote youth sports participation, reduce drug abuse, and create employment opportunities through trainer recruitment. He also mentioned that steps are being taken to protect the Sarengal Bazar area of Keora Union from river erosion and that the process to upgrade Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital to 250 beds is progressing.

At the end of the event, assistance was distributed among people with disabilities, farmers, and families affected by fire incidents.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid announced that the government has launched an emergency assistance program to restore agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors in five flood-affected districts of the Chattogram region. The initiative includes distribution of 327 metric tons of paddy seeds, vaccination of 151,599 livestock, and allocation of 3.5 million taka for animal feed. The announcement was made Thursday night at a press briefing held at the Chattogram Circuit House.

According to preliminary field data, the floods caused losses exceeding 2 billion taka in the fisheries sector and about 770 million taka in the livestock sector. The minister said data collection is ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage. He added that the government has sufficient seed reserves and will immediately supply seeds to farmers whose land is ready for planting, while emergency seedbeds are being prepared on government land for others.

Livestock vaccination will begin immediately and is expected to be completed within 15 days. The government has prioritized assistance for the most affected unions to ensure no farmer, fish farmer, or livestock owner is left out of the relief program.

The Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday that the monthly car maintenance allowance for government officials, from deputy secretaries to top-level officers, will remain at Tk 50,000. A previous initiative to reduce the allowance by half, to Tk 25,000, has been withdrawn. The decision was confirmed through an official circular issued by the ministry.

The allowance applies not only to civil government officials but also to officers in the judiciary, the Election Commission, and the armed forces. Over the past week, the finance division and the Ministry of Public Administration exchanged letters regarding the proposed reduction, which reportedly caused dissatisfaction among many officials.

The finance division sent a letter to the Ministry of Public Administration on Thursday afternoon instructing that no further action be taken on the earlier proposal made on July 9. As a result, the existing monthly car maintenance allowance of Tk 50,000 remains unchanged.

A new low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has prompted forecasts of widespread heavy rainfall across Bangladesh from July 20 to 25, according to the national meteorological department. Although the system may not intensify into a strong depression, it has already made the sea rough, leading authorities to issue local cautionary signals for maritime and river ports. Coastal areas including Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to hoist signal number three.

Meteorologists said the low pressure has developed into a well-marked system over the northwest Bay and adjoining Odisha–West Bengal coasts, which could bring gusty winds and thunderstorms to southern and southwestern regions. Experts noted that monsoon activity will strengthen after July 20, causing heavy to very heavy rainfall across the country, particularly in Rangpur, Barishal, Chattogram, Mymensingh, and Sylhet.

Private weather observers warned that continuous rainfall could raise river levels above danger marks and trigger landslides in hilly areas of Sylhet and Chattogram. Authorities have been advised to take precautionary measures in advance.

In Cumilla’s Titas upazila, a canal re-excavation project under the Prime Minister’s Special Priority Program and the Employment Generation Program for the Poorest (EGPP) failed to meet its completion deadline. The upazila administration returned Tk 4,556,703 of unused funds to the government treasury to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending. The project, inaugurated by the local Member of Parliament, aimed to restore water flow, improve drainage, and boost agricultural productivity across a three-kilometer stretch from Darigaon Kathalia River to Gangaprasad.

According to the Project Implementation Office, only 1.067 kilometers of the canal were re-excavated before the June 30 deadline, with Tk 3,172,000 spent on wages, equipment, and transport. Local farmers said the incomplete work left persistent problems of waterlogging during monsoon and irrigation shortages in the dry season. Project Implementation Officer Saidul Islam stated that the remaining funds were returned as per government rules.

Officials said future projects will emphasize stronger planning and supervision to ensure timely completion and full benefits for local residents.

Renowned Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila will perform at a special solo concert and felicitation event on July 24 at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka. The program, organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, aims to honor her lifelong contribution to music and raise support for flood victims. Originally scheduled for July 18, the event was postponed to July 24 due to the ongoing flood situation.

The event will feature Runa Laila performing some of her most popular songs. Minister of Cultural Affairs Nitai Roy Chowdhury MP will attend as the chief guest, with State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam MP and Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, Adviser (Minister of State rank) for Policy and Strategy at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, as special guests. The session will be chaired by Kaniz Mowla, Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

The concert is expected to celebrate Runa Laila’s artistic legacy while contributing to humanitarian relief for those affected by the floods.

Acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s new film 'The Odyssey' is set for a global release on July 17, 2026. Bangladeshi audiences will be able to watch it the same day at Star Cineplex, marking a simultaneous premiere with the rest of the world. The film has already generated significant discussion worldwide for its scale and subject matter.

' The Odyssey' is based on the ancient Greek epic by poet Homer, depicting the perilous homeward journey of the hero Odysseus after the Trojan War. The story follows his decade-long struggle to return home after being separated from his companions by fate. The film features Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as his son Telemachus, and Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope, alongside Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, and Jon Bernthal.

The simultaneous release in Bangladesh highlights the country’s growing inclusion in global film distribution networks, offering local audiences early access to major Hollywood releases.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is preparing to begin online income tax return submissions for individual taxpayers by the last week of July 2026. Although the fiscal year has already started, the filing process has not yet opened. NBR sources said preparations are nearly complete, and the system will launch soon to facilitate early submissions under a new incentive scheme. The initiative follows last year’s policy that made online filing mandatory for most individual taxpayers, excluding five specific categories.

According to NBR officials, corporate entities will also be brought under the online filing system for the first time, though that process may take two to three more months. The software provider Synosis IT is upgrading the system to align with recent tax law changes and plans to hand it over to NBR by July 20 for review. NBR is also working with Bangladesh Bank and commercial banks to enable automatic inclusion of banking data in tax returns, though this will remain optional.

Officials believe automated data integration with banks and other agencies could reduce tax evasion and increase government revenue collection.

Cumilla City Corporation conducted a demolition drive on July 15 to remove illegal shops built along the western bank of Dhoromsagar, a historic pond in Cumilla city. The action followed a June 6 report in the newspaper 'Amar Desh' highlighting the occupation of the area by unauthorized vendors. The operation was led by Executive Magistrate Nazia Hossain, who stated that the eviction aimed to preserve the beauty and accessibility of the site.

According to city officials, more than fifty vendors had been running unauthorized businesses by cutting through the protective railing around the pond. Allegations surfaced that a powerful syndicate had facilitated these setups and collected daily extortion payments from the shopkeepers. Visitors and local residents welcomed the eviction, saying the illegal shops had disrupted the environment and public movement.

City Corporation Administrator Yusuf Molla Tipu said the drive was part of a broader effort to beautify Cumilla and warned that all illegal roadside structures across the city would be removed. Local civic leaders urged continuous monitoring to prevent future encroachments.

The United Kingdom government has announced a nighttime social media curfew for 16- to 17-year-olds, restricting access to platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube from midnight to 6 a.m. Users will still be able to disable the restriction through account settings. The government also plans to deactivate features like auto-play and infinite scroll, which it says contribute to addiction. The proposal is expected to be introduced in Parliament by the end of 2026 and take effect next spring.

Officials argue that the curfew and related measures will help improve teenagers’ attention, sleep quality, and family life. The move follows a June decision to ban social media use entirely for those under 16. However, child protection advocates and experts have criticized the plan as insufficient, noting that teens can easily bypass the settings. Some politicians and academics have also questioned its practicality and potential unintended consequences.

Government ministers maintain that the policy will strengthen the UK’s global leadership in regulating technology companies and promote healthier digital habits among young people.