Suspicious transaction reporting in Bangladesh’s financial sector increased by 74 percent in the 2024–25 fiscal year, according to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU). The agency’s annual report, presented by BFIU head Ikhtiar Uddin Mohammad Mamun at Bangladesh Bank, recorded 30,199 suspicious transaction reports compared to 17,345 in the previous fiscal year. Mamun attributed the rise partly to changes following the government’s fall and said banks now report more freely without fear.

The report shows that banks remain the dominant source of suspicious transaction and activity reports, accounting for over 95 percent of total submissions in 2024–25, up from 92 percent the year before. Banks filed 28,755 reports, nearly 80 percent higher than the previous year and more than double the figure from 2022–23. The BFIU also facilitated 1,314 information exchanges among domestic agencies, including police, CID, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the National Board of Revenue.

In contrast, cash transaction reporting declined to 19,454 cases in 2024–25 from 23,900 the previous year, indicating a shift in reporting patterns within the financial system.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has announced the court-ordered seizure of assets worth Tk 760 billion belonging to Sheikh Hasina and ten industrial groups, both domestically and abroad. BFIU chief Ikhtiaruddin Md Mamun disclosed the information on Wednesday during the release of the unit’s annual report at Bangladesh Bank’s headquarters. Of the total amount, Tk 570 billion was frozen within Bangladesh, while Tk 190 billion in foreign assets was also seized.

Mamun stated that efforts are underway to recover assets that were allegedly stolen from the country, expressing optimism about providing positive updates by the end of the year. He emphasized that the BFIU does not consider political affiliations when freezing bank accounts, noting that any suspicious transactions, including those involving members of the interim government, would be investigated.

The announcement highlights the BFIU’s ongoing drive to curb illicit financial flows and recover misappropriated wealth, signaling a broader effort to strengthen financial transparency and accountability in Bangladesh.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for unity beyond political divisions to address Dhaka’s long-standing waste and civic problems. Speaking as chief guest at a Dhaka North City Corporation seminar titled “Waste management of the city is everyone’s responsibility” on Wednesday, he said the capital’s condition cannot be improved by any single person or institution alone.

He noted that Dhaka ranks among the world’s least livable cities and cited poor coordination between RAJUK, WASA, and the power department as major obstacles. Fakhrul emphasized the need to bring the city corporation under a stronger governance structure to ensure control over other agencies. He also highlighted severe water shortages, river pollution, and weak medical waste management, urging restoration of the Buriganga, Turag, and Shitalakshya rivers.

Drawing from his experience as a former municipal chairman, Fakhrul stressed that awareness and civic responsibility must start from families and schools. He expressed a personal desire to see Dhaka clean and green again and urged citizens to take ownership of their city’s cleanliness.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ long-anticipated direct flight between Dhaka and New York now depends on the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) safety evaluation. Bangladesh must pass the Significant Safety Concern (SSC) assessment and achieve Category One status through the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to operate the route. Preparations are underway, with ICAO’s pre-audit scheduled from October 26 to November 6, 2026, followed by a final audit in 2027. Civil Aviation Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) said that if progress continues as planned, the flight could begin in early 2028.

Officials report that about 75–80 percent of preparations are complete, including installation of advanced security equipment and internal audits. Three high-level committees are overseeing nine key safety areas to meet international standards. Bangladesh aims to exceed a 75 percent safety score, improving on its 2018 result of 68.55 percent.

Experts warn that inspector shortages, limited regulatory independence, and administrative challenges could hinder progress. However, authorities remain optimistic that ongoing modernization and oversight will strengthen Bangladesh’s global aviation standing and pave the way for the Dhaka–New York route.

The United States has imposed new sanctions aimed at dismantling a major Iranian shipping network allegedly used to evade existing restrictions on Tehran’s oil trade and other activities. The U.S. Treasury Department said the network, led by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, was helping Iran bypass previous sanctions. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant stated that Washington is shutting down the financial infrastructure that enables Iran to threaten U.S. national security and the international maritime system.

According to the Treasury, the move is part of a broader effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran, following similar sanctions issued last year and in April this year. Under the new measures, more than 200 individuals, entities, and vessels linked to Shamkhani’s network have been sanctioned. All assets of the listed parties within the United States will be blocked, and U.S. citizens or companies are prohibited from conducting any transactions with them.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment immediately on the new sanctions, according to the report sourced from Reuters.

Eastern Railway in Bangladesh is facing an escalating locomotive shortage that has severely disrupted passenger and freight services. According to officials, the region requires 119 engines daily to maintain normal operations but currently has only 75 to 76 available. The shortage has forced several local and mail train routes, including Chattogram–Laksam and Chattogram–Sylhet, to suspend operations. The Nasirabad Express, running between Chattogram and Jamalpur, now faces frequent cancellations, with seven to eight trips canceled each month.

Railway officials warn that the situation could further deteriorate if new engines are not procured soon. The Eastern Railway’s General Manager stated that existing engines are being overused without adequate rest or maintenance, leading to faster wear and breakdowns. The shortage has also prevented the introduction of new train services. The railway authority has submitted a request for additional engines to the ministry, but the decision depends on higher government approval.

Freight transport has also been hit hard, with only five engines available daily against a need for fifteen, causing significant logistical disruptions.

An emergency closed-door meeting was held in Bandarban on Tuesday night to assess flood damage and discuss rehabilitation and infrastructure reconstruction. The session, chaired by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ahidul Islam, took place at the Bandarban Deputy Commissioner's conference room from 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. According to a district administration notice, the minister visited the district to review the ongoing flood situation and coordinate response efforts.

During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Saniul Ferdous presented detailed information on the extent of damage across seven upazilas, including roads, bridges, culverts, power infrastructure, agriculture, educational institutions, and homes. He also reported on the progress of rehabilitation activities and the need for government assistance. The state minister then discussed post-flood rehabilitation, infrastructure rebuilding, and restoration of electricity supply with officials from relevant departments.

District administration sources said the meeting emphasized accelerating rehabilitation in affected areas, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, restoring electricity and communication systems, and ensuring necessary support for affected residents. The session aimed to strengthen coordination among departments and determine next steps for managing the ongoing flood crisis.

Scientists have discovered a sugar molecule in the interstellar region of space for the first time, marking a major breakthrough in understanding the origins of life. The finding, published Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy, was led by Dr. Izaskun Jimenez-Serra of Spain’s Center for Astrobiology. Researchers identified the molecule in the Milky Way’s interstellar medium, an area filled with dust and gas between stars, long suspected to act as a natural chemical factory for complex organic compounds.

Dr. Jimenez-Serra described the confirmation of the molecule’s presence as thrilling, noting that the team conducted repeated tests to rule out observational errors. MIT astrochemist Brett McGuire, who was not part of the study, called the discovery highly significant, saying the data clearly confirm the molecule’s existence. Scientists have long known that sugars are essential for forming RNA and DNA, yet laboratory attempts to recreate them under early Earth conditions have failed.

The study suggests that such sugars may have formed in interstellar environments before stars and planets existed, later reaching Earth via asteroids and comets. Researchers estimate that between 500,000 and 50 million tons of sugar could have arrived this way, strengthening the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.

The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre reported on Tuesday that water levels in the Surma and Kushiyara rivers of northeastern Bangladesh have begun to recede. The center expects the levels to remain stable for the next 24 hours and to fall further over the following two days, improving flood conditions in low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj within 24 to 48 hours. Despite this, four points in three rivers across four districts are still flowing above danger levels.

The Meteorological Department said rainfall has decreased nationwide, leading to improved weather conditions, though heavy rain may return to coastal districts and Sylhet from July 17. The government reported that eight districts in Chattogram and Sylhet divisions were severely affected by floods and landslides, impacting over 609,000 people and causing 54 deaths. Relief efforts include cash aid, rice, and dry food distribution, with the army, BGB, and Coast Guard engaged in rescue operations.

The agriculture ministry stated that Aman seedbeds suffered the most damage, and free seeds and fertilizer will be distributed once water recedes. Preparations are underway to create alternative seedbeds using flood-tolerant rice varieties by August 15.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam stated that post-flood rehabilitation is now the government’s main priority. He said that once floodwaters fully recede, relevant departments will submit final damage reports, based on which comprehensive rehabilitation work will begin. The minister urged citizens to trust the elected government, assuring that damaged roads, educational institutions, and other infrastructure will be repaired quickly, and affected farmers, livestock owners, and homeowners will be brought under rehabilitation programs.

He made these remarks on Tuesday, July 14, during a relief distribution event for over a hundred flood-affected families in Burir Dokan area of Baraitali Union, Chakaria upazila, Cox’s Bazar. Earlier, he visited several flood- and landslide-affected areas in Chakaria following nine days of heavy rainfall and hill torrents.

Anindya Islam also warned that illegal hill cutting will no longer be tolerated under the current government. He said strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for hill destruction or creating artificial waterlogging by closing sluice gates. Several local officials and political leaders were present at the event.

A mobile court in Bhangura upazila of Pabna conducted a raid on Tuesday morning in Naubaria village, seizing banned Chinese fishing nets worth about Tk 150,000. The nets were confiscated under Section 5(1) of the Fish Protection and Conservation Act, 1950, and later destroyed by fire. One person, identified as Milan, 36, son of Anil from Naubaria village, was fined Tk 5,000 for transporting the illegal nets, and a warehouse used for storing them was sealed.

The operation was led by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mizanur Rahman, with the participation of Acting Upazila Fisheries Officer Ali Azam and Sub-Inspector Ershad Hossain of Bhangura Police Station. According to the magistrate, the use and transport of banned Chinese nets are harmful to fish resources, prompting the enforcement action.

Authorities stated that the main trader, Haripada, was not found during the raid, but further investigation and legal steps are planned. The upazila administration confirmed that similar drives will continue to protect national fish resources and curb illegal fishing gear use.

Twelve eggs of a venomous cobra species were recovered from a prayer house in Patiya, Chattogram, on Tuesday afternoon. The rescue was carried out by a team from Chattogram Snake Rescue Team Bangladesh after locals spotted a snake inside the Chishtia Khanqah Sharif in the municipality’s Ward 6 area. The discovery caused panic and curiosity among residents, prompting a crowd to gather at the site.

According to local accounts, some people initially tried to destroy the eggs, but a few aware residents informed the Forest Department instead. The rescue team then collected the eggs and confirmed they belonged to the highly venomous Padma cobra. The team stated that the eggs were in good condition and would be artificially incubated for one and a half to two months before the hatchlings are released into a remote forest area.

Rescue officials emphasized the importance of wildlife conservation and urged the public not to harm snakes or their eggs but to contact authorities for safe handling.

The Bangladesh Air Force Women’s Welfare Association (BAFWWA) has distributed relief materials among flood-affected families in several districts, including Chattogram, Sylhet, and Cox’s Bazar. Under the initiative and guidance of BAFWWA Chairperson Saleha Khan, the Chattogram branch provided dry food, clean water, and essential medicines to families in flood-hit areas of Anwara upazila on Tuesday.

Similarly, the BAFWWA sub-regional branch at Shamshernagar distributed relief items to flood-affected families in Rajdighirpar, Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar district. Under the overall direction of Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan, the Bangladesh Air Force Base Cox’s Bazar also carried out relief distribution in the flood-affected Rajakhali area of Pekua upazila.

According to the report, the Bangladesh Air Force and BAFWWA will continue their humanitarian and relief operations until the flood situation normalizes. All Air Force bases and units have been instructed to assist nearby flood-affected communities, while rescue teams, helicopters, and the Disaster Management Cell remain on standby for emergency operations.

A mobile court of the Bureau of Mineral Development (BMD) seized 94,390 cubic feet of stones in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet on Monday. The operation, led by Executive Magistrate Saikat Raihan, took place throughout the day across several villages including Bonpur, Adarshagram, Gucchhagram, Bijoypara, and Majhergaon. The confiscated stones were later placed under the custody of local union parishad members.

According to the report, the stones had been piled near houses in the Utma area for about six years. They were originally extracted from the Utma River and nearby quarries and had previously been seized by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) but were not auctioned at that time. The latest operation was conducted with the assistance of the upazila administration and police.

Officials stated that the seized stones would be sold through auction, and the proceeds would be deposited into the government treasury.

The Internet Service Provider Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to arrest those involved in an extortion and attack incident at an internet service provider office in Chattogram. The warning came during a press conference held by ISPAB’s Chattogram division at the Chattogram Press Club on Tuesday. The association claimed that if the perpetrators are not detained within the deadline, internet services across the country could be disrupted due to growing insecurity among providers.

According to ISPAB, a group of assailants attacked the office of Digital DotNet in Chattogram on Monday afternoon, demanding around two crore taka in extortion. When the demand was not met, they vandalized the office, causing significant damage to equipment and furniture. ISPAB’s Chattogram division convener Rajib Shahriar Rubens said the incident has left many entrepreneurs and employees in the internet sector feeling unsafe.

The association demanded immediate arrests, exemplary punishment for those responsible, and stronger security measures for internet service providers to prevent further disruptions.