UNESCO has reported that in 2025, 113 developing countries spent more on foreign debt repayments than on education. The agency’s latest report highlights that sub-Saharan African nations, on average, allocated 3.6 times more funds to debt servicing than to education, undermining education systems and threatening long-term economic growth. The report warns that the situation could worsen as low and lower-middle-income countries have already lost 21 percent of international education aid compared to 2023, with projections of a further 30 percent decline by 2027.

Debt Justice, a UK-based campaign group, attributed the growing debt burden to the COVID-19 pandemic, rising energy prices, higher interest rates, and climate-related disasters. In 2024, poor countries’ debt repayments reached a 35-year high, with 56 nations spending about one-fifth of their total government income on debt servicing. UNESCO noted that the funding shortfall has disrupted school operations, delayed teacher salaries, and hindered educational activities.

UNESCO called for reforms in global debt restructuring mechanisms and urged the creation of long-term debt-assistance frameworks to help developing countries maintain investment in education and essential public services while managing debt obligations.

Continuous heavy rainfall for six days has submerged large parts of Hatiya in Noakhali, leaving around fifty thousand people waterlogged. The flooding has been aggravated by illegal structures built over canals, obstructing water drainage. Many residents in Hatiya municipality and surrounding unions are trapped in their homes, with cooking stoves submerged and roads, schools, and markets under water.

Local residents and farmers reported severe hardship, with crop seedbeds and fish ponds destroyed. Business owners blamed the construction of shops and markets over the Martin Canal for blocking water flow, causing extensive waterlogging in six municipal wards. Farmers fear that if the water does not recede soon, the Aman cultivation season will be severely disrupted.

According to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Rasel Iqbal, discussions are underway with higher authorities to remove illegal structures from government canals. Medical teams have been formed in every union and municipality, and dry food and government relief have been distributed in affected areas.

More than 600,000 people have been evacuated from vulnerable areas in eastern China as Super Typhoon Bavi moves toward the coast. Although meteorologists report that the storm has weakened slightly, it remains extremely dangerous, with forecasts warning of heavy rainfall and strong winds. Over 500,000 people were relocated from Zhejiang province and nearly 100,000 from neighboring Fujian. The typhoon, which earlier passed near Japan’s Sakishima Islands and northern Taiwan, is expected to make landfall near Wenzhou in Zhejiang early Sunday.

China’s national weather agency has issued an orange alert, the second-highest warning level, prompting the cancellation of hundreds of flights, suspension of ferry services, and closure of schools. In Ningde, Fujian, more than 3,700 coastal residents have been moved to safety, and over 17,000 emergency workers are on standby. Residents in Wenzhou have stocked up on food and water, expressing cautious optimism about managing the storm.

Meteorologists warn that despite weakening over the Pacific, Bavi’s moisture-laden clouds could still trigger heavy rain, flash floods, and landslides. Southern regions are still recovering from Tropical Storm Maysak, which caused deadly flooding earlier in the week.

Continuous rainfall and a sudden flash flood in Rangamati’s Rajsthali upazila submerged the Sadek Poultry Farm, killing around 1,500 chickens. The incident occurred late Friday night in Dak Bangla Para of Bangalhalia Union, causing losses estimated at over five lakh taka. The farm’s owner, young entrepreneur Md. Sadek, said he and his workers tried to save the birds but failed as floodwaters from a nearby mountain stream inundated the area.

Sadek explained that he had established the poultry farm with loans from various NGOs to overcome unemployment. Now, with his home flooded and his livestock lost, he has been left destitute. He appealed for assistance from the administration and local benefactors to recover from the disaster.

Following the incident, Major Md. S. Arefin, commander of the Bangalhalia Army Camp, visited the damaged farm and assured Sadek of support. Local Union Parishad member Shimul Das was also present during the visit.

Continuous heavy rainfall has caused severe waterlogging at Benapole, the country’s largest land port, submerging imported goods worth crores of taka. Several sheds and yards near Gate No. 3 were flooded, disrupting storage, transport, and unloading operations. The port authority has deployed power pumps to remove water, but the effort has been hampered by ongoing rain.

Port users and traders have blamed the recurring problem on the absence of an effective drainage system despite multiple infrastructure projects. They alleged that authorities were repeatedly informed but took no lasting action. A committee formed earlier to address drainage issues has shown no visible progress. Many importers, lacking insurance coverage, are now facing significant financial losses.

Business leaders expressed frustration that despite Benapole generating around Tk 10,000 crore in annual revenue for the government, the drainage crisis persists. The port director said water removal is underway and expects improvement once the rain stops.

Bangladeshi actress Pori Moni has publicly spoken in detail for the first time about her 2021 arrest by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). In a Facebook post published at midnight on Friday, she claimed that her detention on August 4, 2021, was completely unlawful and carried out under the direction of then RAB chief and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. She expressed gratitude to former RAB intelligence head Lt. Col. Khairul Islam for recently acknowledging certain truths about the incident in an online talk show.

Pori Moni stated that she was falsely implicated in fabricated cases, placed on a seven-day remand, and kept in jail for 20 days, which caused severe personal and professional damage. She described the experience as a painful chapter in Bangladesh’s history, saying her dignity and character were unjustly questioned. She emphasized that she seeks truth, justice, and humanity rather than revenge, urging that no innocent person should face similar injustice in the future.

She expressed hope that the court would soon clear her of the charges and questioned whether the state could restore the honor and peace she lost.

Dhaka district administration has launched a cleanup and beautification drive along the Aminbazar-Hemayetpur road after nearly 20 years. The initiative, directed by the Prime Minister, aims to remove garbage dumps, eliminate foul odors, and enhance the area’s appearance. The program was inaugurated on Saturday at Hemayetpur by State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, with senior district and upazila officials present.

The Prime Minister issued the directive after observing the long-standing waste piles and stench along the road during a recent visit to Singair, Manikganj. Following her instruction, the State Minister ordered the Dhaka district administration to act swiftly. The ongoing project includes transferring waste to designated landfills, filling and stabilizing roadside areas, planting trees such as neem, betel nut, and coconut, and constructing fences to prevent future dumping. Continuous monitoring and legal enforcement will also be strengthened.

Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam stated that the administration, local government division, and related agencies are working jointly to complete the project within the set timeframe and ensure the area remains clean and visually appealing.

China is constructing one of the world’s largest hydroelectric dams on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, sparking environmental concerns in Bangladesh and India, as the river flows downstream into both countries. A group of Chinese geologists recently warned that the project site lies directly above an active fault line, posing potential structural risks to the dam.

According to a study supervised by the state-owned China Geological Survey, the Paizhen fault runs through the reservoir area of the project, which began construction last year. Researchers from Chengdu University of Technology and other institutions found that the fault has been active since the Pleistocene era and continues to threaten the stability of dams, bridges, and tunnels in the region. The study also noted that the dam’s foundation and surrounding slopes could weaken, increasing the risk of landslides or collapses during earthquakes or prolonged submersion.

The researchers recommended reinforcing mountain slopes, building retaining walls, and implementing additional safety measures during construction to mitigate seismic and landslide risks.

At least 15 people have been killed in landslides caused by Typhoon Bavi in the southern Philippines, one of the strongest storms in decades. The typhoon, spanning nearly 1,000 kilometers across the Pacific, is moving toward Taiwan and expected to bring heavy rainfall to northern and eastern Taiwan and parts of Japan before striking southeastern China on Saturday. Hundreds of flights have been canceled, schools closed, and residents have stocked up on supplies as the storm approaches.

In Mindanao, several families were buried overnight as landslides swept through villages, and rescue teams continue searching for the missing. Philippine officials warned that moderate to heavy rain will persist through the weekend. Taiwan’s authorities forecast up to one meter of rainfall and have mobilized 29,000 soldiers for relief operations. The island’s weather bureau described Bavi as the largest storm since 1987.

China has issued warnings of severe impact in Fujian province and beyond, while Japan’s remote islands remain on high alert. Airlines across the region have suspended hundreds of flights, affecting tens of thousands of passengers.

After being closed for one month and 22 days, stone extraction at the Maddhapara hard rock mine in Dinajpur resumed on Saturday morning. Operations had been suspended 52 days earlier when the supply of ammonium nitrate explosives used for underground rock extraction ran out. The resumption followed the import and delivery of new explosive materials, confirmed Md. Amjad Hossain, Managing Director of Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited (MGMCL).

According to MGMCL, 88 metric tons of ammonium nitrate have now reached the mine, sufficient for about two and a half months of extraction work. The company has requested a total of 300 metric tons, with the remaining quantity expected to arrive in phases. The mine has faced similar disruptions in previous years due to shortages of explosives, storage constraints, and mechanical issues.

Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Limited, the country’s only underground hard rock mine, began commercial production in May 2007. Around 750 workers currently operate in three shifts, and under a renewed six-year contract with contractor GTC, the mine produces an average of 5,500 metric tons of stone daily.

The Forest Department has constructed five ropeway bridges at different points along the Tangail-Mymensingh regional highway passing through Madhupur National Park. The initiative aims to reduce wildlife deaths caused by animals attempting to cross the busy road that divides the forest into two parts. The ropeways, installed between trees, allow monkeys, langurs, and other arboreal species to move safely across the highway.

According to forest officials, many animals, including monkeys and nocturnal species, were frequently killed by speeding vehicles while crossing the paved road in search of food. Warning signs urging drivers to slow down have not been effective. Local journalist Liton Sarkar noted that the highway sees heavy traffic daily and that animals often die while approaching visitors for food. He suggested creating designated visitor zones and increasing the number of ropeways, as the current five are insufficient for the large forest area.

Officials hope the ropeways will help ensure safer movement for wildlife and reduce fatalities caused by habitat fragmentation and food scarcity in the shrinking Madhupur forest.

In Mirzapur of Tangail, the asphalt layer of a 460-meter road began peeling off just seven days after construction, with small potholes forming and sections sinking under vehicle pressure. Locals alleged that the road, stretching from Gorai Flyover through Jorpukur Par to Bongerteki Green City, deteriorated quickly due to rushed work during bad weather.

According to the Upazila Engineering Office, Bismillah Enterprise was contracted to complete the project for Tk 1.475 million. The company carried out the work hastily amid rain, and the asphalt failed to dry properly before vehicles began using the road. Residents claimed that the contractor did not clean the old surface and used substandard materials with insufficient bitumen.

Bismillah Enterprise owner Tarek Khan said the damage occurred because the work was done during rain and promised to repair the affected parts. Upazila LGED engineer Monirul Saj Rizon confirmed that the contractor has not yet been paid and will not receive payment until proper repairs are completed.

At least 24 people have died in Cox’s Bazar district due to continuous heavy rainfall, landslides, and flooding over the past five days. The affected areas include Chakaria, Pekua, and Matamuhuri upazilas, where more than 500,000 residents remain trapped by floodwaters. Two sisters drowned when their boat capsized while seeking shelter in Chakaria’s Baraitali union. The district’s two main rivers, Bakkhali and Matamuhuri, have been flowing above danger levels for two consecutive days.

Local authorities reported that over 100 villages across 35 unions are inundated, damaging homes, schools, and rural roads. Fifteen of the deaths occurred in Rohingya refugee camps following multiple landslides, while others were reported in Cox’s Bazar town, Chakaria, Pekua, Ukhiya, Maheshkhali, and Kutubdia. The district recorded 547 millimeters of rainfall in five days, with 71 millimeters in the last 24 hours.

The district administration has issued a public alert, maintaining local warning signal No. 3 at the seaport and preparing 648 shelters. Residents in vulnerable areas have been urged to move to safe locations as heavy rain may continue through July 11.

Flood conditions have worsened in parts of Bangladesh as water levels in four major rivers rose above danger marks at six monitoring points on Saturday morning, according to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of the Bangladesh Water Development Board. The Sangu River crossed danger levels by 107 centimeters at Bandarban and 19 centimeters at Dohazari, while the Kushiyara River exceeded limits by 17 centimeters at Markuli and 21 centimeters at Fenchuganj. The Manu River rose 38 centimeters above danger level at Moulvibazar, and the Khowai River was 1 centimeter above at Balla in Habiganj.

The Board reported that out of 127 observation stations, water levels increased at 57 points, decreased at 64, and remained unchanged at six. Heavy rainfall was recorded both inside Bangladesh and upstream, with Sylhet’s Jaflong receiving 156 millimeters and India’s Cherrapunji 130 millimeters in the past 24 hours. Nine additional stations were near danger levels, including points on the Teesta, Surma, Someshwari, Muhuri, and Matamuhuri rivers.

Officials warned that flood conditions could worsen over the next 48 hours before gradually improving, while heavy to very heavy rainfall may continue in northern, southern, and eastern regions until July 13.

The Ghorashal-Palash Urea Fertilizer Factory in Narsingdi failed to meet its production target for the 2025–26 fiscal year due to a 40-day suspension of operations caused by a gas shortage. The plant produced 764,535 tons of urea, about 85,000 tons short of its target. The facility, one of Southeast Asia’s largest, had achieved its production goal in 2024–25, the first year after its inauguration.

Built under the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation at a cost of about Tk 15,500 crore, the plant began commercial production in March 2024 with an annual capacity of 924,000 tons. In its first year, it earned Tk 2,632 crore in revenue and Tk 232.69 crore in net profit, making it the only profitable state-owned urea factory that year. Officials attributed the shortfall in 2025–26 to the gas supply disruption linked to conflict in the Middle East.

The management has set a new production target of 940,000 tons for the current fiscal year, expressing optimism that stable gas supply and proper maintenance will enable the plant to exceed its goal.